he newborn nursery is desperately short of staff. During the 14th hour on duty, the nurse makes a medication error. What is the nurse's legal responsibility?
The hospital accepts full responsibility for the negligent act.
No legal action can be brought against the nurse.
The nurse's legal responsibilities are met if an incident report is filed.
The nurse is held to the same standard of care as any nurse with her education and experience.
The Correct Answer is B
The hospital accepts full responsibility for the negligent act: While the hospital does have a shared responsibility for the safety of patients, individual healthcare professionals are accountable for their actions. Hospitals may face consequences as well, but individual practitioners are legally responsible for their own actions.
No legal action can be brought against the nurse: If a nurse makes a medication error, legal action can be taken. Healthcare professionals are accountable for their actions, and legal consequences can follow if negligence or malpractice occurs.
The nurse's legal responsibilities are met if an incident report is filed: Filing an incident report is an important step in addressing errors, but it does not absolve the nurse of legal responsibility. It is a tool used within healthcare institutions to improve patient safety and learn from mistakes, but it does not eliminate the legal consequences of an error.
The nurse is held to the same standard of care as any nurse with her education and experience: Nurses are held to a standard of care based on their education, experience, and the specific circumstances of the situation. If a nurse fails to meet this standard, they can be held legally responsible for their actions.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The document will name a durable power of attorney for health care (DPOAHC), who will make all medical decisions for the client, regardless of the client's mental status: This statement is partially correct. Advanced directives may include naming a healthcare proxy or DPOAHC, but their decisions are typically in line with the client's expressed wishes, especially if those wishes are documented in the advanced directive.
The document means nothing to the nurse because the attending physician will decide the client's care: This statement is incorrect. Advanced directives are legally binding documents that guide medical decisions when the client is unable to communicate or make decisions.
The document is a tool for client self-determination. It allows the client to express their desire for life-sustaining care when they are incapacitated: This statement is true. Advanced directives empower clients to make decisions about their healthcare preferences, including the desire for life-sustaining measures, in the event they become unable to communicate their wishes.
The nurse may assume the client is dying, and he or she will not call a "Rapid Response" or "Code Blue" if the client's status deteriorates: This statement is incorrect. The nurse should always follow appropriate protocols and initiate necessary interventions regardless of the presence of advanced directives, especially if the client's condition deteriorates.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Statutory law refers to laws that are enacted by a legislative body, such as the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, and other local government entities like cities and counties. These laws are written and codified, making them formal rules that citizens must follow. They are considered primary sources of law in the United States.
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