In hiring a nurse for a hospital position, which of the following questions would be considered appropriate and likely defensible in a US court? A. What is your native language? B. When was your last physical exam? C. Will family responsibilities inhibit your ability to work different shifts? D. Are you authorized to work in the United States?

The appropriate and likely defensible question is: D. Are you authorized to work in the United States? This question is directly related to the candidate’s legal right to work and is considered a valid inquiry for employment in the United States. The other questions pose risks of being seen as discriminatory or irrelevant to job qualifications: • A. "What is your native language?" could raise issues of national origin discrimination. • B. "When was your last physical exam?" might be perceived as invasive or related to disability discrimination issues unless it is strictly job-related. • C. "Will family responsibilities inhibit your ability to work different shifts?" can lead to discrimination based on familial status or gender. Thus, only option D is clearly appropriate and defensible.