Legal & Ethical Behaviours Flashcards

You hear another nurse aide tell a confused resident, “If you don’t eat, I’ll lock you in your room.” You should

Answer: tell the charge nurse what you have observed.

Threatening a resident, even a confused one, constitutes verbal abuse and is unacceptable. As a mandated reporter, the nurse aide has a legal and ethical obligation to report any observed or suspected abuse to their immediate supervisor, the charge nurse. The charge nurse can then investigate the incident and take appropriate action to protect the resident.

Mr. Joseph overhears the nurse aide speaking to the nurse about his roommate's diagnosis and demands to know more about the roommate’s condition. The nurse aide should

Answer: firmly but politely explain she cannot discuss another resident’s condition.

Patient confidentiality, governed by HIPAA, prohibits healthcare professionals from discussing a resident's protected health information with unauthorized individuals, including other residents. The nurse aide must politely but firmly uphold this boundary to protect the roommate's privacy. Disclosing information would be a breach of trust and a violation of privacy laws.

The nurse aide reported bruises on Mr. Jenkins’ arm last week. Today, during A.M. care, there were more bruises. The nurse aide should

Answer: report the abuse again or call the state's abuse hot-line.

As a mandated reporter, a nurse aide has a legal and ethical obligation to report suspected abuse. If initial reporting did not lead to resolution and new signs of abuse appear, it is crucial to report again, escalating if necessary, to the charge nurse or even directly to the state's abuse hotline. Failing to act further could be considered neglect or aiding and abetting.

The nurse aide gave a client the wrong diet. What will the nurse aide do after realizing this error?

Answer: Report the error immediately to the nurse.

Any medication or diet error must be reported immediately to the nurse. The nurse needs to assess the client for any adverse effects, implement corrective actions, and document the incident. Prompt reporting is crucial for client safety and allows for timely intervention, preventing potential harm from the error.

You observed a coworker being physically abusive to a resident. You did not report the incident to the Nurse Supervisor. You can be charged with

Answer: aiding and abetting.

Aiding and abetting means assisting or encouraging someone to commit a crime, or being present and failing to prevent it when one has a duty to do so. By observing physical abuse and failing to report it, the nurse aide is essentially allowing the abuse to continue and is therefore complicit. This makes them liable for aiding and abetting the abusive act.

Incident reports are written in order to

Answer: determine patterns and trends.

Incident reports are crucial tools for quality improvement and risk management in healthcare facilities. They are used to document unexpected events, identify underlying causes, and analyze patterns or trends that might indicate systemic issues. This information helps facilities implement corrective actions and preventative measures to enhance patient safety and care quality.

Misuse of a resident’s money or property by family, friends, or staff, is known as

Answer: financial abuse.

Financial abuse involves the illegal or improper use of a resident's money, property, or assets for someone else's benefit. This can include theft, fraud, coercion, or misuse of power of attorney. It is a serious form of elder abuse and is strictly prohibited, as it violates the resident's rights and can cause significant harm.

When caring for a home health client, all team members need to

Answer: Communicate frequently with each other.

Effective communication among all team members is vital for providing coordinated and comprehensive care, especially in home health settings where team members may not be physically together. Frequent communication ensures everyone is aware of the client's changing needs, care plan updates, and any concerns. This leads to better outcomes and continuity of care for the client.

After you have visited a home health client, learned some new information about them, and want to talk about it, you should

Answer: Call your supervisor to share the information.

When new information about a home health client is learned, it is crucial to communicate it through proper professional channels. Calling your supervisor ensures that the information is documented, integrated into the client's care plan, and handled confidentially. Discussing client information with co-workers at lunch, family, or friends violates patient confidentiality and professional ethics.

If there are concerns about abuse in an facility

Answer: The incident must be reported immediately to the supervisor or administrator.

Any concern or suspicion of abuse in a facility must be reported immediately to the supervisor or administrator. This is a legal and ethical obligation for all healthcare professionals, including CNAs, to protect residents from harm. Prompt reporting ensures that an investigation can be initiated quickly to ensure resident safety and well-being.

If you see a significant bruise on John' back while giving him a bath and completing morning care, you should

Answer: Report it to the nurse

Discovering a significant bruise on a resident requires immediate reporting to the nurse. The nurse is responsible for assessing the bruise, documenting it, and determining if further medical attention or investigation is needed. As a CNA, your role is to observe and report changes in a resident's condition to the licensed nurse, not to diagnose or treat.

When is HIPAA training required prior to starting a job?

Answer: During initial orientation.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) training is a mandatory requirement for all healthcare employees to ensure they understand patient privacy and data security regulations. This training is typically provided during initial orientation before an employee begins working with patient information. It ensures compliance from the very start of employment.

Who should the nursing assistant contact FIRST if she is worried about the care of the client?

Answer: The nurse in charge

If a nursing assistant has concerns about a client's care, the immediate supervisor is the appropriate person to contact first. In most healthcare settings, this would be the nurse in charge (e.g., charge nurse, team leader). This ensures that the concern is addressed promptly by someone with the authority and expertise to assess the situation and take appropriate action.

Except in an emergency, making personal calls on the phones in the nursing station is

Answer: Unacceptable

Making personal calls on phones in the nursing station is generally unacceptable because it can tie up lines needed for urgent medical communication and distract staff from their duties. The nursing station is a professional environment where the focus should remain on patient care and communication. Personal calls should be limited to emergencies or made during breaks using personal devices.

An Advanced Directive for her end-of-life care is provided to you by a 22-year-old with terminal brain cancer. You are aware that this might signify any of the things below, BUT

Answer: Her family can direct the staff to keep her alive

An Advanced Directive, such as a Living Will, allows an individual to express their wishes regarding medical treatment, including end-of-life care. Once a valid Advanced Directive is in place, the patient's stated wishes take precedence and cannot be overridden by family members. Therefore, her family cannot direct staff to keep her alive if she has specified otherwise in her directive.

Using a resident's nickname is acceptable if

Answer: The resident requests it

Using a resident's nickname is acceptable only if the resident explicitly requests or consents to it. Respecting a resident's personal preferences, including how they wish to be addressed, is a fundamental aspect of person-centered care and promotes dignity. Otherwise, staff should use their formal name.