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 individuals in emergency care, not for negligent acts, while EMTALA ensures emergency treatment regardless of payment ability. The PSDA informs patients of their rights, and state nurse practice acts legally define nursing scope.

Step-by-step explanation:

When presenting information on health care law to a group of newly licensed nurses, it is important to include that:

• Good Samaritan laws provide protection for individuals who offer reasonable care during an emergency, not for those who act negligently.
• The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) prohibits the refusal of care in emergency situations in hospitals with an established emergency department and mandates medical screening exams to those seeking help, regardless of their ability to pay or legal status.
• The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) ensures that patients are informed about their rights to make decisions regarding their medical care, including the right to accept or refuse treatment and the right to make advance directives.
• State nurse practice acts are formal and legally binding regulations that define the scope of practice for nurses within each state.

It is critical that nurses understand and comply with these laws and regulations to provide high-quality and legally sound care to their patients.