Legal Scope and Accountability Flashcards

A substitute decision-maker requests a treatment be continued that the client's advance directive explicitly refuses. What should the practical nurse do?

Answer: Report the conflict to charge nurse and physician, as the SDM must follow the client's previously expressed wishes

In Canada, SDMs are legally required to follow the client's previously expressed wishes from advance directives, not substitute their own preferences.

A practical nurse overhears a colleague making demeaning comments about an elderly client based on cognitive impairment. What is the primary professional obligation?

Answer: Address the behavior with the colleague and report through appropriate professional channels

Demeaning behavior toward clients requires immediate addressing and reporting. All clients have the right to be treated with dignity.

A competent client refuses a prescribed medication. What is the practical nurse's responsibility?

Answer: Respect the refusal, document it, notify the physician, and explore the client's reasons

A competent client's refusal of medication is their legal right under autonomy. The nurse must respect this, document it, notify the physician, and explore the reasons.

Which documentation practice is legally and professionally inappropriate in Canada?

Answer: Using correction fluid (white-out) to correct a documentation error

Using correction fluid on health records is prohibited because it obscures the original entry and compromises the legal integrity of the record.

A practical nurse is assigned care that requires competencies they do not possess. What is appropriate?

Answer: Inform the charge nurse of the competency gap and request assistance, reassignment, or supervised practice

Practical nurses must practice only within their competence. Identifying a competency gap to the charge nurse is the professional obligation.

Which action violates the CNA Code of Ethics value of 'Maintaining Privacy and Confidentiality'?

Answer: Posting on social media about an anonymous clinical case with enough details to identify the client

Posting clinical information that could identify a client violates privacy and confidentiality obligations, even if posted anonymously.