Free US Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice MCQs with Answers
50 US Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice MCQs from International Nursing Practice, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
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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50 questions · page 1 of 3
- A. Ask the patient to sign the form again
- B. Explain the surgical procedure in detail
- C. Notify the surgeon that clarification is needed
- D. Witness the signature and continue preparation
Explanation: The provider performing the procedure is responsible for explaining its nature, risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Correct answer: Notify the surgeon that clarification is needed- A. Ask the family to persuade the patient
- B. Arrange the transfusion before the patient changes position
- C. Assess the refusal and document the informed decision
- D. Request a court order for immediate treatment
Explanation: A competent adult has the right to refuse treatment, even when the refusal may result in serious harm.
Correct answer: Assess the refusal and document the informed decision- A. Assess a newly reported change in pain
- B. Teach the patient how to use a walker
- C. Obtain routine vital signs and report findings
- D. Evaluate whether a treatment relieved symptoms
Explanation: Routine vital signs for a stable patient are within the usual role of unlicensed assistive personnel when the nurse provides instructions…
Correct answer: Obtain routine vital signs and report findings- A. Provide only the patient's current temperature
- B. Confirm that the patient is receiving hospital care
- C. Ask the child to obtain information from another relative
- D. Explain that information cannot be shared without authorization
Explanation: HIPAA generally requires the nurse to protect individually identifiable health information and disclose it only when permitted.
Correct answer: Explain that information cannot be shared without authorization- A. Complete an incident report before assessing the patient
- B. Assess the patient and notify the provider promptly
- C. Document that another nurse caused the error
- D. Wait for symptoms before taking further action
Explanation: The nurse's first responsibility is to assess the patient for actual or potential harm and promptly notify the provider according to…
Correct answer: Assess the patient and notify the provider promptly- A. Apply restraints without assessing the immediate danger
- B. Use the least restrictive intervention that protects everyone
- C. Ask the family to hold the patient's arms in bed
- D. Leave the patient alone until the behavior stops
Explanation: Restraints may be used only when necessary to prevent harm and after less restrictive measures are ineffective, following facility policy…
Correct answer: Use the least restrictive intervention that protects everyone- A. Follow the valid directive and notify the provider
- B. Follow the family's request because they are next of kin
- C. Ask the family to sign a temporary treatment agreement
- D. Begin resuscitation until the directive is reviewed later
Explanation: A valid advance directive represents the patient's legally expressed treatment preferences and should be followed according to applicable…
Correct answer: Follow the valid directive and notify the provider- A. Perform it once while the supervisor watches
- B. Ask a nursing assistant to perform the procedure
- C. Decline the assignment and explain the competency concern
- D. Perform it after reviewing an online demonstration
Explanation: A nurse must practice within personal education, training, competence, and the applicable scope of practice.
Correct answer: Decline the assignment and explain the competency concern- A. Apply wrist restraints to prevent the patient leaving
- B. Ask security to return the patient to the room
- C. Assess the cause of the confusion and use safety measures
- D. Tell the patient that leaving will cause loss of treatment
Explanation: The nurse should assess reversible causes of confusion and use the least restrictive safety measures, such as observation and…
Correct answer: Assess the cause of the confusion and use safety measures- A. The patient was careless and ignored instructions
- B. An incident report was completed after the fall
- C. The patient was found seated on the floor beside the bathroom
- D. The nurse believes the patient fell because of poor judgment
Explanation: The health record should contain objective observations, assessment findings, interventions, notifications, and the patient's response.
Correct answer: The patient was found seated on the floor beside the bathroom- A. Use the daughter because she knows the patient's history
- B. Ask a qualified medical interpreter to assist the discussion
- C. Give the patient written information in English only
- D. Ask another bilingual patient to interpret the discussion
Explanation: The nurse should use a qualified medical interpreter to support accurate communication and informed decision-making.
Correct answer: Ask a qualified medical interpreter to assist the discussion- A. Ask the coworker to delete the photograph immediately
- B. Report the concern through the facility's privacy process
- C. Ignore the action because teaching is a clinical purpose
- D. Post the photograph in the staff education group
Explanation: A patient image is protected health information and must be handled through approved systems and permissions.
Correct answer: Report the concern through the facility's privacy process- A. Wait until the caregiver confirms the explanation
- B. Ask the child to provide proof of the abuse
- C. Make a report according to the state's mandatory reporting law
- D. Promise the child that the information will remain private
Explanation: Nurses are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse under applicable state law.
Correct answer: Make a report according to the state's mandatory reporting law- A. Tell the patient only the physician can release records
- B. Follow the facility process for the patient's access request
- C. Refuse because nursing notes are never available
- D. Provide another patient's record for comparison
Explanation: The HIPAA Privacy Rule generally gives patients a right to inspect and obtain copies of their protected health information.
Correct answer: Follow the facility process for the patient's access request- A. Document that the prescribed medication was ineffective
- B. Reassess the patient and notify the provider of inadequate relief
- C. Tell the patient that discomfort is expected after procedures
- D. Give an additional dose without checking the prescription
Explanation: The nurse must reassess the patient and communicate an unresolved problem to the provider for further evaluation.
Correct answer: Reassess the patient and notify the provider of inadequate relief- A. Explain all risks and obtain the patient's signature
- B. Tell the patient that the provider must discuss the procedure
- C. Ask a family member to decide which option is safest
- D. Tell the patient to sign because the procedure is routine
Explanation: The provider performing or ordering the procedure is responsible for explaining its nature, risks, benefits, and alternatives for informed…
Correct answer: Tell the patient that the provider must discuss the procedure- A. Leave the unit after telling the charge nurse again
- B. Continue essential care while escalating through the chain of command
- C. Ask the patient to wait until another nurse becomes available
- D. Document the concern after the shift and take no further action
Explanation: The nurse must continue protecting the patient while promptly escalating the unsafe situation through the chain of command.
Correct answer: Continue essential care while escalating through the chain of command- A. Share the diagnosis because both people are nurses
- B. Share only the diagnosis and not the treatment plan
- C. Decline because the disclosure is unrelated to patient care
- D. Ask the patient later whether the disclosure was acceptable
Explanation: HIPAA permits access and disclosure for legitimate treatment, payment, and health care operations purposes, subject to the minimum…
Correct answer: Decline because the disclosure is unrelated to patient care- A. Administer the prescription because the provider wrote it
- B. Hold the prescription and escalate the concern through the chain of command
- C. Ask the patient whether the allergy is severe enough to matter
- D. Remove the allergy from the record to prevent confusion
Explanation: The nurse should withhold an apparently unsafe prescription and escalate the concern until it is resolved.
Correct answer: Hold the prescription and escalate the concern through the chain of command- A. Proceed because the signed form is legally sufficient
- B. Notify the provider and delay the procedure until capacity is reassessed
- C. Ask the patient's friend to confirm the consent
- D. Witness the signature again after the patient rests briefly
Explanation: Valid consent requires decision-making capacity and adequate understanding at the time of consent.
Correct answer: Notify the provider and delay the procedure until capacity is reassessedUS Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice MCQs: common questions
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There are 50 US Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice MCQs in the International Nursing Practice bank, shown ten to a page with the correct answer and an explanation on each.
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