ANM - Assistant Nurse Manager Ethical and Legal Standards Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient with full decision-making capacity adamantly refuses a life-saving blood transfusion based on deeply held religious beliefs.
The patient's family is distraught and urges the Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) to intervene and administer the transfusion.
Which ethical principle must the ANM prioritize in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Answer

Non-maleficence

Question 2

A staff nurse on a unit administered an incorrect medication dose, leading to patient harm. Under the legal doctrine of 'respondeat superior,' or vicarious liability, which entity is most likely to be held legally responsible for the nurse's negligence in addition to the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The employing hospital or healthcare institution

Answer

The charge nurse who made the patient assignments

Answer

The pharmacy that dispensed the medication

Answer

The state's Board of Nursing

Question 3

An Assistant Nurse Manager notices discrepancies in the narcotic count and observes behavioral changes in a staff nurse, leading to a suspicion of drug diversion. Which of the following is the ANM's primary legal and ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Follow the organization's policies for investigating and reporting suspected impairment and diversion.

Answer

Arrange an immediate, private confrontation with the nurse to offer help.

Answer

Increase general surveillance on the unit to gather more evidence before acting.

Answer

Inform the nurse's colleagues to watch them closely and report any unusual activity.

Question 4

During a period of high patient census, a registered nurse (RN) asks the Assistant Nurse Manager if an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who is highly experienced can independently perform a sterile dressing change for a patient's central line. What is the ANM's most appropriate response based on legal standards of delegation?

Accepted Answer

"No, this task requires nursing judgment and assessment that cannot be delegated."

Answer

"Yes, but only if an RN directly supervises the entire procedure."

Answer

"Yes, if the UAP has demonstrated competency to you in the past."

Answer

"Check the facility's policy manual; it may be allowed in emergencies."

Question 5

According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a nurse may share a patient's protected health information (PHI) without the patient's explicit authorization for which of the following reasons?

Accepted Answer

Sharing assessment data with a consulting physician for the patient's care.

Answer

Providing an update to a person who calls the unit and identifies themselves as the patient's sibling.

Answer

Discussing an interesting case with another nurse in a public cafeteria.

Answer

Fulfilling a request from a law enforcement officer who asks for a patient's diagnosis without a warrant.

Question 6

A staff nurse who is recovering from a non-work-related injury requests to return to work with a permanent medical restriction that prevents them from lifting more than 15 pounds. The essential functions of their job require frequent patient lifting and repositioning. What is the Assistant Nurse Manager's initial legal obligation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

Accepted Answer

Engage in an interactive process with the nurse to explore potential reasonable accommodations.

Answer

Inform the nurse that they cannot return to their position until the restriction is lifted.

Answer

Immediately reassign the nurse to a permanent light-duty position in another department.

Answer

Refer the nurse to human resources to apply for long-term disability benefits.