Deck 2: Professional Ethics and Values

Question 1

A recent ethical issue has resulted in uneasiness and discomfort for several nurses on a unit.The unit manager has decided to discuss the issues at the next team meeting.The situation has resulted in which of the following for some of the nurses?

A)Moral suffering
B)Moral distress
C)Ethical dilemma
D)Veracity

Answer 1

Moral suffering

Question 2

Values are learned through which of the following methods?

A)Reading books
B)Formal degrees
C)Continuous reinforcement
D)Meeting diverse individuals

Answer 2

Continuous reinforcement

Question 3

When considering virtue ethics, which of the following is true?

A)Virtue ethics attributes behaviors to moral rules.
B)Virtue ethics attributes behaviors to knowledge of consequences.
C)Virtue ethics focuses on moral character, rather than rules for behavior.
D)Virtue ethics is a formal statement of rules for behavior.

Answer 3

Virtue ethics focuses on moral character, rather than rules for behavior.

Question 4

An RN knows that sometimes, when working through an ethical dilemma, the decision makers are unable to arrive at a mutually agreed upon decision.Which of the following is a reason why an agreement cannot be reached?

A)One or more of the parties may be able to reconcile their values.
B)The patient's point of view is recognized as valuable.
C)The dilemma involves two or more equally unpleasant choices.
D)The institution is unable to honor the patient's request.

Question 5

An RN recognizes which of the following as a primary goal of nursing?

A)Assist patients to achieve a peaceful death.
B)Improve personal knowledge and skill in order to improve patient outcomes.
C)Advocate for quality of life over quantity of life.
D)Work to control costs so that patients can live the best quality of life possible.

Question 6

An RN's current patient and family have presented her with an ethical dilemma.What is the first step the RN should take to find a workable solution to the problem?

A)Planning
B)Assessment
C)Evaluation
D)Implementation

Question 7

An RN cared for a state senator during the day shift.Later that day he was having dinner with friends when the news mentioned the senator had been hospitalized.The RN's friends asked if he knew what was wrong with the senator.Which ethical principle should the RN consider when replying?

A)Fidelity
B)Confidentiality
C)Veracity
D)Accountability

Question 8

Which of the following best describes intrinsic values?

A)Intrinsic values are often abstract ideas.
B)Intrinsic values are basic needs for sustaining life.
C)Intrinsic values are qualities patients consider to be important in their private lives.
D)Intrinsic values are qualities patients consider important for nurses to have.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about ethical principles and laws is true?

A)The government holds the power to enforce ethics.
B)Laws provide standards that assist in decision making.
C)Ethics are very specific.
D)As a standard for measuring actions, ethical principles may be the basis for laws.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true regarding nursing ethics?

A)Nursing ethics focus on the organizational level at the workplace.
B)Nursing ethics focus on the duties and rules of behavior for professional nurses.
C)Nursing ethics focus on the moral character of nurses.
D)Nursing ethics focus on the experiences and needs of nurses.

Question 11

An RN is working through an ethical dilemma involving a patient on his unit.He has just identified the decision makers involved.Which step best describes the current stage the RN is working through?

A)Assessment
B)Diagnosis
C)Planning
D)Implementation

Question 12

Although technology has seen many advances, which two ethical principles may be in conflict because of technology?

A)Beneficence and justice
B)Beneficence and nonmaleficence
C)Beneficence and veracity
D)Beneficence and confidentiality

Question 13

A registered nurse (RN) is caring for a patient who is one of Jehovah's Witnesses and has refused a blood transfusion even though her hemoglobin is dangerously low.After providing information about all the alternatives available and risks and benefits of each, the health-care provider allows the patient to determine which course of treatment she would prefer.The RN knows this is an example of which ethical principle?

A)Autonomy
B)Nonmaleficence
C)Beneficence
D)Distributive justice

Question 14

A unit director at a local hospital knows even leadership may face ethical dilemmas.Which of the following should the director take into consideration when dealing with an employee who is incompetent?

A)The situation should be tolerated for as long as possible because of the amount of time and paperwork required to terminate an incompetent nurse.
B)Incompetence only impacts the individual nurse.
C)The director should follow her institution's formal process for reporting and handling practices that jeopardize patient safety.
D)Most nurse practice acts direct how to handle incompetent nurses.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the ethical concept of values?

A)Values are an individual's feelings about situations.
B)Values are learned through family systems.
C)Values are organized ways of thinking about the meaning of life.
D)Values determine the rightness or wrongness of behavior.