Legal and Ethical Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Legal and Ethical Practice flashcards as text
An LVN suspects a colleague is impaired by alcohol while on duty. The LVN's professional obligation is to:
Answer: Report the suspected impairment to the charge nurse immediately
Patient safety requires immediate reporting of a suspected impaired colleague to the charge nurse so the situation can be addressed and patients protected.
Which scenario best illustrates the ethical principle of justice in nursing?
Answer: Providing equal pain management to all patients regardless of their ability to pay
Justice requires fair and equitable distribution of care and resources without discrimination based on social or economic status.
A competent adult patient's religious beliefs prohibit blood transfusions. During a life-threatening bleed, the LVN should:
Answer: Respect the refusal and notify the supervising RN and physician immediately
Competent adult patients have the right to refuse life-saving treatment based on religious or personal beliefs; the LVN must respect this and promptly notify the care team.
Which of the following is an example of nonmaleficence in nursing practice?
Answer: Checking for allergies before administering a new medication
Nonmaleficence means 'do no harm'; verifying allergies before medication administration is a direct application of this principle.
An LVN's nursing license can be suspended or revoked by the:
Answer: State Board of Nursing
State Boards of Nursing have the legal authority to issue, suspend, and revoke nursing licenses under the Nurse Practice Act.
Which documentation practice best protects the LVN from legal liability?
Answer: Documenting objectively, accurately, and contemporaneously with care provided
Accurate, objective, and timely documentation provides a legal record of care given and is the nurse's best defense in litigation.
A nurse who shares a patient's medical information on social media, even without using the patient's name, may be in violation of:
Answer: HIPAA, state privacy laws, and facility policy
Identifiable patient information — even without a name if the individual could be identified — violates HIPAA, state laws, and facility policy and may result in termination and licensure action.