Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

If a nurse witnesses a physician break sterile technique and uses a contaminated instrument to finish a procedure, and reports the physician to the Texas Medical Board, which statement is accurate?

1. If the facility terminates the nurse's employment, the BON can provide the nurse with legal advice

2. The nurse cannot be disciplined by the BON or discriminated against by the employer

3. The nurse must inform the physician of any reports the nurse files

4. The nurse has no recourse if the physician gets angry and terminates her employment

The correct answer is: If the facility terminates the nurse's employment, the BON can provide the nurse with legal advice

The accurate statement in this scenario is that if a nurse witnesses a physician breaking sterile technique and reports this to the Texas Medical Board, the nurse is protected in certain ways. Specifically, reporting such an incident typically falls under "whistleblower" protections. While the Board of Nursing (BON) itself does not provide legal advice, protections may exist for nurses who report a physician for unsafe or unethical conduct. In this context, the protection afforded to the nurse means that if they face retaliation or termination from the facility for reporting the incident, they may have recourse through the law. Whistleblower laws often inhibit workplace retaliation against individuals who report misconduct or unsafe practices. This situation underscores the importance of maintaining patient safety and advocating for proper standards of care while ensuring that nurses are protected for doing so. The nurse is expected to act in a manner that prioritizes patient safety and professional integrity, which can sometimes lead to challenging situations with colleagues or supervisors.