RPN Professional and Ethical Practice 2

Question 1

A client refuses a recommended blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. What is the RPN's primary ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Document the refusal and respect the client's autonomous decision

Answer

Respecting client autonomy means honoring informed refusals even when the RPN disagrees with the decision.

Question 2

An RPN suspects a colleague is diverting controlled substances. What is the most appropriate first action?

Accepted Answer

Report the suspicion to the nurse manager or appropriate authority

Answer

RPN professional standards require reporting concerns about colleague conduct that may endanger patients to the appropriate authority promptly.

Question 3

Which principle is violated when an RPN shares a client's HIV status with the client's employer without consent?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Disclosing protected health information without authorization violates the client's right to confidentiality.

Question 4

An RPN documents an intervention that was not performed. This action is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Falsification of records

Answer

Charting care that was not given constitutes falsification of records, a serious breach of professional and legal standards.

Question 5

A client with dementia is unable to provide informed consent for a procedure. Who has the legal authority to consent on the client's behalf in most US states?

Accepted Answer

A legally designated surrogate decision-maker or healthcare proxy

Answer

When a client lacks decision-making capacity, a legally designated surrogate or healthcare proxy provides substitute consent.

RPN - Registered Practical Nurse Practice Test

RPN - Registered Practical Nurse Practice Test

RPN Professional and Ethical Practice 2