Legal and Ethical Basis for Practice

Question 1 of 5

How does a psychiatric nurse best implement the ethical principle of autonomy?

A. By intervening when a self-mutilating patient attempts to harm self.

B. Staying with a patient who is demonstrating a high level of anxiety

C. Suggesting that two patients who are fighting be restricted to the unit.

D. Exploring alternative options with a patient, regarding medications.

Correct Answer:

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Question 2 of 5

Which action by a psychiatric nurse best supports a patient's right to be treated with dignity and respect?

A. Consistently addressing a patient by title and surname

B. Strongly encouraging a patient to participate in the unit milieu

C. Discussing a patient's condition with another health care provider in the elevator

D. Informing a treatment team that a patient is too drowsy to participate in care planning

Correct Answer:

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Question 3 of 5

Two hospitalized patients resort to physical fighting when they are in the same room. During a team meeting, a nurse asserts that safety is of paramount importance and therefore the treatment plans should call for both patients to be secluded to prevent them from injuring each other. Which does this assertion indicate about the nurse who presented it?

A. Reveals that the nurse has a strong sense of justice.

B. Values the reinforcement of the autonomy of the two patients.

C. Has a poor understanding of the civil rights of the two patients.

D. Doesn't understand the actions that constitute the intentional tort of battery.

Correct Answer:

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Question 4 of 5

In a team meeting, a nurse says, 'I'm concerned whether we are behaving ethically by using restraint to prevent one patient from self-mutilation while the care plan for another patient who has also self-mutilated calls for one-on-one supervision.' Which ethical principle most clearly applies to this situation?

A. Beneficence

B. Autonomy

C. Fidelity

D. Justice

Correct Answer:

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Question 5 of 5

Which scenario is an example of a tort?

A. The primary nurse completes the plan of care for a patient but takes a full 24 hours after the admission to do so.

B. An advanced practice nurse recommends that a patient who has a history of danger to self and others be voluntarily hospitalized when reporting audio hallucinations.

C. A patient's admission status is changed from involuntary to voluntary after the patient's hallucinations subside after medication is started.

D. A nurse gives an as-needed dose of an antipsychotic drug to a patient to prevent any possible violence because the unit is short staffed.

Correct Answer:

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