A nurse working in a privately owned hospital is charged with a negligent act after failing to check laboratory reports prior to giving a dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) . .
. . . resulting in the patient's condition becoming critical due to decreased cardiac output and falling leading to a broken hip and concussion. A nurse is brought in who testifies that a professional with the knowledge and skill of an RN should understand that, before administering this drug, potassium level and pulse level is always checked to prevent such an occurrence. The nurse's testimony as to what constitutes reasonable care is based on:
a. the legal definition of standard of care.
b. the legal definition of the informed consent process.
c. the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur.
d. governmental immunity.
ANS: A
Correct: Standard of care is the legal criteria against which the nurse's (and physician's) conduct is compared to determine whether a negligent act or malpractice occurred. Nurses are specialists in hospital care who, in the final analysis, hold the well-being—in some instances, the very lives—of patients in their hands.
Incorrect:
b. Informed content refers to the physician or advanced practice nurse's duty to disclose information so that the patient can make intelligent decisions.
c. Res ipsa loquitur means the "thing speaks for itself" and refers to situations that the jury is capable to judge using only common knowledge. In this instance, the jury would not have that knowledge.
d. Governmental immunity refers to nurses employed in federal or some state facilities where laws have been enacted that shield these individual health care workers from personal responsibility for damages awarded in malpractice cases.
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