Review Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing

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Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing

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Total Questions : 5

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Question 1:

A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a life-saving treatment due to personal beliefs. What action should the nurse take to address this legal and ethical issue?

A. Respect the patient's decision and document their refusal. B. Convince the patient to accept the treatment for their own well-being. C. Override the patient's decision and administer the treatment against their will. D. Seek guidance from the ethics committee or healthcare team.

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Is appropriate if the refusal is informed and the patient has decision-making capacity. However, seeking guidance from the ethics committee or healthcare team is still recommended.

Choice B:

Violates the principle of patient autonomy and disregards their right to make decisions based on personal beliefs.

Choice C:

Is ethically and legally inappropriate without proper justification or court authorization.

Choice D:

Respecting patient autonomy while ensuring their well-being is crucial in addressing legal and ethical issues. In this situation, the nurse should seek guidance from the ethics committee or healthcare team to navigate the conflict between the patient's refusal and the potential harm it may cause. The ethics committee can help provide a framework for decision-making that respects both the patient's autonomy and the nurse's duty to protect life.

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Question 2:

A nurse overhears a conversation among colleagues discussing confidential patient information outside of the designated work area. What action should the nurse take to address this legal and ethical breach?

A. Join the conversation and share their own experiences. B. Ignore the conversation and continue with their tasks. C. Remind colleagues about the importance of patient confidentiality and suggest discussing sensitive matters in private. D. Report the incident to the supervisor or appropriate authority.

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Contributes to the breach of patient confidentiality and does not address the issue.

Choice B:

Passively allows the breach to continue and does not fulfill the nurse's responsibility to protect patient information.

Choice C:

Maintaining patient confidentiality is a legal and ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals. In this situation, the nurse should remind colleagues about the importance of patient confidentiality and suggest discussing sensitive matters in a private, designated area. This action promotes ethical conduct, upholds patient rights, and helps create a culture of respect for privacy.

Choice D:

May be necessary if the breach persists or if the reminder is ignored. However, addressing the issue directly with colleagues is a proactive step that should be taken first.

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Question 3:

A nurse is asked by a family member to disclose a patient's medical information without the patient's consent. What is the nurse's appropriate response to this request?

A. Share the information with the family member, respecting their relationship with the patient. B. Refuse to disclose the information and explain the importance of patient confidentiality. C. Inform the patient about the request and seek their consent before sharing any information. D. Consult with the healthcare provider to make the final decision on disclosing the information.

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Is inappropriate without the patient's consent and violates patient confidentiality.

Choice B:

Maintaining patient confidentiality is a fundamental ethical and legal obligation. In this situation, the nurse should refuse to disclose the information and explain to the family member the importance of patient confidentiality. Patient privacy and autonomy must be protected, and sharing information without consent can violate the patient's rights and confidentiality.

Choice C:

Is a possible course of action, but the nurse's primary responsibility is to protect patient confidentiality.

Choice D:

May be necessary in complex situations, but the initial response should be to refuse disclosure and explain the importance of patient confidentiality.

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Question 4:

A nurse is documenting patient care in the electronic health record (EHR) and realizes they made an error in documenting a medication dose. What action should the nurse take to address this legal and ethical issue?

A. Leave the error as is since it does not affect patient care. B. Alter the documentation to reflect the correct medication dose. C. Add an addendum to the documentation explaining the error and the correct medication dose. D. Report the error to the supervisor or appropriate authority.

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Is inappropriate as it compromises the accuracy and reliability of the patient's health record, which may impact future care decisions.

Choice B:

Is unethical and potentially illegal, as it involves falsifying information in the patient's record.

Choice C:

Accurate and timely documentation is essential for providing quality care and maintaining legal and ethical standards. In this situation, the nurse should add an addendum to the documentation, clearly explaining the error made in documenting the medication dose and providing the correct information. This ensures transparency, maintains the integrity of the record, and allows for accurate communication among healthcare providers.

Choice D:

May be necessary, but the immediate action should be to address the error in the documentation itself.

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Question 5:

A nurse is assigned to care for a patient whose cultural beliefs and practices differ significantly from their own. What action should the nurse take to ensure culturally sensitive and ethical care?

A. Ignore the patient's cultural beliefs and provide care according to the nurse's own values. B. Avoid discussing cultural beliefs to prevent misunderstandings or conflicts. C. Seek cultural consultation or guidance from resources within the healthcare facility. D. Request to be reassigned to a different patient with similar cultural beliefs.

Answer and Explanation

Choice A:

Disregards the principle of patient-centered care and may lead to ineffective or inappropriate care.

Choice B:

Limits communication and understanding, potentially leading to misunderstandings or compromised care.

Choice C:

Cultural competence and sensitivity are essential components of ethical nursing care. In this situation, the nurse should seek cultural consultation or guidance from resources within the healthcare facility, such as cultural liaisons, interpreters, or cultural competency training programs. This ensures that the nurse provides care that respects and incorporates the patient's cultural beliefs, practices, and values.

Choice D:

Is not the preferred solution, as it does not promote cultural competence or the development of nursing skills in providing care to diverse populations. Seeking cultural consultation and guidance is a more appropriate approach.

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Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing

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