NMBI Professional Conduct 2

Question 1

What are the key principles of informed consent in nursing practice?

Accepted Answer

The patient must receive adequate information about the treatment, understand it, and give consent voluntarily without coercion, with the capacity to make the decision

Answer

Informed consent requires that the patient has capacity, receives adequate information (including risks, benefits, and alternatives), understands the information, and gives consent voluntarily. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and must be renewed for each new procedure.

Question 2

How should a nurse handle a situation where they are asked to perform a task outside their scope of practice?

Accepted Answer

Decline the task, explain that it is outside their scope of practice, and ensure alternative arrangements are made for patient care

Answer

Nurses must not practise beyond their scope of competence. Performing tasks outside their scope puts patients at risk and exposes the nurse to professional and legal liability. The nurse should decline, explain the reason, and ensure the task is completed by an appropriately qualified person.

Question 3

What is a 'protected disclosure' under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and how does it apply to nurses?

Accepted Answer

A report of wrongdoing in the workplace made in good faith, which protects the nurse from retaliation — also known as whistleblowing

Answer

The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 protects workers (including nurses) who report wrongdoing in the workplace in good faith. This includes reporting patient safety concerns, financial irregularities, or breaches of law. The whistleblower is protected from penalisation.

Question 4

What are the boundaries of the nurse-patient professional relationship?

Accepted Answer

The relationship must remain professional and therapeutic, avoiding personal, financial, or romantic involvement with patients or their families

Answer

The NMBI Code requires nurses to maintain clear professional boundaries. This means avoiding dual relationships, not accepting gifts of significant value, not entering into financial or romantic relationships with patients, and being mindful of power dynamics in the therapeutic relationship.

Question 5

What is the nurse's obligation regarding professional indemnity insurance in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

All nurses practising in Ireland must have professional indemnity insurance, either through their employer or personally arranged

Answer

Under EU requirements and NMBI guidance, all practising nurses must have professional indemnity insurance. Most nurses employed by the HSE or private hospitals are covered by their employer's indemnity arrangements. Nurses in private or independent practice must arrange their own cover.

NMBI Practice Test

NMBI Practice Test

NMBI Professional Conduct 2