Ethical Standards & Legal Responsibilities 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 Ethical Standards & Legal Responsibilities flashcards as text
An LVN suspects a patient is being abused by a family caregiver. Under mandatory reporting laws, the LVN must:
Answer: Report the suspicion to the appropriate authority without needing proof
Mandatory reporters must report suspected abuse to the appropriate agency based on reasonable suspicion alone; proof is not required.
Which scenario best illustrates the ethical principle of justice in nursing?
Answer: An LVN provides equal quality care regardless of a patient's ability to pay
Justice requires fair and equitable distribution of care and resources without discrimination or personal bias.
An LVN administers a medication and the patient experiences a severe adverse reaction. The nurse's notes should reflect:
Answer: The medication given, the patient's reaction, interventions taken, and provider notification
Accurate and complete documentation of the event, response, and communication is both a legal and professional obligation.
What is the primary purpose of a nurse practice act (NPA)?
Answer: To define the scope of practice and protect public safety
The Nurse Practice Act in each state defines the legal scope of nursing practice and exists primarily to protect the public from unsafe practitioners.
A patient has a DNR order on file. The patient goes into cardiac arrest and a family member demands that CPR be started. The LVN should:
Answer: Honor the DNR order and provide comfort measures
A valid DNR order reflects the patient's wishes and must be honored even over family objections; the legal document takes precedence.
Which behavior by an LVN is an example of unprofessional conduct reportable to the state board of nursing?
Answer: Accessing a celebrity patient's records out of personal curiosity
Unauthorized access to patient records for non-care purposes violates HIPAA and constitutes unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary action.
The principle of 'double effect' in nursing ethics refers to:
Answer: An action intended for good that may have a foreseen harmful side effect
The doctrine of double effect permits an action intended for good (e.g., pain relief) even if it may hasten death as an unintended side effect.