Legalities in Nursing Practice and Nursing Research: Vocabulary Flashcards

A vocabulary-focused set of flashcards covering key legal, ethical, nursing practice, and nursing research terms present in the notes.

Constitutional Law

The supreme law of a country; creates legal rights and responsibilities and is the foundation of a justice system.

Legislation Law (Statutory Law)

Laws enacted by a legislative body; nursing regulation is a function of state law.

Administrative Law

Rules and regulations created to enforce statutory laws.

Common Law

Laws evolving from court decisions, including negligence and malpractice; interprets and applies constitutional/statutory law.

Public Law

Law that governs the relationship between the state and individuals, including criminal law.

Private Law

Law governing relationships between private individuals or entities, including civil matters.

Criminal Law

Laws relating to crimes and punishment; includes felony and misdemeanor distinctions.

Felony

An act or omission punishable by law under the Revised Penal Code.

Misdemeanor

A crime less serious than a felony.

Infraction

A violation typically punishable by an ordinance rather than statute.

Tort

A civil wrong (not arising from contract) causing harm and leading to civil liability.

Assault

Imminent threat of harmful or offensive contact.

Battery

Intentional, unconsented touching of another person.

False Imprisonment

Unlawful restraint or detention of a person.

Invasion of Privacy

Disclosing a patient’s personal/health information without consent.

Defamation

False statements harming a person’s reputation; includes slander and libel.

Slander

Oral defamation.

Libel

Written defamation.

Negligence

Failure to exercise reasonable care, causing harm or damage.

Malpractice

Professional negligence by a licensed professional.

Res ipsa Loquitur

The situation itself indicates negligence; “the thing speaks for itself.”

Respondeat Superior

Employer is liable for the acts of its employees; “captain of the ship” doctrine.

Force Majeure

Acts of God or fortuitous events that may exempt liability.

Parricide

Killing of a close relative (parent, spouse, child, etc.).

Homicide

Killing of a human being (not a close relative in parricide context).

Murder

Homicide with aggravating circumstances.

Infanticide

Killing an infant, typically within a few days after birth.

Suicide

Killing oneself.

Giving Assistance to Suicide

Providing means or assistance to end one’s life.

Euthanasia

Mercy killing; intentional taking of life of an ill person; active vs. passive; voluntary vs. involuntary.

Active Euthanasia

Active steps by a physician or caregiver to end a patient’s life.

Passive Euthanasia

Omitting or withholding treatment to hasten death.

Voluntary Euthanasia

Euthanasia performed with the patient’s consent.

Involuntary Euthanasia

Euthanasia performed without the patient’s consent or knowledge; e.g., DNR scenarios.

DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)

Order indicating no CPR should be performed if the patient’s heart stops.

Abortion

Termination of pregnancy.

Spontaneous Abortion

Miscarriage; natural loss of pregnancy.

Direct Induced Abortion

Elective abortion performed as a medical procedure.

Indirect Abortion

Abortion that is a necessary result of another medical procedure.

Dilation and Curettage (D&C)

Surgical procedure to remove contents of the uterus, often in abortion or post-pregnancy care.

Hysterectomy

Removal of the uterus.

Fraud

Intentional misrepresentation or deceit for personal gain.

Invasion of Privacy (as Tort)

Disclosure of private information without consent within healthcare.

Quasi-Intentional Tort

Torts like invasion of privacy and defamation that are not intentionally harmful but involve some intent or negligence.

Unintentional Tort

Torts arising from negligence or malpractice (no intent to harm).

Negligence (Tort)

Unintentional failure to exercise reasonable care resulting in harm.

Malpractice (Tort)

Professional negligence by a licensed practitioner.

Restraint

Protective devices used to limit a patient’s movement for safety; physical, chemical, or environmental types.

Breach of Contract

Failure to perform a contractual obligation without legal excuse.

Will

A legal document outlining the disposition of property after death.

Testator

Decedent who makes and signs a will.

Heir

A person called to succession; takes under a will or by law.

Decedent

A person whose property is transmitted through succession.

Notarial Will

A will acknowledged before a notary with witnesses.

Holographic Will

A will entirely handwritten, dated, and signed by the testator.

Gifts Mortis Causa

Gifts made in contemplation of death; revocable and subject to creditors’ claims.

Gift Acceptance

Acceptance by the recipient of a mortis causa gift.

RA 9173 (Nursing Law)

Philippine nursing law governing licensure, practice, and standards.

Board of Nursing (BON)

Governing body for nursing practice; quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial powers.

PRC (Professional Regulation Commission)

Agency that issues licenses and regulates professions in the Philippines.

CHED

Commission on Higher Education; oversees nursing education standards.

Reciprocity

Registration process allowing an RN licensed elsewhere to practice in the Philippines with equivalent credentials.

Special Permit

Temporary authorization to practice in specific circumstances (e.g., medical missions, exchanges).

Comprehensive Nursing Specialty Program

Program to upgrade specialty nursing skills with government funding.

Certificate of Registration

Official document showing nurse’s name, license number, and authorization to practice.

Professional Identification Card (PRC ID)

ID card proving licensure and status as a registered nurse; renewal every three years.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Units

Required educational units (e.g., 15 hours) for licensure maintenance.

Scope of Nursing Practice

The range of nursing activities, responsibilities, and professional roles.

Inactive Nurses

Nurses not practicing for five consecutive years who may re-enter with retraining.

Comprehensive Nursing Specialty Program

Program to upgrade nursing specialty competencies; government funding available.

Examination and Registration Qualifications

Criteria to sit for licensure: citizen, good moral character, BSN, age 21+, etc.

Population, Sample, and Sampling

Population is the group studied; sample is a subset selected for research.

Probability Sampling

Sampling methods with known chance of selection (e.g., simple random, systematic, stratified, cluster).

Non-Probability Sampling

Sampling without random selection (e.g., purposive, quota, snowball, convenience).

Questionnaire

Instrument to collect data; can be open-ended, closed-ended, or semi-structured.

Interview

Data collection method; can be standardized, non-standardized, or semi-standardized.

Observation

Direct method to study subjects; can be participant or non-participant.

Measurement Scales

Tools to categorize data: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio.

Reliability

Consistency of an instrument’s measurements.

Validity

Accuracy of an instrument in measuring what it intends to measure.

Descriptive Statistics

Summaries of data: frequency distributions, central tendency, variability.

Inferential Statistics

Techniques to make inferences about populations from samples (e.g., t-test, ANOVA, chi-square, Spearman).

Non-Experimental Research

Descriptive or correlational studies without manipulating the IV.

Experimental Research

Studies with manipulation and control of the independent variable; randomization.

Phenomenological Research

Qualitative design to understand lived experiences and perceptions.

Ethnographic Research

Qualitative study of cultures or groups; often immersive observation.

Grounded Theory

Qualitative method developed to build a theory from data.

Content Analysis

Qualitative method analyzing documents to interpret messages.

Qualitative vs Quantitative

Qualitative: nonfictional, descriptive; Quantitative: numerical, measurable data.

Hypothesis (Simple vs Complex)

Simple predicts a relationship between one IV and DV; complex involves multiple variables.

Null/Statistical Hypothesis

Null hypothesis states no relationship; alternative/hypothesis posits a relationship.

Conceptual vs Operational Definition

Conceptual: theoretical meaning; Operational: how a concept is measured.

Independent Variable

Variable that is hypothesized to cause changes (the cause).

Dependent Variable

Variable expected to be affected by the IV (the effect).

Extraneous Variable

Outside factors that can affect the study outcome and need control.

Intervening Variable

A variable that comes between IV and DV and influences the relationship.

Hypothesis Types (Directional vs Non-directional)

Directional predicts the direction; non-directional predicts a relationship without direction.

Data Collection Methods

Ways to collect data: questionnaires, interviews, observations, records.

Likert Scale

Rating scale showing degree of agreement or disagreement.

Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

100 mm line to rate intensity or magnitude of a subjective experience.