Deck 4: Ethical Concepts

Question 1

The nurse is providing care to a 3-year-old child whose parents decide to decline further treatment for cancer, which has metastasized. There is a conflict between the child's parents and the rest of the family. Which should the nurse consider when determining the appropriate action for this patient?
1)Age of the child
2)Beliefs of the child
3)Values of the parents
4)Values of the rest of the family

Answer 1

3

Question 2

Which professional value is the nurse demonstrating by volunteering time to work in a local free clinic?
1)Human dignity
2)Integrity
3)Autonomy
4)Social justice

Answer 2

4

Question 3

The nurse correlates mandatory vaccination laws aimed to prevent an epidemic to which ethical theory?
1)Act utilitarianism
2)Rule utilitarianism
3)Deontology
4)Casuistry

Answer 3

1

Question 4

Which patient care situation is most likely to be resolved with the assistance of the hospital's ethics committee?
1)The brain-dead patient whose family supports the decision for organ donation
2)The couple who agrees to a do-not-resuscitate order for a neonate born with trisomy 18
3)The couple that chooses abortion at 7 weeks' gestation because of a maternal cancer diagnosis
4)The terminally ill patient who requests withdrawal of fluids and nutrition without family support

Question 5

The nurse who works on a medical-surgical unit is faced with an ethical dilemma regarding patient care. Which nursing action best exemplifies assessment in the ethical decision-making process?
1)Determining the impact of a patient's culture on end-of-life decisions
2)Formulating at least three alternatives to address the patient's current dilemma
3)Implementing actions that have the greatest patient benefits compared with the risks
4)Evaluating if the desired effect on patient outcome has occurred based on the actions implemented

Question 6

Which statement best describes the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for professional nurses?
1)It provides recommendations related to educational preparation of nurses. It alleviates suffering for those cared for by professional nurses.
2)It provides standards for professional nursing practice.
3)It reflects legal judgments in professional nursing practice.
4)It serves as legal standards for professional nursing practice.

Question 7

Which action is appropriate when dealing with an ethical dilemma in practice?
1)Relying on nursing judgment
2)Examining all conflicts in the situation
3)Investigating all aspects of the situation
4)Making a decision based on the policy of the agency

Question 8

The nurse is providing care to an adult patient who is scheduled for surgery. During the preoperative assessment, the nurse discovers that the patient does not have an adequate understanding of the procedure. What is the best action for the nurse to take in this situation?
1)Verify that the patient has signed the informed consent form for the surgical procedure.
2)Discuss with the family if the patient had previously agreed to the procedure.
3)Answer all the patient's questions and explain the procedure.
4)Contact the surgeon who is performing the procedure.

Question 9

Which ethical principle requires the nurse to be accountable for commitments made to self and others?
1)Beneficence
2)Autonomy
3)Justice
4)Fidelity

Question 10

An adolescent patient diagnosed with leukemia decides to stop chemotherapy treatments. The patient's parents, however, want the healthcare team to continue all treatments. Which action by the nurse is best when providing care to this patient and family?
1)Helping the family by providing information and allowing them to voice their concerns
2)Discussing with the parents the need to follow the child's wishes
3)Contacting the primary healthcare provider
4)Obtaining a court order to determine the patient is legally able to make his or her own decisions

Question 11

The nurse provides care to a pregnant adolescent patient who seeks treatment for chlamydia. Which action by the nurse is appropriate when witnessing informed consent for the treatment?
1)Seeking consent from the patient's legal authority
2)Witnessing the patient sign the informed consent form
3)Witnessing the patient's parents sign the informed consent form
4)Seeking emergency consent from the patient's healthcare provider

Question 12

What was one of the important developments that occurred as a result of the Belmont Report?
1)ANA Code of Ethics
2)Institutional Review Board approval for all research involving patients
3)POLST
4)Advance directives

Question 13

Which statement regarding the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for professional nurses is accurate?
1)It is used by all healthcare professionals.
2)It guides nurses in their professional behavior and relationships.
3)It forms the basis for possible lawsuits.
4)It is the only code of ethics available for nurses.

Question 14

Based upon which ethical theory is a patient in a persistent vegetative state not removed from life support because the removal of the assistive device will hasten death?
1)Act utilitarianism
2)Casuistry
3)Deontology
4)Rule utilitarianism

Question 15

The nurse provides care to a patient with terminal brain cancer. The patient states, "I don't want to continue my treatment, and I would like a do-not-resuscitate order placed in my medical record." The patient's family is against this option, telling the nurse that the patient "is too emotional." Which is the best action from the nurse?
1)Assessing the patient's mental status and cognition
2)Asking the patient's family if they would like spiritual guidance
3)Contacting the hospital's ethics committee on behalf of the patient
4)Communicating information to the patient and family regarding lifesaving measures

Question 16

Which is the priority nursing action in the ethical decision-making process?
1)Determine exactly what needs to be decided.
2)Formulate alternatives to solve the issue.
3)Implement an action to achieve the greatest benefit with the least amount of risk.
4)Ascertain if new information is available regarding the issue.

Question 17

Based on the ethical decision-making process, what is the recommended number of alternative solutions involved in ethical decision making?
1)One
2)Two
3)Three
4)Four

Question 18

Which ethical principle is the nurse practicing when examining who benefits from the actions of others?
1)Beneficence
2)Autonomy
3)Justice
4)Fidelity

Question 19

The nurse is providing care to an older adult patient with terminal cancer who has opted to discontinue treatment and go home. The patient's family, however, wants to continue treatment. The nurse agrees to be present while the patient tells the family. Which ethical patient principle is the nurse supporting?
1)Beneficence
2)Autonomy
3)Nonmaleficence
4)Justice

Question 20

The nurse is providing care to an older adult patient who has decided to discontinue the prescribed hemodialysis. The patient's family, however, is not supportive of this decision. In supporting the patient's decision, the nurse is demonstrating which ethical principle?
1)Veracity
2)Nonmaleficence
3)Beneficence
4)Autonomy

Question 21

The nurse is providing care to a pregnant patient with a history of intravenous drug use. The patient refuses testing for HIV despite the recommendation of her nurse-midwife. Which actions by the nurse are appropriate in this situation? Select all that apply.
1)Reporting the patient to Social Services
2)Running the test without the patient's knowledge
3)Emphasizing the importance of the test to the patient
4)Offering counseling regarding the testing
5)Encouraging the patient to reconsider the decision to be tested throughout the pregnancy

Question 22

According to Provision 2 of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, the nurse's primary commitment is to which people? Select all that apply.
1)Patient
2)Family
3)Provider
4)Community
5)Nurse manager

Question 23

A patient is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and states to the nurse, "Promise you will not tell anyone about my condition." Which action should the nurse take, when considering the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996?
1)Honoring the patient's wishes
2)Respecting the patient's privacy and confidentiality
3)Communicating only necessary information
4)Not disclosing any information to anyone

Question 24

The nurse provides care for a patient who is considering the implementation of a physician order for life-sustaining treatment (POLST). Which actions by the nurse are appropriate when providing care to this patient and family? Select all that apply.
1)Educating the patient that the POLST replaces other advance directives
2)Stating to the patient that a POLST is a promise by providers to honor wishes
3)Explaining to the patient that the POLST is independent of a healthcare organization
4)Teaching the patient that the forms for the POLST are the same in each state with this option
5)Telling the patient that communication with healthcare providers is essential for the POLST

Question 25

A hospice nurse is providing care to a patient diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The patient is concerned that her two daughters are at an increased risk for cancer and asks the nurse for help. Which actions by the nurse are appropriate? Select all that apply.
1)Provide the family with information on hereditary cancer risks.
2)Assure the patient that ovarian cancer is not hereditary.
3)Suggest a referral to a genetic counselor for the daughters.
4)Advise the patient about having genetic testing.
5)Encourage the patient to focus on her health at this time as additional worrying is too stressful.

Question 26

The nurse is providing care to a patient who states, "My doctor is refusing to treat me because I am noncompliant with his recommendations." Which is the priority nursing action in this situation?
1)Advise the patient to contact the local medical board.
2)Advise the patient to contact their insurance company.
3)Refer the patient's issue to the hospital ethics committee.
4)Notify the healthcare provider of the patient's complaints.

Question 27

The Belmont Report initially described that which basic ethical principles should be applied to any research involving human subjects? Select all that apply.
1)Autonomy
2)Beneficence
3)Fidelity
4)Justice
5)Respect for persons

Question 28

The nurse is providing care to a patient who is considered brain dead. The family has opted to end care, and the healthcare provider asks the nurse to pull the endotracheal (ET) tube. The nurse is uncomfortable with this request. Which is the reason the nurse is experiencing difficulty with this task?
1)An ethical conflict
2)Personal values
3)Legal issues
4)A cultural conflict