Chapter 23: Legal Implications in Nursing Practice Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A newly hired experienced nurse is preparing to change a
... [Show More] patient’s abdominal dressing and hasn’t done it before at this hospital. Which action by the nurse is best?
a. Ask another nurse to do it so the correct method can be viewed.
b. Check the policy and procedure manual for the agency’s method.
c. Change the dressing using the method taught in nursing school.
d. Ask the patient how the dressing change has been recently done.
ANS: B
The Joint Commission requires accredited hospitals to have written nursing policies and pro- cedures. These internal standards of care are specific and need to be accessible on all nursing units. For example, a policy/procedure outlining the steps to follow when changing a dressing or administering medication provides specific information about how nurses are to perform. The nurse being observed may not be doing the procedure according to the agency’s policy or procedure. The procedure taught in nursing school may not be consistent with the policy or procedure for this agency. The patient is not responsible for maintaining the standards of prac- tice. Patient input is important, but it’s not what directs nursing practice.
DIF: Apply REF: 297 OBJ: List sources for standards of care for nurses. TOP: Planning MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. A new nurse notes that the health care unit keeps a listing of patient names in a closed book behind the front desk of the nursing station so patients can be located easily. What action is most appropriate for the nurse to take?
a. Move the book to the upper ledge of the nursing station for easier access.
b. Talk with the nurse manager about the listing being a violation of the Health Insur- ance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
c. Use the book as needed while keeping it away from individuals not involved in pa- tient care.
d. Ask the nurse manager to move the book to a more secluded area.
ANS: C
The privacy section of the HIPAA provides standards regarding accountability in the health care setting. These rules include patient rights to consent to the use and disclosure of their pro- tected health information, to inspect and copy their medical record, and to amend mistaken or incomplete information. This document limits who is able to access a patient’s record. It es- tablishes the basis for privacy and confidentiality about patients in any manner. The book is located where only staff would have access. It is not the responsibility of the new nurse to move items used by others on the patient unit. The listing is protected as long as it is used ap- propriately as needed to provide care. There is no need to move the book to a more secluded area.
DIF: Apply REF: 299
OBJ: Describe the legal responsibilities and obligations of nurses regarding the following federal statutes: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the Patient
Self-Determination Act (PSDA). TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
3. A 17-year-old patient, dying of heart failure, wants to have his organs removed for transplan- tation after his death. What action by the nurse is correct?
a. Prepare the organ donation form for the patient to sign while he is still oriented.
b. Instruct the patient to talk with his parents about his desire to donate his organs.
c. Notify the physician about the patient’s desire to donate his organs.
d. Contact the United Network for Organ Sharing after talking with the patient.
ANS: B
An individual over age 18 may sign the form allowing organ donation upon death. In this situ- ation, the parents would need to sign the form because the teenager is under age 18. The nurse cannot allow the patient to sign the organ donation document because he is younger than age
18. The physician will be notified about the patient’s wishes after the parents agree to donate the organs. The nurse caring for the patient does not contact the United Network for Organ Sharing. A transplant coordinator will be the liaison for this organization.
DIF: Apply REF: 299
OBJ: Define legal aspects of nurse-patient, nurse–health care provider, nurse-nurse, and nurse-em- ployer relationships. TOP: Implementation
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
4. An obstetrical nurse comes across an automobile accident. The patient seems to have a crushed upper airway, and while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive, the nurse makes a cut in the trachea and inserts a straw from her purse to provide an airway. The patient survives and has a permanent problem with his vocal cords, making it difficult to talk. Which statement is true regarding the nurse’s performance?
a. The nurse acted appropriately and saved the patient’s life.
b. The nurse acted within the guidelines of the Good Samaritan Law.
c. The nurse took actions beyond those that are standard and appropriate.
d. The nurse should have just stayed with the patient and waited for help.
ANS: C
An obstetric nurse would not have been trained in performing a tracheostomy or a cricotomy, and doing so would be beyond what she has been trained or educated to do. The nurse did not do what another nurse would have done in the same situation. The nurse is not protected by the Good Samaritan Law because she acted outside of her scope of practice and training. The nurse should have acted within what she was trained and educated to do in this circumstance, not just stay with the patient.
DIF: Understand REF: 300 OBJ: Explain the legal concept of standard of care. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
5. A nurse performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a 92-year-old with brittle bones and breaks a rib during the procedure, which then punctures a lung. The patient recovers com- pletely without any residual problems and sues the nurse for pain and suffering, and for mal- practice. What key point will the prosecution attempt to prove?
a. The CPR procedure was done incorrectly.
b. The patient would have died if nothing was done.
c. The patient was resuscitated according to policy.
d. Patients with brittle bones might sustain fractures when chest compressions are done.
ANS: A
Certain criteria are necessary to establish nursing malpractice. In this situation, although harm was caused, it was not because of failure of the nurse to perform a duty according to standards the way other nurses would have performed in the same situation. The nurse would have had to have done the procedure correctly, or the patient most likely would not have survived with- out any residual problems such as brain damage. The fact that the patient sustained injury as a result of age and physical status does not mean the nurse breached any duty to the patient. The nurse would need to make sure the defense attorney knew that the cardiopulmonary resuscita- tion (CPR) was done correctly. Without intervention, the patient most likely would not have survived. The prosecution would try to prove that a breach of duty had occurred, which had caused injury, not that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was done correctly. The defense team, not the prosecution, would explain the correlation between brittle bones and rib fractures dur- ing CPR.
DIF: Understand REF: 302 OBJ: List the elements needed to prove negligence. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
6. A recent immigrant who does not speak English is alert and requires hospitalization. What is the initial action that the nurse must take to enable informed consent to be obtained?
a. Ask a family member to translate what the nurse is saying.
b. Notify the health care provider that the patient doesn’t speak English.
c. Request an official interpreter to explain the terms of consent.
d. Use hand gestures and medical equipment while explaining in English.
ANS: C
An official interpreter must be present to explain the terms of consent if a patient speaks only a foreign language. A family member or acquaintance who speaks a patient’s language should not interpret health information. Family members can tell those caring for the patient what the patient is saying, but privacy regarding the patient’s condition, assessment, etc., must be pro- tected. There is no way that the nurse can know that the family member is translating exactly what the nurse is saying. Privacy must be ensured and accurate information must be provided to the patient. After consent is obtained for treatment, the health care provider would be noti- fied because little can be done without consent. The health care provider needs to have the translator available during the history and physical, as well as at other times, but the first step is to get a translator to obtain informed consent because this is not an emergency situation.
Using hand gestures and medical equipment is inappropriate when communicating with a pa- tient who does not understand the language spoken. Certain hand gestures may be acceptable in one culture and not appropriate in another. The medical equipment may be unknown and frightening to the patient, and the patient still doesn’t understand what is being said.
DIF: Apply REF: 302
OBJ: Discuss the nurse’s role in witnessing the informed consent process.
TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
7. A pediatric oncology nurse floats to an orthopedic trauma unit. What actions should the nurse manager of the orthopedic unit take to enable safe care to be given by this nurse?
a. Provide a complete orientation to the functioning of the entire unit.
b. Determine patient acuity and care the nurse can safely provide.
c. Allow the nurse to choose which meal time she would like.
d. Assign nursing assistive personnel to assist her with care.
ANS: B
Nurses who float need to inform the supervisor of any lack of experience in caring for the type of patients on the nursing unit. They also need to request and receive an orientation to the unit. Supervisors are liable if they give a staff nurse an assignment that he or she cannot safely han- dle. Before accepting employment, learn the policies of the institution regarding floating, and have an understanding as to what is expected. A basic orientation is needed, whereas a com- plete orientation of the functioning of the entire unit would take a period of time that would exceed what the nurse has to spend on orientation. Allowing the nurse to choose which meal time she would like is a nice gesture of thanks for the nurse, but it does not enable safe care.
Having nursing assistive personnel may help the nurse complete basic tasks such as hygiene and turning, but it does not enable safe nursing care that she is ultimately responsible for.
DIF: Apply REF: 304
OBJ: Define legal aspects of nurse-patient, nurse–health care provider, nurse-nurse, and nurse-em- ployer relationships. TOP: Implementation
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
8. While recovering from a severe illness, a hospitalized patient states that he wants to change his living will, which he signed nine months ago. Which response by the nurse is most appro- priate?
a. “Check with your admitting health care provider whether a copy is on your chart.”
b. “Have you talked with your attorney recently about a living will?”
c. “Your living will can be changed only once each calendar year.”
d. “Let me check with someone here in the hospital who can assist you.”
ANS: D
Each health care facility has personnel who are familiar with the state laws and can assist the patient in revising a living will. They may be in the admissions or risk management depart- ment. Checking with the health care provider about the presence of a living will on the chart has nothing to do with the patient’s desire to change the living will. The question states that the patient wants to change his living will. Asking whether he has talked to his lawyer recently is a closed-ended question that passes the responsibility to someone else, that is, the attorney, and does not address the patient’s current desire to change the living will. It is the nurse’s re- sponsibility to find an appropriate person in the facility to assist the patient. A living will can be changed whenever the patient decides to change it, as long as the patient is competent.
DIF: Apply REF: 298-299
OBJ: Describe the legal responsibilities and obligations of nurses regarding the following federal statutes: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA). TOP: Implementation
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
9. A nurse notices that his neighbor’s preschool children are often playing on the sidewalk and in the street unsupervised and repeatedly takes them back to their home and talks with the parent available, but the situation continues. What immediate action by the nurse is mandated by law?
a. Talk with both parents about safety needs of their children.
b. Contact the appropriate community child protection agency.
c. Tell the parents that the authorities will be contacted shortly.
d. Take pictures of the children to support the overt child abuse.
ANS: B
The nurse has a duty to report this situation to protect the children. Any health care profes- sional who does not report suspected child abuse or neglect may be liable for civil or criminal legal action. The person making the report has legal immunity if the report is made in good faith. Talking with the parents is not mandated by law. There is no obligation to tell the par- ents that they will be reported to authorities. There is no obligation for the nurse to take pic- tures of the children.
DIF: Apply REF: 300
OBJ: Describe the nursing implications associated with legal issues that occur in nursing practice. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
10. A confused patient with a urinary catheter, nasogastric tube, and intravenous line keeps touch- ing these needed items for care. The nurse has tried to explain to the patient that he should not touch these lines, but the patient continues. What is the best action by the nurse at this time?
a. Apply restraints loosely on the patient’s dominant wrist.
b. Try other approaches to prevent the patient from touching these care items.
c. Notify the health care provider that restraints are needed immediately to maintain the patient’s safety.
d. Allow the patient to pull out lines to prove that the patient needs to be restrained.
ANS: B
The risks associated with the use of restraints are serious. A restraint-free environment is the first goal of care for all patients. Many alternatives to the use of restraints are available, and the nurse should try all of them before notifying the patient’s health care provider. The situa- tion states that the patient is touching the items, not trying to pull them out. At this time, the patient’s well-being is not at risk. The nurse will have to check on the patient frequently and then will determine if the health care provider needs to be informed of the situation. Restraints can be used (1) only to ensure the physical safety of the resident or other residents, (2) when less restrictive interventions are not successful, and (3) only on the written order of a health care provider. The health care provider needs to know the situation but also needs to know that all approaches possible have been used before writing an order for restraints. Allowing the patient to pull out any of these items could cause harm to the patient.
DIF: Apply REF: 300
OBJ: Describe the nursing implications associated with legal issues that occur in nursing practice. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
11. A patient with sepsis as a result of long-term leukemia dies 25 hours after admission to the hospital. A full code was conducted without success. The patient had a urinary catheter, an in- travenous line, an oxygen cannula, and a nasogastric tube. What question is priority for the nurse to ask the family before beginning postmortem care?
a. “Do you want to assist in bathing your loved one?”
b. “Is an autopsy going to be done?”
c. “To which funeral home do you want your loved one transported?”
d. “Do you want me to remove the lines and tubes before you see your loved one?”
ANS: B
An autopsy or postmortem examination may be requested by the patient or the patient’s fam- ily, as part of an institutional policy, or if required by law. Because the patient’s death oc- curred as a result of long-term illness, not under suspicious circumstances, and more than 24 hours after admission to the hospital, whether to conduct a postmortem examination would be decided by the family, and consent would have to be obtained from the family. The nurse needs to know the policy to follow regarding removal of lines when an autopsy is to be done. Asking about bathing the deceased patient is a valid question but is not priority, because the nurse needs to know the protocol to follow if an autopsy is to be done. Finding out which fu- neral home the deceased patient is to be transported to is valid but is not priority, because other actions must be taken before the deceased patient is transported from the hospital. Re- moval of lines and tubes is not a decision made by the family if an autopsy is to be done. The nurse must first check the protocol to be followed.
DIF: Apply REF: 301
OBJ: Describe the nursing implications associated with legal issues that occur in nursing practice. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
12. Conjoined twins are in the neonatal department of the community hospital until transfer to the closest medical center. A photographer from the local newspaper gets off the elevator on the neonatal floor and wants to take pictures of the infants. What initial action should the nurse take?
a. Escort the cameraman to the neonatal unit while a few pictures are taken quietly.
b. Tell the cameraman where the hospital’s public relations department is located.
c. Ask the cameraman to wait while permission is obtained from the physician.
d. Ask the cameraman how the pictures are to be used in the local newspaper.
ANS: B
In some cases, information about a scientific discovery or a major medical breakthrough or an unusual situation is newsworthy. In this case, anyone seeking information needs to contact the hospital’s public relations department to ensure that invasion of privacy does not occur. It is not the nurse’s responsibility to decide independently the legality of disclosing information.
The nurse does not have the right to allow the cameraman access to the neonatal unit. This would constitute invasion of privacy. The physician has no responsibility regarding this situa- tion and cannot allow the cameraman on the unit. It is not the nurse’s responsibility to find out how the pictures are to be used. This is a task for the public relations department.
DIF: Apply REF: 302
OBJ: Describe the nursing implications associated with legal issues that occur in nursing practice. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
13. A nursing student has been written up several times for being late with providing patient care and for omitting aspects of patient care and not knowing basic procedures that were taught in the skills course one term earlier. The nursing student says, “I don’t understand what the big deal is. As my instructor, you are there to protect me and make sure I don’t make mistakes.” What is the best response from the nursing instructor?
a. “You are expected to perform at the level of a professional nurse.”
b. “You are expected to perform at the level of a nursing student.”
c. “You are practicing under the license of the nurse assigned to the patient.”
d. “You are expected to perform at the level of a skilled nursing assistant.”
ANS: A
Although nursing students are not employees of the health care agency where they are having their clinical experience, they are expected to perform as professional nurses would in provid- ing safe patient care. Different levels of standards do not apply. Nursing students, just as nurses, provide safe, complete patient care, or they don’t. No standard is used for nursing stu- dents other than that they must meet the standards of a professional nurse. The nursing in- structor, not the nurse assigned to the patient, is responsible for the actions of the nursing stu- dent.
DIF: Apply REF: 303
OBJ: Define legal aspects of nurse-patient, nurse–health care provider, nurse-nurse, and nurse-em- ployer relationships. TOP: Implementation
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
14. A nurse works full-time on the oncology unit at the hospital and works part-time on weekends giving immunizations at the local pharmacy. While giving an injection on a weekend, the nurse caused injury to the patient’s arm and is now being sued. How will the hospital’s mal- practice insurance provide coverage for this nurse?
a. It will provide coverage as long as the nurse followed all procedures, protocols, and policies correctly.
b. The hospital’s malpractice insurance covers this nurse only during the time the nurse is working at the hospital.
c. As long as the nurse has never been sued before this incident, the hospital’s mal- practice insurance will cover the nurse.
d. The hospital’s malpractice insurance will provide approximately 50% of the cover- age the nurse will need.
ANS: B
Malpractice insurance provided by the employing institution covers nurses only while they are working within the scope of their employment at that institution. It is always wise to find out if malpractice insurance is provided by a secondary place of employment, in this case, the pharmacy, or the nurse should carry an individual malpractice policy to cover situations such as this.
DIF: Understand REF: 304
OBJ: Define legal aspects of nurse-patient, nurse–health care provider, nurse-nurse, and nurse-em- ployer relationships. TOP: Implementation
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
15. A nursing student in the final term of nursing school is overheard by a nursing faculty member telling another student that she got to insert a nasogastric tube in the emergency department while she was working as a nursing assistant. What advice is best for the nursing faculty member to give to the nursing student?
a. “Just be careful when you are doing new procedures and make sure you are fol- lowing directions by the nurse.”
b. “Review your procedures before you go to work, so you will be prepared to do them if you have a chance.”
c. “The nurse should not have allowed you to insert the nasogastric tube because something bad could have happened.”
d. “You are not allowed to perform any procedures other than those in your job de- scription even with the nurse’s permission.”
ANS: D
When nursing students work as nursing assistants or nurse’s aides when not attending classes, they should not perform tasks that do not appear in a job description for a nurse’s aide or as- sistant. The nursing student should always follow the directions of the nurse, unless doing so violates the institution’s guidelines or job description under which the nursing student was hired. The nursing student should be able to safely complete the procedures delegated as a nursing assistant, and reviewing those not done recently is a good idea, but it has nothing to do with the situation. This option does not address the situation that the nursing student acted outside the job description for the nursing assistant position. The focus of the discussion be- tween the nursing faculty member and the nursing student should be on following the job de- scription under which the nursing student is working.
DIF: Apply REF: 303 OBJ: List sources for standards of care for nurses. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
1. The nurse calculates the medication dose for an infant on the pediatric unit and determines that the dose is twice what it should be. The pediatrician is contacted and says to administer the medication as ordered. What is the next action that the nurse should take? (Select all that apply.)
a. Notify the nursing supervisor.
b. Check the chain of command policy for such situations.
c. Give the medication as ordered.
d. Give the amount calculated to be correct.
e. Contact the pharmacy for clarification.
ANS: A, B
Nurses follow health care providers’ orders unless they believe the orders are in error or may harm patients. Therefore, the nurse needs to assess all orders. If an order seems to be erro- neous or harmful, further clarification from the health care provider is necessary. If the health care provider confirms an order and the nurse still believe that it is inappropriate, the nurse should inform the supervising nurse or follow the established chain of command. The super- vising nurse should be able to help resolve the questionable order, but only the health care provider who wrote the order or a health care provider covering for the one who wrote the or- der can change the order. Harm to the infant could occur if the medication dosage was too high. The nurse cannot change an order. Giving the amount calculated to be correct would not be what another nurse would do in the same situation. Although the pharmacy is an excellent resource, only the health care provider can change the order.
DIF: Apply REF: 304
OBJ: Describe the nursing implications associated with legal issues that occur in nursing practice. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. A nurse gives an incorrect medication to a patient without doing all of the mandatory checks, but the patient has no ill effects from the medication. What actions should the nurse take after reassessing the patient? (Select all that apply.)
a. Notify the health care provider of the situation.
b. Document in the patient’s medical record that an occurrence report was filed.
c. Document in the patient’s medical record why the omission occurred.
d. Discuss what happened with all of the other nurses and staff on the unit.
e. Continue to monitor the patient for any untoward effects from the medication.
f. Send an occurrence report to risk management after completing it.
ANS: A, E, F
Examples of an occurrence include an error in technique or procedure such as failing to prop- erly identify a patient. Institutions generally have specific guidelines to direct health care providers how to complete the occurrence report. The report is confidential and separate from the medical record. The nurse is responsible for providing information in the medical record about the occurrence. It is also best for the nurse to discuss the occurrence with nursing man- agement only. The risk management department of the institution also requires complete doc- umentation. The fact that an occurrence report was completed is not documented in the pa- tient’s medical record. No discussion of why the omission in procedure occurred should be documented in the patient’s medical record. Errors should be discussed only with those who need to know such as the health care provider, appropriate administrative personnel, and risk management.
DIF: Apply REF: 305
OBJ: Define legal aspects of nurse-patient, nurse–health care provider, nurse-nurse, and nurse-em- ployer relationships. TOP: Implementation
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
3. The nurse hears a physician say to the charge nurse that he doesn’t want that same nurse car- ing for his patients because she is stupid and won’t follow his orders. The physician also writes on his patient’s medical records that the same nurse, by name, is not to care for any of his patients because of her incompetence. What component(s) of defamation has the physician committed? (Select all that apply.)
a. Slander
b. Invasion of privacy
c. Libel
d. Assault
e. Battery
ANS: A, C
Slander occurred when the physician spoke falsely about the nurse, and libel occurred when the physician wrote false information in the chart. Both of these situations could cause prob- lems for the nurse’s reputation. Invasion of privacy is the release of a patient’s medical infor- mation to an unauthorized person such as a member of the press, the patient’s employer, or the patient’s family. Assault is any action that places a person in apprehension of a harmful or of- fensive contact without consent. No actual contact is necessary. Battery is any intentional touching without consent.
DIF: Apply REF: 302
OBJ: Describe the nursing implications associated with legal issues that occur in nursing practice. TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
4. A patient has just been told that he has approximately six months to live and asks about ad- vance directives. Which statements by the nurse give the patient correct information? (Select all that apply.)
a. “You have the right to refuse treatment at any time.”
b. “If you want certain procedures or actions taken or not taken, and you might not be able to tell anyone at the time, you need to complete documents ahead of time that give your health care provider this information.”
c. “You will be resuscitated at any time to allow you the longest length of survival.”
d. “You might want to think about choosing someone who will make medical deci- sions for you in the event that you are unable to make your desires known.”
e. “We will get someone who knows the state’s guidelines to assist you in setting up your living will.”
f. “If you travel to another state, your living will should cover your wishes.”
ANS: A, B, D, E
The ethical doctrine of autonomy ensures the patient the right to refuse medical treatment. Living wills are written documents that direct treatment in accordance with a patient’s wishes in the event of a terminal illness or condition. With this legal document, the patient is able to declare which medical procedures he or she wants or does not want when terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state. Each state providing for living wills has its own requirements for executing the health care proxy or durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC). This is a legal document that designates a person or persons of one’s choosing to make health care decisions when the patient is no longer able to make decisions on his or her own behalf. This agent makes health care treatment decisions based on the patient’s wishes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency treatment provided without patient consent. Health care providers perform CPR on an appropriate patient unless a do not resuscitate (DNR) order has been placed in the patient’s chart. The statutes assume that all patients will be resuscitated un- less a written DNR order is found in the chart. Legally competent adult patients can consent to a DNR order verbally or in writing after receiving appropriate information from the health care provider. Differences among the states have been noted regarding advance directives, so the patient should check state laws to see if a state will honor an advance directive that was originated in another state.
DIF: Apply REF: 298-299
OBJ: Describe the nurse’s role regarding a “do not resuscitate” (DNR) order.
TOP: Implementation MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment
5. A patient’s condition is slowly deteriorating. What actions should the nurse take to provide the best care possible? (Select all that apply.)
a. Allow the nursing student to receive verbal orders from the physician in the room while the nurse is in the medication area down the hall.
b. Document the patient’s status changes in the medical record in a timely manner.
c. Document that the health care provider has been notified of the specific patient sta- tus, including date and time that messages were left.
d. Check the chart for frequent orders.
e. Omit charting what the health provider’s response is to notification of the patient’s status change.
ANS: B, C
Clear, concise, and timely communication is essential whenever charting in the patient’s medi- cal record occurs. Nursing students are not permitted to receive verbal orders. Documentation regarding communication with the health care provider must contain what was communicated by the nurse and the health care provider, orders if given, date, time, and identification of who is documenting the situation.
DIF: Apply REF: 305
OBJ: Define legal aspects of nurse-patient, nurse–health care provider, nurse-nurse, and nurse-em- ployer relationships. TOP: Implementation
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment [Show Less]