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Question

Difficulty: MediumLegal and Ethical Practice

Which of the following clinical actions by a practical nurse (PN) represent adherence to legal and ethical practice standards? Select all that apply.

  1. Logging out of the electronic medical record on a hallway computer before entering a client's room.Answer
  2. Declining a charge nurse's directive to independently perform the comprehensive admission assessment for a newly admitted client.Answer
  3. Signing a surgical consent form strictly to verify that the client's signature was provided voluntarily.Answer
  4. D
    Delaying the mandated report of suspected elder abuse until conclusive evidence of maltreatment can be documented.
  5. E
    Describing the potential complications and alternative options for an upcoming procedure to a hesitant client.
  6. F
    Discussing a client's recent diagnostic test results with a consulting specialist while standing in a busy public cafeteria.

Answer

The correct actions are logging out of the electronic medical record before leaving a computer, declining to perform an initial comprehensive admission assessment, and witnessing a surgical consent form to verify a voluntary signature.
Adhering to legal and ethical standards requires the practical nurse to protect client privacy by securing health records, operate strictly within their scope of practice by refusing comprehensive admission assessments, and fulfill their legal role in informed consent by acting solely as a witness to a voluntary signature.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze each option to determine if it aligns with the practical nurse's scope of practice, confidentiality laws, and ethical mandates.
Identified that logging out of unattended computers, refusing out-of-scope comprehensive assessments, and witnessing consent signatures are legally and ethically correct actions.
These actions uphold the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules and the legal limits of the Nurse Practice Act.
2
Evaluate the remaining options for potential legal or ethical violations.
Determined that delaying an abuse report, explaining surgical risks to a client, and discussing client information in public areas are direct violations of nursing standards.
Nurses must report suspected abuse immediately without waiting for proof, avoid acting outside their scope by explaining medical procedures, and protect client privacy at all times.

Key Concept

Legal and ethical nursing practice requires strict adherence to confidentiality regulations, mandatory reporting laws, and the defined practical nursing scope of practice.
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Topics

Legal and Ethical Practice

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