Question

A nurse is presenting information on health care law to a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

a. Good samaritan laws provide protection for nurses who are negligent when providing volunteer services.
b. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) provides nursing guidelines for providing client care outside the health care facility.
c. The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) requires a nurse to give clients information about end-of-life options.
d. State nurse practice acts are informal guidelines that direct professional nursing practice.

Answer 1

Good Samaritan laws protect, not for negligent actions; EMTALA relates to emergency care; PSDA mandates information on end-of-life decisions; and Nurse Practice Acts are formal statutes defining nursing practice.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is presenting information on healthcare law to a group of newly licensed nurses, it is important to include accurate legal information. For instance, Good Samaritan laws protect healthcare providers who offer assistance within a reasonable scope of practice and are not grossly negligent during volunteer services. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) requires that anyone coming to an emergency department must be stabilized and treated, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay, but does not provide guidelines for care outside of the health care facility. The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) indeed mandates that healthcare providers inform patients about their rights related to advance directives and end-of-life decisions. Lastly, State Nurse Practice Acts are formal statutes that define the scope of nursing practice within a particular state and set forth the legal requirements for nursing licensure, not informal guidelines.