Practice Question
A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a client who tells the nurse about their intentions to harm an ex-partner. Which of the following actions is a legal duty of the nurse?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Ensure the client's ex-partner is notified of the threat
Rationale:
♦️ Nurses have a legal duty to warn identifiable third parties of credible threats, as established by the Tarasoff ruling.
♦️ If a client expresses a clear intention to harm a specific individual, the nurse must take steps to protect the potential victim.
♦️This action aligns with the nurse’s duty to protect, which may include notification of the intended target and authorities.
♦️ Breaching confidentiality is legally permissible when it is required to prevent imminent harm.
♦️Documenting the threat and alerting the care team and appropriate entities is essential.
Want to practice more questions like this?
This question is from RN ATI Mental Health Assessment Exam which contains 50 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
A charge nurse on a mental health unit is preparing an in-service for staff members about client rights. Which of the following information should the nurse include?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is caring for a client who has posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being physically assaulted. The client is unable to recall any details of the event. Which of the following defense mechanisms should the nurse recognize that the client is displaying?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a newly admitted client who has major depressive disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a risk factor for this condition?
Answer Choices:
A nurse in an acute care facility is assessing a client who has schizophrenia. The client states. 'Walk tall broom short dag bell." The nurse should document the client's speech as which of the following speech patterns?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is assessing an older adult client's ability to make a successful role transition to widowhood following the death of her partner. Which of the following factors should the nurse include in the assessment? (Select all that apply.)
Answer Choices:
Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Mental Health
- Answer Choices: 4