Deck 3: Ethical Principles

Question 1

In which of the following situations is the nurse applying the principles of the CNA Code of Ethics?  

A)The nurse maintains confidentiality of a stabbing victim who is a suspected gang member. 
B)The nurse carries out mandatory testing of pregnant women for sexually transmitted diseases. 
C)The nurse keeps information confidential when a patient shares that he wants to kill himself. 
D)The nurse reports suspected abuse of a child and illegal activity of the parents to the police.

Answer 1

The nurse reports suspected abuse of a child and illegal activity of the parents to the police.

Question 2

A patient requests multiple cosmetic surgeries. At a certain point, the health care team questions whether the overall harm that will result from continuing to do these procedures will outweigh the benefits. Which ethical principle is most related to this discussion about weighing harms against benefits?  

A)beneficence  
B)non-maleficence  
C)justice  
D)veracity

Answer 2

non-maleficence  

Question 3

Which principle of the Canada Health Act entitles reasonable contact with insured health care services in terms of physical availability of medically necessary services?  

A)comprehensiveness  
B)universality  
C)accessibility  
D)public administration

Answer 3

accessibility  

Question 4

Which ethical principle requires nurses to uphold the profession's code of ethics, to practise within the established scope of practice, and to remain competent?  

A)beneficence  
B)autonomy  
C)fidelity  
D)non-maleficence

Question 5

Which principle of the Canada Health Act entitles 100 percent of the insured residents of a province or territory to health services?  

A)comprehensiveness  
B)universality  
C)accessibility  
D)public administration

Question 6

Which ethical principle implies that others are worthy of high regard?  

A)beneficence  
B)respect for autonomy  
C)respect for persons  
D)distributive justice

Question 7

Which of the following statements best summarizes the Privacy Act, amended April 2011?  

A)Individuals have the right to access their own information without constraints. 
B)The provincial government sets out rules on how personal information is managed. 
C)Each province protects the private information of Canadian citizens. 
D)The Act sets out rules for how personal information should be managed by private-sector organizations.

Question 8

The nurse promises a patient that she will return in five minutes to sit and speak with him. What ethical principle does this situation exemplify?  

A)morals  
B)fidelity  
C)confidentiality  
D)justice

Question 9

A nurse performs a pain assessment on a client and requests an order for an analgesic as an intervention. Which of the following ethical principles is being given a practical application in this situation?  

A)beneficence  
B)autonomy  
C)veracity  
D)non-maleficence

Question 10

What does the principle of beneficence require the nurse to do?  

A)to separate personal from professional life  
B)to prevent harm or evil and do good  
C)to make the patient an active participant in their care  
D)to morally regulate the conduct of others

Question 11

What does the CNA Code of Ethics recognize about confidentiality?  

A)It develops from respect for patients and is an absolute requirement in all situations. 
B)It is restricted to legal regulations and definitions. 
C)It is not absolute and may be modified to protect the patient or other innocent people. 
D)It enables preservation of dignity for patients in intimate and private situations.

Question 12

A nurse respects a patient's decision not to undergo chemotherapy. Which principle is this situation an example of?  

A)respect for persons  
B)justice  
C)beneficence  
D)autonomy

Question 13

The emergency room team decides that the most critically ill patient will be treated first.  Which of the following ethical principles is illustrated by the decision-making process in this case?  

A)respect for persons  
B)justice  
C)beneficence  
D)autonomy

Question 14

Which principle of the Canada Health Act requires that residents moving from one province or territory to another must continue to be covered for insured health care services?  

A)comprehensiveness  
B)portability  
C)accessibility  
D)public administration

Question 15

A nurse supports the physician's decision to withhold full disclosure of the patient's poor prognosis as the physician believes the patient is not strong enough to handle the bad news. While violating patient autonomy, what ethical principle is the physician using to support this act of paternalism?  

A)informed consent  
B)beneficence  
C)veracity  
D)fidelity

Question 16

If the patient works with a nurse to formulate his/her plan of care, which ethical principle has been         upheld?  

A)beneficence  
B)veracity  
C)fidelity  
D)autonomy

Question 17

Which of the following ethical principles relates to noncompliance with care by a fully aware patient?  

A)beneficence  
B)autonomy  
C)fidelity  
D)non-maleficence