Chapter 03: Legal and Ethical Considerations
Linton: Introduction to Medical–Surgical Nursing, 6th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A good friend of a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) confides that she is in a
serious romantic relationship with a man the LPN/LVN had as a patient when he was
diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The policies of the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) prevent the nurse from warning her
friend. What is this situation considered?
a.
Moral dilemma
b.
Moral uncertainty
c.
Moral distress
d.
Moral outrage
2. A nurse reminds a resident in a long-term care facility that he has autonomy in many aspects
of his institutionalization. What is an example of autonomy?
a.
Selection of medication times
b.
Availability of his own small electrical appliances
c.
Smoking in the privacy of his own room
d.
Application of advance directives
3. How might an LPN/LVN exhibit beneficence?
a.
Remove defective equipment from the patient’s room.
b.
Willingly work extra shifts during a staff shortage.
c.
Adhere to agency policy.
d.
Join the National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service
(NAPNES) and attend educational seminars.
4. An LPN/LVN is educating a group of nursing students regarding values demonstrated in their
nursing practice. Where will the LPN/LVN indicate the base of these values is derived?
a.
Nursing school education
b.
Family influence
c.
Peer relationships
d.
Agency policies
5. One obstetric nurse remarks, “I don’t see how these young single women can keep on having
babies without being married. Everyone knows a child needs a father.” What is this nurse
exhibiting?
a.
Ethnocentrism
b.
Moral uncertainty
c.
Values clarification
d.
Professional concern
6. A nursing student asks the instructor to define the philosophic stand of utilitarianism. What
example should the instructor provide?
a.
An army officer sacrifices six paratroopers to save 100 prisoners of war.
b.
A priest burns down his church because it was defiled by Satanists.
c.
A mother jumps off a cliff with her baby to avoid being captured by Indians.
d.
A soldier murders captured enemies to prevent their divulging military secrets.
7. An LPN/LVN explains to a patient that the hospital has an institutional ethics committee.
What is the main function of this committee?
a.
Preside over policy implementation.
b.
Revoke the license of someone who violates the law.
c.
Solve personnel disputes.
d.
Ensure that hiring adheres to ethnic equality.
8. An LPN/LVN charts that “the patient is drunk and acting in a crazy manner.” The team leader
cautions the LPN/LVN that this documentation is not appropriate. What charges of
commission of the intentional tort is this an example of?
a.
Assault
b.
Wrongful publication
c.
Defamation of character
d.
Invasion of privacy
9. When an LPN/LVN assists an older woman to stand after a fall in a shopping mall parking lot,
the woman twists and sprains her ankle. What protects the LPN/LVN from litigation or an
unintentional tort?
a.
Hospital malpractice insurance
b.
Good faith agreement
c.
Good Samaritan law
d.
Personal professional insurance
10. An LPN/LVN trimmed the toenails of a patient with diabetes too short, which results in a toe
amputation from infections. What is the LPN/LVN guilty of?
a.
Unintentional tort
b.
Intentional tort
c.
Negligence
d.
Malpractice
11. What must an LPN/LVN acquiring a signature on a surgical informed consent document
ensure?
a.
The patient is not sedated.
b.
The physician is present.
c.
The family member is a witness.
d.
The signature is in ink.
12. A physician has written an order for Synthroid, 137 mg. The LPN/LVN is aware that the drug
is measured in micrograms. What action should the nurse implement?
a.
Transcribe the order as if it were written in micrograms.
b.
Notify the nursing supervisor.
c.
Transcribe the order as written.
d.
Call the prescribing physician.
13. A physician has written an order for morphine sulfate, 100 mg. The LPN/LVN inquires if he
meant to write 10 mg. The physician confirms that he meant 100 mg. What action should the
LPN/LVN implement?
a.
Call a member of the hospital administration.
b.
Refuse to transcribe the order.
c.
Call the pharmacist.
d.
Notify the nursing supervisor.
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
14. On what are health care ethics based? (Select all that apply.)
a.
Autonomy
b.
Fidelity
c.
Professionalism
d.
Justice
e.
Nonmaleficence
15. How does values clarification support nursing practice? (Select all that apply.)
a.
Guides decision making
b.
Gives insight to patients
c.
Enhances peer relationships
d.
Helps understand him or herself
e.
Gains the confidence of supervisors
16. An LPN/LVN arrives on duty at 0700 and is faced with the ethical dilemma of inadequate
staffing for the day shift. How should the LPN/LVN invoke a “safe harbor”? (Select all that
apply.)
a.
Immediately file a written protest with administration.
b.
Leave duty.
c.
Refuse the assignment.
d.
Call hospital administration.
e.
Suggest that the nursing assistants (NAs) file a written protest.
COMPLETION
17. The values that direct human behavior and are concerned with defining right from wrong are
known as _____.
OTHER
18. Prioritize the steps in solving an ethical dilemma. (Separate the letters with a comma and
space: A, B, C, D.)
A. Evaluate the outcome.
B. Plan an approach.
C. Visualize the consequences.
D. Take action.
E. Identify the problem.