Professional Nursing Review, Ethics, and Legal Issues

Which ethical principle supports a patient's right to refuse care?

Autonomy (self-determination).

Can a competent adult legally refuse a life-saving treatment?

Yes—if they have capacity and are informed.

What must the nurse verify before a procedure?

That informed consent occurred and is documented.

Who may give consent when a patient is sedated and lacks capacity?

A legally authorized representative (healthcare proxy/POA or guardian).

Which item is NOT required for informed consent?

Cost/price guarantee.

What document states a person's end-of-life treatment wishes?

Advance directive (living will).

What does a DNR order mean should NOT be performed?

CPR (compressions, defibrillation, advanced resuscitation).

Does a DNR mean withholding all treatments?

No—provide other appropriate care aligned with goals.

What is the nurse's primary role in patient advocacy?

Support informed, patient-centered decisions and escalate concerns.

Which four elements constitute malpractice?

Duty, breach, causation, and damages.

When can implied consent be used in emergencies?

When immediate care is needed and no surrogate is available.

What is informed refusal?

A capacitated patient declines after risks/benefits discussed; nurse documents.

What HIPAA disclosures are permitted without authorization?

Treatment, payment, operations, and as required by law.

When must nurses use a qualified medical interpreter?

Whenever language barriers impede understanding; avoid children/family interpreters.

What situations require mandatory reporting by nurses?

Suspected abuse/neglect of vulnerable persons and certain communicable diseases.

What does EMTALA require hospitals to provide?

A medical screening exam and stabilization/appropriate transfer regardless of ability to pay.

How do Good Samaritan laws protect providers?

Liability protection for good-faith emergency aid within scope.

What is the duty to warn/protect in mental health?

Act per law/policy if a credible threat to an identifiable person exists.

What are the core ethical principles in nursing?

Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, fidelity, veracity.

What are key documentation essentials for legal safety?

Timely, factual, objective, complete entries with proper corrections.

What rights must be protected when using restraints?

Least restrictive use, time-limited order, frequent monitoring, documentation.

What should the nurse do if a patient wants to leave AMA?

Assess capacity, explain risks/alternatives, notify provider, document, offer AMA form.

Whose wishes prevail if a competent patient refuses care but family demands it?

The patient's wishes.