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 3 of 3
- A. Enter the note with yesterday's date as requested
- B. Enter the note using the current date and time
- C. Ask another nurse to enter the note instead
- D. Leave the note undocumented until the next shift
Explanation: The nurse should use the current date and time and identify any late entry according to policy.
Correct answer: Enter the note using the current date and time- A. Refuse because health information is always private
- B. Verify the official request and disclose required information
- C. Release the patient's entire record to the department
- D. Ask the patient's roommate for permission to disclose
Explanation: HIPAA permits disclosures required by public health law, including reporting certain communicable diseases.
Correct answer: Verify the official request and disclose required information- A. Delete the entry and replace it without a note
- B. Tell the patient that records cannot be corrected
- C. Follow the process for requesting a record amendment
- D. Ask the patient's family to confirm the allergy
Explanation: Patients may request amendment of inaccurate protected health information.
Correct answer: Follow the process for requesting a record amendment- A. The patient experiences an unexpected complication
- B. The nurse fails to follow an applicable safety standard
- C. The patient requires additional treatment costs
- D. The patient reports being dissatisfied with care
Explanation: A breach occurs when the nurse fails to meet the applicable standard of care.
Correct answer: The nurse fails to follow an applicable safety standard- A. Give the bed to the patient admitted first
- B. Give the bed to the patient with the most family support
- C. Use the facility's established allocation criteria
- D. Give the bed to the patient who requests it first
Explanation: The ethical principle of justice requires fair and consistent allocation of limited resources.
Correct answer: Use the facility's established allocation criteria- A. Read the record to identify the patient
- B. Photograph the screen for evidence
- C. Secure or log out of the workstation
- D. Leave it open because the coworker may return
Explanation: The nurse should immediately limit unauthorized access by securing or logging out of the workstation.
Correct answer: Secure or log out of the workstation- A. Choose the interpretation used most often
- B. Ask another nurse to guess the intended order
- C. Clarify the order and read it back before implementing
- D. Give the lower amount to reduce the risk of harm
Explanation: The nurse must clarify an unclear order before carrying it out and use read-back verification.
Correct answer: Clarify the order and read it back before implementing- A. Share the diagnosis because the spouse is next of kin
- B. Respect the patient's request and maintain confidentiality
- C. Share the diagnosis if the spouse asks directly
- D. Ask another patient to explain the diagnosis instead
Explanation: A competent adult controls access to personal health information and may restrict disclosure to a spouse.
Correct answer: Respect the patient's request and maintain confidentiality- A. Use the login if the other nurse remains nearby
- B. Use the login only for urgent documentation
- C. Refuse and obtain authorized access through the proper process
- D. Write the password down for temporary use
Explanation: Electronic credentials must not be shared because they identify the person responsible for the record activity.
Correct answer: Refuse and obtain authorized access through the proper process- A. Refuse to cosign and explain that witnessing is required
- B. Cosign because the colleague reports that wasting occurred
- C. Ask another nurse to cosign without further discussion
- D. Cosign after documenting that the wasting was reported
Explanation: The nurse must personally witness the controlled medication waste before cosigning the record.
Correct answer: Refuse to cosign and explain that witnessing is required