Deck 6: Ethics

Question 1

After a massive earthquake,the emergency room staff focuses to provide care to the patients who are likely to survive rather than expending maximum effort on a few critically injured patients.Which ethical theory is demonstrated in this situation?

A) Deontology
B) Feminist ethics
C) Utilitarianism
D) Ethics of care

Answer 1

Utilitarianism

Question 2

Which ethical principle is violated when the patient is not told the truth about the medical diagnosis and therefore is not able to decide on the course of treatment?

A) Autonomy
B) Justice
C) Fidelity
D) Nonmaleficence

Answer 2

Autonomy

Question 3

The nurse often forgets to administer the patient's medication exactly on time,frequently giving it 1 or 2 hours after it is due.Which ethical principle is violated by the nurse?

A) Justice
B) Judgment
C) Responsibility
D) Confidentiality

Answer 3

Responsibility

Question 4

The nurse respects the patient's wish not to be intubated even though the patient will most likely die as a result of the decision.Which ethical theory is demonstrated by the action of the nurse?

A) Autonomy
B) Justice
C) Utilitarianism
D) Responsibility

Question 5

The family is unsure what treatment is appropriate for the comatose patient who is terminally ill.Which steps will the nurse take to help the family process this ethical dilemma?

A) Consider all possible treatment options.
B) Calculate the odds of the patient's survival.
C) Clarify own values and opinions about the issues.
D) Provide personal opinions about treatment options.
E) Gather all relevant information about the situation.

Question 6

Which ethical area is challenged when the nurse feels bound to refuse to assist with an abortion procedure?

A) Values
B) Culture
C) Confidentiality
D) Social networking

Question 7

Which is the appropriate action for the nurse manager when a nurse refuses to assist with an abortion due to personal ethical beliefs?

A) Assign the nurse to care for other patients.
B) Counsel the nurse about professional responsibility.
C) Report the nurse's refusal to the State Board of Nursing.
D) Inform the nurse that the refusal will lead to termination.

Question 8

The patient's family members disagree about which treatment is most appropriate for the terminally ill comatose patient.Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for this situation?

A) The nurse will provide statistical information about the patient's odds of survival.
B) The nurse will promote effective communication between the family members.
C) The nurse will ask the family members to leave medical decisions to the physician.
D) The nurse will wait until the patient is able to make the decisions about treatment.

Question 9

Which ethical principle is upheld when the surgeon refuses to operate on the patient because potential benefit is minimal compared to the pain that the patient will endure?

A) Autonomy
B) Justice
C) Fidelity
D) Nonmaleficence

Question 10

Even though immunization injections are momentarily painful to the patient,they are recommended because they will protect the community from infectious diseases.Which ethical system supports this practice?

A) Duty ethics
B) Deontology
C) Utilitarianism
D) Situation ethics

Question 11

A patient with a rare neurological disease is misdiagnosed by the physician and told that the symptoms are psychosomatic.The patient's sense of self is shattered after being told "You are a waste of a hospital bed." Which ethical theory is violated in this situation?

A) Liberty
B) Fidelity
C) Ethics of care
D) Confidentiality

Question 12

Which ethical principle is upheld when uninsured patients receive the same level of care as patients with private health insurance?

A) Autonomy
B) Justice
C) Fidelity
D) Nonmaleficence

Question 13

Which action by the nurse is an example of a legal issue rather than an ethical principle?

A) Failing to shut the door completely when bathing the patient
B) Providing lower doses of pain medications to patients with red hair
C) Working as a registered nurse without a current nursing license
D) Deciding not to stop and provide medical care at an accident scene

Question 14

Which ethical principle is violated when the nurse promises to administer pain medication to the patient every 2 hours throughout the shift and then fails to do so?

A) Autonomy
B) Justice
C) Fidelity
D) Nonmaleficence

Question 15

The nurse administers the wrong dose of medication and then blames the mistake on a co-worker.Which ethical principle is violated by the nurse?

A) Fidelity
B) Accountability
C) Confidentiality
D) Social networking

Question 16

Which ethical principle is violated when the nurse is overhead talking about the patient's prognosis in the elevator?

A) Judgment
B) Advocacy
C) Accountability
D) Confidentiality

Question 17

Which ethical area is involved when the clinic releases genetic test results to the patient's employer without the patient's consent?

A) Veracity
B) Bioethics
C) Justice
D) Beneficence

Question 18

Which ethical principle is upheld when the registered nurse provides medical assistance to victims of an accident?

A) Veracity
B) Fidelity
C) Autonomy
D) Beneficence

Question 19

Which ethical principle is upheld when the nurse refuses to administer a placebo pill to the patient?

A) Justice
B) Culture
C) Veracity
D) Competency