Pediatric Nurse Professional and Legal Issues Flashcards
7 cards from real Pediatric Nurse Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pediatric Nurse Professional and Legal Issues flashcards as text
A 15-year-old presents to the ER requesting treatment for a sexually transmitted infection without parental notification. Which action is most appropriate?
Answer: Provide treatment, as most states allow minors to consent to STI treatment
Most U.S. states have minor consent laws that allow adolescents to seek and receive treatment for STIs without parental involvement.
Which document designates a healthcare proxy for a pediatric patient who reaches adulthood during a prolonged illness?
Answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare allows an adult patient to designate another person to make medical decisions if they become incapacitated.
A nurse discovers that a colleague is documenting medications as given before actually administering them. What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer: Report the behavior to the charge nurse or nurse manager
Falsification of medication records is a serious patient safety and legal issue that must be reported to the appropriate supervisor or manager.
A pediatric nurse is asked to float to the neonatal ICU where she has no experience. What is the best response?
Answer: Accept and immediately notify the charge nurse of her limitations
Nurses must accept assignments in good faith but are professionally and legally obligated to communicate skill limitations to ensure patient safety.
Which ethical principle is most directly violated when a nurse shares a pediatric patient's HIV status with the child's school without consent?
Answer: Confidentiality
Disclosing a patient's HIV status without consent violates confidentiality, a cornerstone of the nurse-patient relationship and HIPAA.
A 10-year-old with cancer tells the nurse she doesn't want any more chemotherapy but her parents insist on continuing. Who legally holds decision-making authority?
Answer: The parents, as legal guardians of a minor
Parents retain legal decision-making authority for minors; however, the child's assent should be sought and ethical consultation may be warranted.
What is the nurse's primary responsibility when a physician's order appears potentially harmful to a pediatric patient?
Answer: Question the order and clarify with the prescribing physician before administration
Nurses have both a professional and legal duty to clarify questionable orders with the prescribing provider before carrying them out.
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