Deck 11: Ethics Applied to Nursing: Personal vs.Professional Ethics

Question 1

What actions should be taken by the nurse to increase the possibility of doing no harm while caring for a patient?

A) Never participate in any action that will deliberately harm the patient.
B) Question how to do the least amount of harm when doing something that is expected to result in good.
C) Make sure the patient has agreed to the procedure verbally or in writing.
D) Perform new procedures without seeking supervision.
E) Become aware of side effects of commonly administered medications.

Answer 1

Never participate in any action that will deliberately harm the patient.
Question how to do the least amount of harm when doing something that is expected to result in good.
Make sure the patient has agreed to the procedure verbally or in writing.
Become aware of side effects of commonly administered medications.

Question 2

The patient asks the nurse what he should do about continuing cancer treatment.The nurse responds,"You should stop before you get so weak you can't enjoy a few good weeks with your family." This is an example of

A) fidelity.
B) beneficence.
C) nonmaleficence.
D) beneficent paternalism.

Answer 2

beneficent paternalism.

Question 3

The nurse providing care for patients or residents must act on the knowledge that a basic right of a patient or a resident is to receive

A) considerate and respectful care from all care providers.
B) information about the diagnosis and prognosis from the practical nurse.
C) the medical care of their choice, regardless of their ability to pay.
D) any food requested and in as large a quantity as desired.

Answer 3

considerate and respectful care from all care providers.

Question 4

A major change in medical ethics that affected nursing occurred when the Western secular belief system shifted emphasis from duties to

A) individual autonomy and rights.
B) satisfying Medicare regulations.
C) the cost-effectiveness of care.
D) nonmaleficence.

Question 5

The introduction of the nursing process and critical thinking into nursing practice has resulted in increased ethical and legal responsibilities for nurses in the areas of (select all that apply):

A) peer reporting.
B) accountability.
C) personal ethics.
D) patient advocacy.
E) cost containment.

Question 6

When a treatment team decides to go to court to obtain permission to provide chemotherapy for a child whose parents refuse to give consent for the treatment based on religious grounds,the ethical principles that are in conflict are

A) fidelity and justice.
B) beneficence and autonomy.
C) justice and beneficence.
D) autonomy and fidelity.

Question 7

Which situation can be identified as abandonment of patients by the nurse?

A) Calling in sick
B) Floating to a unit after a 2-day orientation to the unit
C) Starting to care for patients on wing A and being reassigned to wing B
D) Going off duty without giving report rather than care for patients on an unfamiliar unit

Question 8

The patient asks the nurse,"I overheard the instructor talking to a student about accountability.What does the word 'accountability' really mean?" The best response by the nurse would be

A) "It is a transfer of responsibility for wrong actions."
B) "It is shared responsibility with the physician for wrongdoing."
C) "It is taking personal responsibility for one's nursing actions."
D) "It is giving up responsibility when the situation dictates."

Question 9

A system of standards or moral principles that direct actions as being right or wrong is called ____________________.

Question 10

When a student nurse prepares diligently for a clinical assignment,the ethical principle being observed is

A) autonomy.
B) justice.
C) nonmaleficence.
D) fear of punishment.

Question 11

To provide justice to patients on the unit,the nurse must

A) treat all patients with the same diagnosis utilizing the same plan of care.
B) treat all patients with equal dignity and respect.
C) base care on the patient's culture, religion, and social status.
D) determine who is most deserving of extra care.

Question 12

Encouraging a patient to be involved in planning and carrying out his or her own care is a nursing action that supports the ethical principle of

A) confidentiality.
B) privacy.
C) autonomy.
D) justice.

Question 13

Leaving an unconscious patient exposed during a treatment or procedure is a violation of the ethical principle of

A) fidelity.
B) autonomy.
C) justice.
D) veracity.

Question 14

The nurse states,"I like being part of the health care team caring for the traditional two-parent family during the postpartum period as they bond with their newborn." This statement reveals the nurse's

A) values.
B) duty.
C) fidelity.
D) ethics.

Question 15

A student nurse asks,"What's the difference between laws and ethics?" Which response best explains the difference between nursing laws and ethics?

A) "Ethics refer to expected behavior of nurses, but laws require mandatory observance by nurses."
B) "Nursing ethics are formalized by statutes, whereas laws are permissive codes."
C) "Ethics are derived from laws, whereas laws are enacted by non-nurse legislators."
D) "Ethics are specific to individual agencies, but laws are state specific."

Question 16

The nurse is asked to explain the meaning of ethics to a patient.The nurse should correctly state,"Ethics is a system of standards that refer to ideas and actions in terms of being (select all that apply):

A) right and wrong."
B) moral and immoral."
C) legal and illegal."
D) good and bad."
E) ought and ought not."
F) like and dislike."
G) rights and duties."

Question 17

A nurse injects himself or herself with a narcotic prescribed for a patient.This is an example of

A) unethical and illegal behavior.
B) ethical and legal behavior.
C) unethical but legal behavior.
D) ethical but illegal behavior.

Question 18

A student nurse is assigned to care for a patient with complex nursing care needs.The student was busy and did not prepare in advance for the assignment.In preconference,the student is unable to describe the care to be given and admits not knowing how to execute one of the treatments.The instructor would be ethically justified in

A) telling the student to be very careful during caregiving.
B) sending the student home and turning the patient's care over to staff.
C) suspending the student.
D) dismissing the student from the program.

Question 19

A way of practicing fidelity to a patient would be to

A) discuss the patient with friends at a social gathering.
B) document the patient's expression of feelings and wishes.
C) categorize the patient as a "down-and-out alcoholic."
D) develop the care plan without patient input.

Question 20

What ethical principle underlies the statement in the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (NFLPN)Code for Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses,"The practical nurse provides health care to all patients regardless of race,creed,cultural background,disease,or lifestyle"?

A) Autonomy
B) Confidentiality
C) Beneficence
D) Justice

Question 21

Which statements would the nurse evaluate as suggesting that the patient's decision has not been autonomous?

A) "I wish I knew for sure that I had all the facts about the treatment."
B) "I thought through all the alternatives."
C) "My son told me emphatically what he thought would be best for the family."
D) "I am going to refuse to take the treatment because it will prolong life."

Question 22

Which nursing actions are examples of use of the ethical principle of beneficence? (Select all that apply)

A) The LPN/LVN tells a patient to ask for a second doctor's opinion.
B) The LPN/LVN provides emotional support when the patient cries.
C) The LPN/LVN places the bed in a low position before leaving the room.
D) The LPN/LVN places medication the patient brought from home at the nurses' station.
E) The LPN/LVN provides report for the staff of the oncoming shift.