Deck 12: Ethical Dimensions of Nursing and Health Care

Question 1

A faculty member explains that professional ethics:

A) guide behavior based on group consensus.
B) is completely an individual nurse's concern.
C) is optional in groups considered professions.
D) should not consider the goals of the profession.

Answer 1

guide behavior based on group consensus.

Question 2

A nurse feels strongly that nursing practice should be based on justice.The action by the nurse that best demonstrates this principle is to:

A) allow patients to make their own decisions regarding nursing care.
B) make sure all patients get their meals ordered at the same time.
C) spend the same amount of time with each patient during the shift.
D) use a consistent approach in deciding which patients to see first.

Answer 2

use a consistent approach in deciding which patients to see first.

Question 3

A nurse explains to a student that the object of beneficence is to:

A) consider all the ways patients benefit from action.
B) do the best thing in every patient care scenario.
C) provide "good" according to the patient's wishes.
D) use one's own judgment to make patient care decisions.

Answer 3

provide "good" according to the patient's wishes.

Question 4

A nursing instructor tells the class the most important ethical principle involved in informed consent is:

A) autonomy.
B) beneficence.
C) confidentiality.
D) veracity.

Question 5

A nurse admits a patient with end-stage cancer who is very obviously in pain yet refuses pain medication because of the desire to remain aware of family members who are present.The best example of the nurse acting under the ethical principle of beneficence is to:

A) assess the patient and pain thoroughly and discuss the patient's wishes.
B) call the doctor and get orders for around-the-clock pain medication anyway.
C) tell the patient and family that the patient has the right to refuse treatment.
D) try convincing the patient that the family does not want her to be in pain.

Question 6

A patient with a head injury is confused and combative and wants to leave the hospital, repeatedly getting out of bed.The nurses obtain an order for soft wrist restraints and a vest restraint.This action best demonstrates:

A) beneficence.
B) justice.
C) nonmaleficence.
D) paternalism.

Question 7

A nurse speaking in the legislature in favor of providing universal health care would best support this cause by calling on the ethical principle of:

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

Question 8

A nurse who was previously known to be a role model has become distant and cool toward patients.The manager suspects the nurse is experiencing moral distress.Which action by the nurse's manager would be best in this situation?

A) Ask the nurse about perceived barriers to caregiving.
B) Remind the nurse that patient relations are important.
C) Ask whether the nurse needs to take a vacation or time off.
D) Tell the nurse that others have noticed a behavior change.

Question 9

A nurse is assessing factors that may influence a patient's decision-making ability.Which assessment by the nurse would provide the most useful information?

A) Financial ability to pay for care
B) How long the patient has to decide?
C) The patient's current pain level
D) What information is available?

Question 10

The nurse explains to a co-worker that in order to practice in an ethical manner, the first thing the nurse must do is to:

A) clarify one's own values to be sure they can be helpful in ethical dilemmas.
B) find an employer with organizational goals consistent with ethical practice.
C) follow an established set of rules when confronted with an ethical dilemma.
D) understand nursing's role in meeting the professional goals of nursing.

Question 11

A patient is in pain and requests pain medication.The nurse sees that it is too early to administer the medication.Practicing under the principle of veracity, the nurse should:

A) bring the medication a little bit early to give the patient pain relief.
B) call the physician and request an extra dose of the pain medication.
C) sit with the patient and offer nonpharmacological pain interventions.
D) tell the patient when to expect the medication and bring it on time.

Question 12

The nursing faculty member correctly classifies the American Nurses Association (ANA)Code of Ethics as a tool for:

A) articulating actions that incorporate professional values.
B) describing ethics associated with membership in the ANA.
C) listing and explaining ethical principles used in nursing.
D) solving ethical dilemmas encountered in daily practice.

Question 13

A nursing student is skeptical about the concept of professional ethics even being possible, much less a requirement for professional practice.Which statement by this student best justifies this belief?

A) "A group cannot determine what is right in each specific situation."
B) "Each nurse should be smart enough to determine solutions to issues."
C) "Ethics are too personal to be dictated by a professional organization."
D) "There are too many gray areas for any code of ethics to be universally right."

Question 14

The nurse knows that the American Nurses Association (ANA)adopted its first code of ethics in :

A) 1893.
B) 1896.
C) 1950.
D) 1969.

Question 15

A nurse is in a difficult patient care situation and thinks that there is an ethical dilemma.The first action this nurse should take is to:

A) decide what predominant values are operating in the situation.
B) determine who is involved and uncover their individual goals.
C) identify courses of action and possible consequences of actions.
D) identify the actions that are justifiable.

Question 16

The practicing nurse best understands the concept of ethics to mean:

A) doing what is right in a situation.
B) always doing what patients want.
C) being of good moral character.
D) following strict guidelines for action.

Question 17

A nurse is complaining about the pharmacy being too slow in delivering medications.The nurse describes an example in which a patient could have been harmed from the delay and is angry because the nurse knows it is critical that certain medications be given on time.This nurse is most likely experiencing:

A) caregiver fatigue.
B) job burnout.
C) moral distress.
D) personal fatigue.

Question 18

A nurse has volunteered to practice in a disaster area in a developing country where supplies are extremely scarce.Despite bringing large amounts of supplies to the area, the volunteer group members find they are still very limited.The volunteer group decides to focus on providing care according to the ethical concept of utilitarianism.Which action by the group would best fit under this philosophy?

A) Choosing to treat children and pregnant women as priorities
B) Converting vehicles into ambulances for transport to hospitals
C) Establishing a mobile ventilator unit for critically ill patients
D) Providing clean water, food, shelter, and basic health care

Question 19

A nurse studying the history of nursing ethics over the years would conclude that:

A) articles show the topics of concern have stayed fairly similar.
B) ethics has been slow in responding to independent practice.
C) nurses' behavior in caring for sick patients is the main subject.
D) the subject has evolved to more abstract situational ethics.

Question 20

A nurse subscribes to the philosophy of deontology.This means the nurse makes decisions based on:

A) cultural competence.
B) equal access.
C) greatest good.
D) perceived duty.

Question 21

What areas does the nurse explore with the patient when using patient-level ethics? (Select all that apply.)

A) External factors
B) Medical indications
C) Previous health history
D) Patient preferences
E) Quality of life