TCRN Professional and Legal Issues Flashcards

Which element is NOT required to establish nursing malpractice in a court of law?

Answer: Malicious intent by the nurse

Malpractice requires duty, breach, causation, and damages — malicious intent is not a required element; negligence is sufficient.

A trauma patient in police custody is being evaluated. Regarding release of medical information to law enforcement, the nurse should:

Answer: Release only the minimum necessary information as required by law or court order

HIPAA allows disclosure to law enforcement only in specific circumstances and requires release of only the minimum necessary information.

A family member requests that the trauma team not tell the patient about a terminal diagnosis. The nurse understands that:

Answer: The competent patient has the right to know their diagnosis unless they have waived that right

A competent patient has the ethical and legal right to receive truthful information about their condition; family members cannot override this unless the patient has specifically waived the right to know.

Which action constitutes proper chain-of-custody handling for forensic evidence collected in the trauma bay?

Answer: Documenting each person who handles the evidence and sealing it in labeled bags

Proper chain of custody requires continuous documentation of everyone who handles evidence and maintaining sealed, labeled containers to preserve evidentiary integrity.

The TCRN certification credential is issued by which organization?

Answer: Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)

The TCRN certification is awarded by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN).

A trauma nurse notices a pattern of preventable complications on the unit. The most appropriate professional response is to:

Answer: Present findings through the quality improvement process to identify systemic causes

Quality improvement processes are the appropriate mechanism to investigate recurring adverse events and implement systemic solutions.

Under which circumstance may a trauma nurse legally restrain a patient without a physician's order?

Answer: Immediately when the patient poses an imminent danger to self or others, with a physician order obtained promptly after

Emergency restraint is permissible when there is immediate danger, but a physician order must be obtained as soon as possible after application.