NMC Basic 4

Question 1

For patient consent to be legally valid, which three elements must all be present?

Accepted Answer

Capacity, voluntariness, and sufficient information

Answer

Witnessed signature, doctor's countersignature, and patient age over 18

Answer

Next-of-kin agreement, patient signature, and medical approval

Answer

Written form, mental health assessment, and independent witness

Question 2

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 establishes which default presumption?

Accepted Answer

Every adult is presumed to have capacity unless there is evidence to the contrary

Answer

All hospital patients lack capacity until assessed

Answer

Adults under 65 have full capacity unless proven otherwise

Answer

Capacity must be formally assessed before any clinical procedure

Question 3

A competent adult patient refuses a recommended blood transfusion on religious grounds. The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Respect and document the refusal, ensuring the patient understood the consequences

Answer

Proceed with the transfusion if the clinical situation is immediately life-threatening

Answer

Seek family consent to override the refusal

Answer

Obtain a court order before withholding the treatment

Question 4

Under NMC guidance, nursing documentation should be:

Accepted Answer

Accurate, factual, and recorded as soon as possible after events

Answer

Completed at the end of the shift to minimise interruptions

Answer

Written using standard medical abbreviations only

Answer

Brief, focusing only on abnormal clinical findings

Question 5

NMC guidance on social media use states that:

Accepted Answer

Professional standards and conduct obligations apply in online settings

Answer

Nurses may post anonymized clinical cases freely for educational purposes

Answer

Personal social media accounts are outside NMC jurisdiction

Answer

Social media conduct is only regulated during contracted working hours

Question 6

Patient information shared in confidence may be disclosed without patient consent when:

Accepted Answer

There is a serious and identifiable risk of harm to the patient or to others

Answer

A family member formally requests the information

Answer

The nurse believes it would benefit another healthcare provider

Answer

The patient's employer requests information for occupational health purposes

Question 7

When contributing to a decision for a patient who lacks mental capacity, the nurse's overriding principle is to:

Accepted Answer

Act in the patient's best interests

Answer

Follow the wishes expressed by the patient's family

Answer

Choose the least costly available treatment option

Answer

Apply the most commonly used clinical protocol