Exam 3: Introduction to Ethics

A nurse is frequently tardy to work causing other nurses to have to change their plans to cover the unit. The nurse never thanks those who cover for her and often criticizes the work they did in her absence. If another nurse is tardy, she refuses to stay over to cover. Which ethical theories is this nurse violating?

The hospital ethics committee has decided to move to the relational ethics framework for decision making. What change should the committee members expect from this framework shift?

A patient is prescribed medication for the treatment of cancer. The nurse is concerned that administering this medication may have a harmful effect on the patient. Which conditions would help the nurse decide that it is ethical to administer the medication through the application of the concept of double effect?

The hospital has a well-designed, fully functioning ethics committee. What ethical debate topics, concerning the entire social network rather than an individual patient, might now be addressed by this committee?

The nurse makes practice decisions based upon each patient's unique characteristics, the relationship between the patient and the nurse, and the most humanistic course of action in the particular case circumstance. Which branch of ethics does this reflect?

The nurse tells a patient that an immunization "will not hurt at all" when the nurse is aware that the injection will be painful. Which ethical principle has the nurse most clearly violated?

The hospital ethics committee has been asked to consider a controversial issue that has a significant number of persons both for and against it. Which other characteristic would the committee look for when determining if applied ethics should be used as a guide for their work?

A group of nurses wishes to improve the ethics of the care their group provides. What is the first step this group should take to reach their goal?

The nurse bases individual nursing practice upon commitment to quality patient care and understanding of the nursing role. Under which broad classification of ethical theory does this fall?

Which statements would the nurse evaluate as correctly identifying difference between ethics and law?

An ethical dilemma has arisen in regard to a patient who has been declared incompetent and who left no advance directive. Which model is likely to be of best use to the ethics committee reviewing the case?

The hospital is forming an ethics committee. Which concept should be central to that committee's function?

Which nursing actions would exemplify cardinal virtues as seen by Plato and other virtue ethicists?

The nurse advises a patient to have surgery because, "The doctor knows what is best for you." The nurse is most likely following which ethical principle?

Prior to surgery, the nurse checks to ensure that the patient has signed an informed consent form. Which ethical principle is the nurse supporting?