Exam 3: Ethical and Legal Issues in Critical Care Nursing

The nurse is aware that a shortage of organs exists.She knows that which of the following statements is true?

The critical care nurse wants a better understanding of when to initiate an ethics consult.After attending an educational program,she understands that the following situation would require an ethics consultation:

The nurse is caring for a patient who has been declared brain dead.The patient is considered a potential organ donor.In order to proceed with donation,the nurse understands that:

The American Nurses Credential Center Magnet Recognition Program supports many actions to ensure that nurses are engaged and empowered to participate in ethical decision making.Which of the following would assist nurses in being involved in research studies?

The nurse is caring for a patient who is declared brain dead and is an organ donor.The following events occur: 1300 Diagnostic tests for brain death are completed.1330 Intensivist reviews diagnostic test results and writes in the progress note that the patient is brain dead.1400 Patient is taken to the operating room for organ retrieval.1800 All organs have been retrieved for donation.The ventilator is discontinued.1810 Cardiac monitor shows flatline.What is the official time of death recorded in the medical record?

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with a traumatic brain injury following a motor vehicle crash.The patient's Glasgow Coma Score is 3 and intermittently withdraws when painful stimuli are introduced.The patient is ventilator dependent and occasionally takes a spontaneous breath.The physician explains to the family that the patient has severe neurological impairment and he does not expect the patient to recover consciousness.The nurse recognizes that this patient is:

When addressing an ethical dilemma,contextual,physiological,and personal factors of the situation must be considered.Which of the following is an example of a personal factor?

Ideally,an advance directive should be developed by the:

Which of the following organizations requires a mechanism for addressing ethical issues?

The nurse is caring for a patient with severe neurological impairment following a massive stroke.The physician has ordered tests to determine brain death.The nurse understands that criteria for brain death include: (Select all that apply.)

Which of the following statements about resuscitation is true?

A critically ill patient has a living will in his chart.His condition has deteriorated.His wife says she wants "everything done," regardless of the patient's wishes.Which ethical principle is the wife violating?

Warning signs that can assist the critical care nurse in recognizing that an ethical dilemma may exist include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A specific request made by a competent person that directs medical care related to life-prolonging procedures if the patient loses capacity to make decisions is called a:

A nurse caring for a patient with neurological impairment often must use painful stimuli to elicit a patient's response.The nurse uses subtle measures of painful stimuli,such as nailbed pressure.She neither slaps the patient nor pinches the nipple to elicit a response to pain.In this scenario,the nurse is exemplifying the ethical principle of:

The nurse is caring for a patient whose condition has deteriorated and who is not responding to standard treatment.The physician calls for an ethical consultation with the family to discuss potential withdrawal versus aggressive treatment.The nurse understands that applying a model for ethical decision making involves which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse is caring for a critically ill patient with terminal cancer.The monitor alarms and shows ventricular tachycardia.The patient does not have a "do not resuscitate" order written on the chart.What is the appropriate nursing action?

The nurse is caring for a patient who is not responding to medical treatment.The intensivist holds a conference with the family,and a decision is made to withdraw life support.The nurse's religious beliefs are not in agreement with withdrawal.However,she assists with the process to avoid confronting the charge nurse.Afterward she feels guilty and believes she "killed the patient." This scenario is likely to cause:

The nurse is caring for a critically ill patient on mechanical ventilation.The physician identifies the need for a bronchoscopy,which requires informed consent.If the physician were to obtain consent from the patient,the patient must be able to:

The nurse is caring for an elderly patient who is in cardiogenic shock.The patient has failed to respond to medical treatment.The intensivist in charge of the patient conducts a conference to explain that they have exhausted treatment options and suggest that the patient be made a "do not resuscitate" status.This scenario illustrates the concept of: