Nokea
A health care provider instructs the nurse to bladder train a patient. The nurse clamps the patient's indwelling urinary catheter but forgets to unclamp it. The patient develops a urinary tract infection. What do the nurse's actions exemplify?
- A. Malpractice
- B. Battery
- C. Assault
- D. Neglect of duty
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A nurse is liable for acts of commission (doing an act) and omission (not doing an act) performed in the course of their professional duty. A charge of malpractice is likely when a duty exists, there is a breach of that duty, and harm has occurred to the patient.
You may also like to solve these questions
What is the best way for a nurse to avoid a lawsuit?
- A. Carry malpractice insurance.
- B. Spend time with the patient.
- C. Provide compassionate competent care.
- D. Answer all call lights quickly.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best defense against a lawsuit is to provide compassionate and competent nursing care. Carrying malpractice insurance is prudent, but it will not avoid a lawsuit. Spending time with patients and answering call lights quickly will not necessarily help avoid a lawsuit.
What are the universal guidelines that define appropriate measures for all nursing interventions?
- A. Scope of practice
- B. Advocacy
- C. Standard of care
- D. Prudent practice
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Standards of care define actions that are permitted or prohibited in most nursing interventions. These standards are accepted as legal guidelines for appropriateness of performance. The laws that formally define and limit the scope of nursing practice are called nurse practice acts. An advocate is one who defends or pleads a cause or issue on behalf of another. Prudent is a term that refers to careful and/or wise practice.
The nurse has strong moral convictions that abortions are wrong. When assigned to assist with an abortion what is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
- A. Ask for another assignment.
- B. Leave work.
- C. Transfer to another floor.
- D. Protest to the supervisor.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should not abandon the patient, but ask for another assignment.
A nurse is considering purchasing malpractice insurance. What should the nurse be aware of regarding malpractice insurance provided by the hospital?
- A. Only offers protection while on duty.
- B. Is limited in the amount of coverage.
- C. Is difficult to renew.
- D. Can be terminated at any time.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Most institutional insurance only provides liability coverage if the nurse is on duty at that facility.
The nurse is preparing the patient for a thoracentesis. What must be completed before the procedure may be performed?
- A. Physical assessment
- B. Interview
- C. Informed consent
- D. Surgical checklist
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The doctrine of informed consent refers to full disclosure of the facts the patient needs to make an intelligent (informed) decision before any invasive treatment or procedure is performed. A physical assessment, interview, and surgical checklist are not required before this procedure.