A nurse is completing an admission assessment on a client who has been transferred to the unit. The client has a history of falls and confusion. The nurse forgets to initiate any fall risk prevention as indicated by the hospital policy, and later during the shift, the client falls and sustains a wrist fracture. Which legal tort is the nurse at risk for from this situation?
Slander
Malpractice
Battery
Negligence
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Slander refers to spoken defamation of a person's character. Since this situation does not involve any spoken statements that defame the client, slander is not applicable.
Choice B reason: Malpractice is a specific type of negligence that occurs when a healthcare professional fails to perform their duties to the required standard, resulting in harm to a patient. While closely related, in this scenario, the broader term negligence more accurately describes the failure to follow hospital policy.
Choice C reason: Battery involves intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person without their consent, causing harm. In this situation, the nurse's failure to prevent the fall is not an intentional act, so battery is not applicable.
Choice D reason: Negligence occurs when someone fails to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury or loss to another person. In this case, the nurse's failure to initiate fall risk prevention measures, as required by hospital policy, resulted in the client falling and sustaining a wrist fracture, making the nurse at risk for negligence.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Reassessing the client when the provider arrives to obtain the informed consent may be necessary, but it is not the priority action. The nurse needs to ensure that the provider is aware of the client's current mental status before any attempt to obtain informed consent is made.
Choice B reason: Notifying the provider of the client's orientation is the priority action. The client's intermittent confusion indicates that she may not have the capacity to provide informed consent. The provider needs to be aware of this to take appropriate steps, such as involving a legal representative or family member, to obtain consent.
Choice C reason: Calling the nursing supervisor to give consent for the surgery is not appropriate. The nursing supervisor does not have the legal authority to provide consent on behalf of the client.
Choice D reason: Asking another nurse to witness the informed consent does not address the issue of the client's mental status and ability to provide informed consent. This action is not appropriate given the client's intermittent confusion.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Intermittent mild headaches can be a side effect of estrogen therapy, but they are generally not life-threatening. While they should be monitored and managed, they do not constitute an immediate priority compared to more severe symptoms.
Choice B reason: Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of estrogen therapy in transgender females. Although it can affect quality of life, it is not an urgent medical concern and does not require immediate intervention.
Choice C reason: Dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and chest pain are potentially serious symptoms that could indicate cardiovascular issues, including pulmonary embolism, which is a known risk associated with estrogen therapy. These symptoms require immediate attention and intervention to rule out life-threatening conditions.
Choice D reason: Elevated liver function tests can occur with estrogen therapy and should be monitored over time. However, while they indicate a need for further investigation and possible adjustment of therapy, they are not as immediately critical as symptoms of dyspnea and chest pain.
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