Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I PN-RN Ethical and Legal Principles Questions and Answers

Question 1

A competent 80-year-old client with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a living will that explicitly states they do not want mechanical ventilation.
The client develops acute respiratory failure and becomes lethargic.
The client's family insists that 'everything be done' to save them.
Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper legal and ethical practice?

Accepted Answer

Honor the client's advance directive and advocate for comfort care measures.

Answer

Ask the provider to request an ethics committee consultation to mediate the conflict.

Answer

Follow the family's wishes, as the client is no longer able to clearly communicate.

Answer

Initiate mechanical ventilation as requested by the family until the client is stable.

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a client who is verbally refusing a prescribed antipsychotic medication. The nurse proceeds to crush the medication, mix it in applesauce, and administer it to the client without their knowledge. This action constitutes which of the following intentional torts?

Accepted Answer

Battery

Answer

Assault

Answer

Malpractice

Answer

Negligence

Question 3

Which of the following actions by a nurse represents a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

Accepted Answer

Accessing the electronic health record of a neighbor who is a patient on a different unit.

Answer

Giving a verbal report to the oncoming nurse in a private room.

Answer

Calling a client's designated emergency contact to provide an update, with the client's permission.

Answer

Placing a paper chart in a holder on the outside of the client's room door with the name visible.

Question 4

The ethical principle of beneficence requires a nurse to take what type of action?

Accepted Answer

Taking positive actions to help others and promote the well-being of clients.

Answer

Ensuring all clients have equal access to available resources.

Answer

Respecting a client's decision to refuse a necessary medical procedure.

Answer

Telling the truth to a client about their diagnosis, even if it is distressing.

Question 5

An RN delegates the task of obtaining routine vital signs on a stable client to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). The UAP later reports to the RN that the client's blood pressure is 188/102 mmHg. What is the RN's most critical next step?

Accepted Answer

Personally reassess the client's blood pressure and overall condition.

Answer

Document the vital signs as reported by the UAP.

Answer

Instruct the UAP to notify the charge nurse of the finding.

Answer

Tell the UAP to retake the blood pressure in 30 minutes.

Question 6

A nurse witnesses a healthcare provider explaining a surgical procedure to a client who speaks a different language, using the client's 12-year-old grandchild as an interpreter. Which ethical principle is most immediately compromised in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Fidelity

Answer

Justice

Answer

Nonmaleficence