Legal & Ethical Foundations

Framework (5 modules): Scope of practice — two sources (state law, facility policy), and why "I've seen it done" isn't authorization Informed consent — the three ingredients of valid consent, and the nurse's actual role in it Patient rights and confidentiality — why it applies everywhere, not just the chart Code status and advance directives — what a DNR does and doesn't mean, who speaks when a patient can't Documentation and when to report — the legal-record framing, plus mandatory reporting and non-punitive incident reporting Practice Lab — Legal & Ethical Practice Lab (5 drills): In scope or out?  — 7 tasks classified as RN scope or requiring another role Valid consent or not?  — 6 consent scenarios, including sedation timing, withdrawal, and capacity Who can know?  — 7 confidentiality scenarios, including family, coworkers, and social media Code status scenarios  — 5 multiple-choice situations involving DNR, family disagreement, and POLST conflicts Report it?  — 8 scenarios sorted into document-only / incident report / mandatory report