LVN Legal and Ethical Practice 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the scope of practice for an LVN?
- Performing basic nursing care under the supervision of an RN or physician, as defined by state law (Correct answer)
- Independent practice without supervision
- Prescribing medications
- Performing surgery
Correct answer: Performing basic nursing care under the supervision of an RN or physician, as defined by state law
LVNs provide direct patient care within legally defined boundaries under the supervision of licensed practitioners.
Question 2: What is informed consent and the LVN's role?
- The LVN ensures consent is documented but cannot obtain informed consent — that is the provider's responsibility (Correct answer)
- LVNs obtain all consents
- Consent is not required
- Only surgeons handle consent
Correct answer: The LVN ensures consent is documented but cannot obtain informed consent — that is the provider's responsibility
While LVNs may witness signatures and verify documentation, explaining procedures and obtaining informed consent is the provider's responsibility.
Question 3: What are mandatory reporting requirements for LVNs?
- LVNs must report suspected abuse, neglect, certain communicable diseases, and unsafe practice (Correct answer)
- Reporting is optional
- Only report criminal activity
- Only report to family members
Correct answer: LVNs must report suspected abuse, neglect, certain communicable diseases, and unsafe practice
As mandated reporters, LVNs are legally required to report suspected abuse, neglect, and other specified conditions.
Question 4: What is professional negligence in nursing?
- Failure to provide care that meets the standard expected of a reasonably competent nurse in similar circumstances (Correct answer)
- Any mistake a nurse makes
- Only medication errors
- Only errors causing death
Correct answer: Failure to provide care that meets the standard expected of a reasonably competent nurse in similar circumstances
Negligence requires four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
Question 5: What is the nurse's role in patient confidentiality?
- Protecting patient information from unauthorized disclosure as required by law and professional ethics (Correct answer)
- Sharing information with anyone who asks
- Confidentiality is optional
- Only doctors handle confidentiality
Correct answer: Protecting patient information from unauthorized disclosure as required by law and professional ethics
Nurses must safeguard patient information, sharing it only with authorized individuals for legitimate care purposes.
Question 6: What is the difference between delegation and assignment?
- Delegation transfers authority for a task to another; assignment distributes work within someone's existing scope (Correct answer)
- They are the same
- Only doctors delegate
- LVNs cannot delegate any tasks
Correct answer: Delegation transfers authority for a task to another; assignment distributes work within someone's existing scope
Delegation involves transferring responsibility for a task, while assignment allocates work that is already within someone's scope of practice.
LVN Legal and Ethical Practice 1
What is the scope of practice for an LVN?