Fairly easy

A registered nurse in the United States notices that an older adult has several unexplained bruises, appears fearful of a caregiver, and has missed prescribed medications. What should the nurse do first?

Correct answer: B. Report suspected abuse according to state law and policy

  • A. Ask the caregiver to explain the bruises
  • B. Report suspected abuse according to state law and policy
  • C. Wait until the patient provides proof of abuse
  • D. Tell the patient to confront the caregiver at home

Explanation

The nurse should report reasonable suspicion of elder abuse through the required protective services or institutional process. Mandated reporting generally requires suspicion, not proof, and confronting the caregiver may increase the patient's risk.

Submitted by a TestUstad contributor and published by the TestUstad editorial teamLast updated
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About US Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice

US nursing law and ethics include state nurse practice acts, scope of practice, standards of care, negligence, malpractice, documentation, confidentiality under HIPAA and informed consent. Ethical reasoning applies autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice and fidelity to conflicts such as refusal of treatment, advance directives, privacy breaches and mandatory reporting, which are not the same as legal liability.

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