Exam 17: Ethical and Legal Issues in Patient Care

A nurse observes unsafe practice by a physician and reports it to the risk management department of the hospital.Which ethical principle does this represent?

In addition to the organ procurement coordinator, which other resource is the best resource for the nurse to use in helping the family make a decision when there is disagreement among family members regarding organ donation?

The American Nurses Association ( ANA ) Code of Ethics for nurses is primarily a statement in support of

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for nurses is primarily a statement in support of

A nurse agrees to trade shifts with another nurse.A conflict arises now with the nurse's ability to work that shift.Which ethical principle should the nurse use to make a decision when conflict arises regarding the nurse's inability to honor an agreement to trade shifts?

The ethical principle of autonomy is being respected in which situation?

Autonomy is an ethical principle that can be applied to which clinical situation?

Which ethical principle should help guide the nurse who suspects another nurse is incorrectly charting pain medications and then taking them?

A nurse decides to use the ethical principle of utilitarianism to make clinical decisions.This principle is based on the greatest good for the greatest number.Which situation would most likely cause an ethical dilemma for this nurse?

In caring for a baby with non-life-sustaining defects, the nurse will most likely make decisions based on

If a patient does not have an advance directive or has not expressed his wishes regarding end of life care, what ethical principle may help the family to make the right decision?

When nurses are confronted with ethical dilemmas that challenge their values and beliefs, what is the best source to rely on to make the right decision?

A nurse renewing advanced cardiac life support is practicing which ethical principle?

A nurse is caring for a patient who has developed MODS (multiorgan dysfunction syndrome) resulting from septic shock.The patient is ventilator dependent and on vasopressors to maintain a Doppler-measured blood pressure of 80 mm Hg.The family is resistant to permit terminal weaning.The best action by the nurse is to

The nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure resulting in irreversible kidney damage who decides to go home to die rather than accept hemodialysis.The nurse understands that the patient is practicing which ethical principle?

A basis for ethical dilemma can result from a request for organ donation.Which factor may contribute to this conflict?

A nurse decides to use the ethical principle of teleology to make clinical decisions.This principle is based on the premise that actions are determined by their consequences.Which situation would most likely cause an ethical dilemma for this nurse?

A nurse is caring for a patient with end-stage heart failure and understands the futility of care for this patient.The family is in denial and refuses to consent to a DNR (do not resuscitate).Their misperceptions regarding the DNR status may be based on which interpretation?

A nurse decides to use the ethical principle of deontology to make clinical decisions.This principle is based on treating all people the same regardless of circumstances and on one's duty to do the right thing regardless of circumstances.Which situation would most likely cause an ethical dilemma for this nurse?

The institutional review board ( IRB ) is responsible for overseeing biomedical research involving humans.Because most studies are randomized blind studies ( patients and providers are unaware of who is receiving treatment and who is receiving a placebo ), the risks for harm can be great.Which measure is taken to avoid harm to the subjects during biomedical research? (Select all that apply.)