RPN Legal Practice and Scope 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which element is NOT required to establish nursing negligence in a malpractice lawsuit?
- Proof of the nurse's intent to harm the patient (Correct answer)
- A duty of care owed to the patient
- A breach of the standard of care
- Damages resulting from the breach
Correct answer: Proof of the nurse's intent to harm the patient
Negligence does not require intent to harm; it requires duty, breach, causation, and damages — intent is irrelevant.
Question 2: An RPN floats to an unfamiliar unit and is asked to perform a skill they have not been trained for. The correct response is to:
- Inform the charge nurse of the limitation and request assignment of a qualified nurse for that task (Correct answer)
- Attempt the skill using general nursing knowledge
- Refuse the entire float assignment
- Perform the skill and ask a colleague to supervise informally
Correct answer: Inform the charge nurse of the limitation and request assignment of a qualified nurse for that task
RPNs must practice only within their competence; when assigned tasks beyond training, they must communicate limitations and seek reallocation.
Question 3: When caring for a minor patient, consent for routine treatment is typically obtained from:
- A parent or legal guardian (Correct answer)
- The minor patient only if over age 14
- The attending physician on the minor's behalf
- The hospital's patient advocate
Correct answer: A parent or legal guardian
For minors, informed consent for routine treatment must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian, with exceptions for emancipated minors or emergencies.
Question 4: An RPN restrains a patient without a physician's order or the patient's consent. This may constitute:
- False imprisonment and battery (Correct answer)
- Appropriate emergency intervention with post-hoc documentation
- Acceptable restraint use under nursing judgment
- A protected action under the emergency exception clause
Correct answer: False imprisonment and battery
Restraining a patient without proper authority constitutes false imprisonment, and any unwanted physical contact may constitute battery.
Question 5: Which type of law primarily governs the RPN's professional license and scope of practice?
- Administrative/regulatory law via the state nursing practice act (Correct answer)
- Federal criminal law
- Civil tort law
- Contract law
Correct answer: Administrative/regulatory law via the state nursing practice act
Nursing licensure and scope of practice are regulated through administrative law, specifically the state nursing practice act and its implementing regulations.
Question 6: A patient verbally abuses the RPN during care. The nurse has the right to:
- Set limits on abusive behavior while continuing to provide care (Correct answer)
- Refuse all further care for that patient without notifying anyone
- Restrain the patient for staff safety without an order
- Leave the unit for the remainder of the shift
Correct answer: Set limits on abusive behavior while continuing to provide care
RPNs can set professional limits on abusive behavior while maintaining the duty to provide necessary care and notifying supervisors.
Question 7: Which scenario represents an appropriate use of the 'Good Samaritan' law for an RPN?
- Providing emergency first aid at a car accident scene outside of work (Correct answer)
- Administering IV medications in a home without physician supervision
- Performing surgical procedures in an emergency shelter
- Dispensing prescription medications from personal supply at a community event
Correct answer: Providing emergency first aid at a car accident scene outside of work
Good Samaritan laws provide limited liability protection to healthcare providers who voluntarily render emergency assistance outside their normal scope of employment.
RPN Legal Practice and Scope 4
Which element is NOT required to establish nursing negligence in a malpractice lawsuit?