Ethical, Legal & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real LPN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethical, Legal & Professional Standards flashcards as text
A patient refuses a prescribed blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. What is the LPN's most appropriate action?
Answer: Document the refusal and notify the charge nurse or physician
Competent adults have the legal right to refuse treatment; the LPN must document the refusal and escalate to the RN or physician.
Which document legally designates someone to make healthcare decisions for a patient who becomes incapacitated?
Answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare names a healthcare proxy to make decisions when the patient cannot.
An LPN notices a colleague removing controlled substances from the medication cart without documenting the withdrawal. What should the LPN do first?
Answer: Report the observation to the charge nurse or supervisor immediately
Suspected diversion of controlled substances is a patient safety and legal issue that must be reported to the charge nurse immediately.
Which ethical principle is violated when an LPN shares a patient's HIV status with the patient's employer without consent?
Answer: Confidentiality
Disclosing protected health information without consent violates the patient's right to confidentiality under HIPAA and ethical standards.
A patient signs a consent form for surgery but tells the LPN, 'I don't really understand what they're going to do.' What is the LPN's priority action?
Answer: Notify the RN or surgeon that informed consent may not be adequate
Valid informed consent requires patient understanding; the LPN must inform the RN or surgeon so they can re-explain before proceeding.
Under the Nurse Practice Act, what is the primary purpose of nursing licensure?
Answer: To protect the public from unsafe nursing practice
Nursing licensure exists to protect the public by ensuring that only qualified individuals practice nursing.
An LPN makes a medication error and the patient is unharmed. What is the appropriate next step?
Answer: Complete an incident report and notify the charge nurse
All medication errors must be reported and documented through an incident report regardless of patient outcome, to support quality improvement and safety.