RPN Legal Practice and Scope 2

Question 1

An RPN documents a medication error in the patient's chart. What is the NEXT required action?

Accepted Answer

File an incident report per facility policy

Answer

Medication errors must be documented in the chart AND reported via an incident report per facility policy to ensure patient safety and quality improvement.

Question 2

Which action by an RPN constitutes professional misconduct under nursing practice legislation?

Accepted Answer

Performing a skill outside the approved scope without delegation

Answer

Performing tasks outside the legislated or employer-approved scope without proper delegation constitutes professional misconduct.

Question 3

A patient who is a Jehovah's Witness refuses a blood transfusion ordered by the physician. The RPN should:

Accepted Answer

Respect the refusal and document it, then notify the physician

Answer

Competent adult patients have the legal right to refuse treatment; the RPN must document the refusal and inform the physician.

Question 4

Under mandatory reporting laws, an RPN is required to report suspected child abuse to:

Accepted Answer

The appropriate child protective services agency

Answer

Mandatory reporting laws require healthcare professionals, including RPNs, to report suspected child abuse directly to child protective services.

Question 5

An RPN receives a verbal order from a physician by phone. The best practice is to:

Accepted Answer

Repeat the order back to verify, then document it and have the physician countersign within the required timeframe

Answer

Verbal orders require read-back verification for safety and must be countersigned by the physician within the facility's required timeframe.

RPN - Registered Practical Nurse Practice Test

RPN - Registered Practical Nurse Practice Test

RPN Legal Practice and Scope 2