The risk manager at a large, university hospital has become aware that there may be a discrepancy between a longstanding protocol on one of the hospital units and the nurse practice act of the state
Which of the following statements regarding the legal standing of institutional policies is most accurate?
A) Institutional policies do not have legal standing.
B) Institutional policies supersede enacted law but do not supersede common law.
C) Established policies may be considered common law by a court
D) Discrepancies between policies and legislation are usually resolved by professional
associations such as a board of nursing.
Ans: C
Established agency policies may be considered the standard of practice for that
agency and, therefore, common usage (common law) by the court, and may become important
as a basis for legal decisions. However, policies do not normally have the power to supersede
enacted laws. Discrepancies are ultimately the jurisdiction of the courts, not professional
associations.
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For a client who is unable to adequately perform personal daily care, which of these nursing diagnoses would be applied?
a. Infection, risk for c. Pain b. Knowledge deficit d. Self-care deficit
During a home visit, the nurse is concerned that an older client is at risk for nutritional health problems. Which data collected during the home visit caused the nurse to come to this conclusion?
Select all that apply. A) Client's spouse recently died. B) Client prepared a stew on the weekend and has been eating it for 4 days. C) Client's adult children arrive to eat dinner together several times a week. D) Client is prescribed 15 medications. E) Client's Social Security payments have gone down over the last year.
Providing drinking straws is most appropriate for the client with which of the following problems?
1. Dry mouth 2. Oral ulcerations 3. Swallowing difficulty 4. Taste alterations
A nurse is discussing the functions of the sympathetic nervous system with a group of nursing students. Which statement made by one of the students indicates a need for further teaching?
a. "The sympathetic nervous system regulates the digestive functions of the body." b. "The sympathetic nervous system regulates the cardiovascular system." c. "The sympathetic nervous system implements the fight-or-flight response." d. "The sympathetic nervous system regulates body temperature."