While managing client care in an acute care setting, a practical nurse (PN) encounters several situations requiring clinical judgment. Which of the following actions by the PN demonstrate adherence to legal and ethical standards of practice? Select all that apply.
- Serving as a witness on an informed consent form strictly to verify the authenticity of the client's signature.Answer
- BClarifying the specific surgical risks and alternative treatment options for a client who expresses confusion before an operation.
- Refusing to confirm a client's admission status to a caller who claims to be the client's spouse but lacks the facility's designated privacy code.Answer
- DWaiting to gather concrete evidence of physical abuse before filing a report with adult protective services regarding a vulnerable older adult.
- Filing a copy of a client's newly executed advance directive in the medical record and communicating the code status during shift report.Answer
- FFormulating the initial comprehensive care plan and establishing primary nursing diagnoses for a client newly admitted to the unit.
Answer
The correct actions are: witnessing the consent signature without providing medical explanations, withholding admission status from unauthorized callers, and properly filing and communicating advance directives.
The correct actions align with the legal and ethical boundaries of the practical nurse. The PN's role in informed consent is strictly to witness the voluntary signature of the client. Adhering to HIPAA regulations requires withholding client presence and health information from anyone lacking proper authorization, such as a designated privacy code. Finally, ensuring that advance directives are properly filed and communicated honors the client's legal right to self-determination in healthcare decisions.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Legal and ethical boundaries of the PN role, including informed consent witnessing, HIPAA compliance, mandated reporting, and delegation limits within the nursing process.