LVN Ethical Standards & Legal Responsibilities 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document legally designates another person to make healthcare decisions for a patient who becomes incapacitated?
- Living will
- Do-not-resuscitate order
- Durable power of attorney for healthcare (Correct answer)
- Advance beneficiary notice
Correct answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare (healthcare proxy) legally designates a surrogate decision-maker if the patient loses capacity.
Question 2: An LVN is asked by a physician to perform a task outside the LVN's scope of practice. The LVN should:
- Perform the task to avoid conflict with the physician
- Refuse and explain that the task is outside their scope of practice (Correct answer)
- Perform it only if the physician is present
- Ask a fellow LVN to perform the task instead
Correct answer: Refuse and explain that the task is outside their scope of practice
LVNs must refuse tasks that exceed their legal scope of practice, regardless of who requests it, to protect patients and their license.
Question 3: The ethical concept of 'veracity' in nursing practice refers to:
- Doing good for the patient
- Treating all patients equally
- Telling the truth to patients (Correct answer)
- Avoiding harm to patients
Correct answer: Telling the truth to patients
Veracity is the ethical obligation to be honest and truthful in all communications with patients.
Question 4: Which situation represents a breach of patient confidentiality by an LVN?
- Reporting a patient's gunshot wound to law enforcement as required by state law
- Discussing patient details with a friend who is not involved in care (Correct answer)
- Sharing patient records with another treating physician
- Reporting suspected child abuse to child protective services
Correct answer: Discussing patient details with a friend who is not involved in care
Discussing identifiable patient information with anyone not involved in the patient's care is a breach of confidentiality and HIPAA.
Question 5: A 16-year-old patient arrives alone requesting treatment for a sexually transmitted infection. In most U.S. states, the LVN should:
- Refuse to treat without parental consent
- Contact the parents immediately before any treatment
- Proceed with care, as minors are typically allowed to consent for STI treatment (Correct answer)
- Require a court order before treating
Correct answer: Proceed with care, as minors are typically allowed to consent for STI treatment
Most states have emancipated minor laws allowing minors to consent to STI treatment without parental consent to encourage them to seek care.
Question 6: Which action by an LVN could constitute battery?
- Threatening to give a patient an injection if they don't cooperate
- Performing a procedure on a patient who has clearly refused it (Correct answer)
- Failing to inform a patient about medication side effects
- Leaving a patient in a bed without side rails raised
Correct answer: Performing a procedure on a patient who has clearly refused it
Battery is the intentional harmful or offensive touching of a person without consent; performing a refused procedure constitutes battery.
Question 7: When a nurse witnesses a patient signing an informed consent form, the witness is attesting to:
- The patient's full understanding of the procedure
- That the patient's signature is authentic and voluntary (Correct answer)
- The physician's explanation of risks and benefits
- That the procedure is medically necessary
Correct answer: That the patient's signature is authentic and voluntary
A witness to consent signing only attests that the patient's signature is genuine and was given voluntarily, not that full understanding was obtained.
LVN Ethical Standards & Legal Responsibilities 3
Which document legally designates another person to make healthcare decisions for a patient who becomes incapacitated?