Professional Practice, Ethics and Law
Core concepts
Professional practice questions cover ethics, legal responsibilities, and scope of practice. Know the ethical principles: autonomy (client's right to decide), beneficence (do good), nonmaleficence (do no harm), justice (fairness), and fidelity (keep promises). Understand informed consent (provider obtains consent; nurse verifies understanding and witnesses), confidentiality (including HIPAA), advocacy, and mandatory reporting (suspected abuse, certain communicable diseases). Know advance directives and the nurse's role in honoring them. Recognize negligence/malpractice elements and the importance of documentation as a legal record.
Traps
Questions may ask who obtains informed consent - the provider, not the nurse. Also, autonomy does not permit a client to demand inappropriate care; and confidentiality has legal exceptions (mandatory reporting, imminent harm).
Rule of thumb
When a client refuses treatment and is competent, respect autonomy and document the refusal; when the client lacks capacity or is a minor, follow legal and provider guidance.
Worked example
A competent adult refuses a blood transfusion. The nurse should respect the refusal, document it, and notify the provider - not attempt to persuade or proceed.