A client who fell and broke his hip while being assisted to the bathroom by a nurse states he plans to sue the nurse. The nurse should know that, in a legal proceeding, the standard that will be used to determine if the nurse was negligent is which of the following?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The definition of negligence is practice that is below the standard of care. The benchmark for standard of care is what a reasonable, prudent person who has similar background and experience would do. Another staff nurse who has similar background is the correct person to provide testimony.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Increasing oxygen flow rate will usually improve oxygen saturation in patients with ventilation-perfusion mismatch, as occurs with pulmonary embolism. Because the problem is with perfusion, actions that improve ventilation, such as deep-breathing and coughing, sitting upright, and suctioning, are not likely to improve oxygenation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Keeping doors closed ensures privacy and safety for elderly patients during bathing.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Using the airway, breathing, circulation (ABC) approach to prioritizing client care, this infant should be assessed first because the infant has a compromised airway and requires oxygen.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The nurse should expect that an ED physician would diagnose the client with neuroleptic malignant syndrome and treat the client by discontinuing chlorpromazine (Thorazine) and administering dantrolene (Dantrium). Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a potentially fatal condition characterized by muscle rigidity, fever, altered consciousness, and autonomic instability.