Question 1

Which statement best describes the Code of Ethics of the American Nurses Association?

Accepted Answer

A)  A moral statement of accountability for practicing nurses and for student nurses
B)  A legal document describing the responsibilities of the nurse
C)  A statement regarding nursing care that outlines principles for the hospital to use to evaluate quality of care
D)  A document that is used as a guide for the nurse to consider in the decision-making process in legal situations A

Question 2

Advance directives such as the health care proxy and living will support what ethical principle?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

The nurse has an adequate understanding of ethical issues regarding transplantation when stating which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  "There are few Americans on the transplantation list."
B)  "Everyone on the transplantation list receives the organ he/she needs."
C)  "There is an overabundance of organ donors."
D)  "Most people on the transplantation list die due to the shortage of organs." D

Question 4

What element in health care is most responsible for the ethical dilemma of whether health care is a privilege or a right?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cost
B)  Technology
C)  Consumerism
D)  Worker shortage

Question 5

A nurse is educating an adult patient on patient rights,according to the American Hospital Association.The teaching has been effective when the adult states that the patient's rights include

Accepted Answer

A)  "choice of diet to be eaten during hospitalization."
B)  "considerate and respectful care from all care providers."
C)  "medical care regardless of ability to pay."
D)  "information from nurses about diagnosis and prognosis."

Question 6

A patient who has a terminal illness wants to be able to take a prescription medication to end life when suffering becomes unbearable.The patient asks the nurse for advice.Operating from a deontological point of reference,what action does the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

A)  Advises the patient about local providers willing to participate
B)  Assesses the patient for more information about the situation
C)  Determines what kind of insurance the patient has before acting
D)  Tells the patient that he/she cannot participate in this action

Question 7

Which ethical principle is applied when the nurse acts to safeguard the patient and the public by reporting poor nursing practice?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

A nurse is educating a nurse aide on patient confidentiality.The nurse believes the teaching to be effective when the nurse aide states that confidentiality will be maintained by a nurse who believes in and values the ethical principle of

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

A nurse is educating a group of nursing students on the deontological model of ethical reasoning.The nurse determines that the teaching has been effective when a student states

Accepted Answer

A)  "All life is worthy of respect."
B)  "Abortions are ethical."
C)  "Euthanasia is acceptable in certain situations."
D)  "Lying is acceptable if it benefits the patient."

Question 10

The nurse is educating a coworker on the ethical principle of beneficence.The nurse judges the teaching to be effective when her coworker states

Accepted Answer

A)  "Beneficence involves allowing patient to make their own health care decisions."
B)  "Beneficence is the duty to actively do good for patients."
C)  "Beneficence is the duty to do no harm."
D)  "Beneficence involves treating all patients equally."

Question 11

A nurse manager is teaching the purpose of the nurse's Code of Ethics to a group of high school students.Which statement by one of the students indicates that the teaching has been effective? The purpose of the nurse's Code of Ethics is

Accepted Answer

A)  "to assist in clarifying the individual nurse's personal values and goals."
B)  "to differentiate between moral and immoral acts."
C)  "to guide the behavior of the professional nurse."
D)  "to identify acts that are legal for the nurse to perform."

Question 12

The ethical principle of autonomy is not applicable in which patient situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The patient does not speak or understand the English language.
B)  The patient is unaware of who or where he or she is.
C)  The patient has been in a long-term care facility for 10 years.
D)  The patient has values that conflict with the caregiver's values.

Question 13

The nurse is very busy caring for a large caseload.An adult patient mentions that by having slow mobility,"people just do things for me rather than allowing me to do as much as possible on my own." To solve the dilemma of needing to conserve time versus supporting the patient's involvement in self-care,what principle may help the nurse?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

What ethical principle is implemented,or supported,when the nurse encourages a patient to be involved in planning and implementing self-care?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

A nurse is caring for a young patient recovering from a traumatic car crash.The patient has lost a lot of blood and is in need of a blood transfusion.The patient states,"I'm a Jehovah's Witness," and will not accept the blood.The nurse knows the patient will likely not survive without the blood.What action should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

A)  Administer the blood anyway;the patient will die without it.
B)  Try to talk the family into signing the consent for the blood.
C)  Call the physician and report the patient's decision.
D)  Stop all care for the patient to respect his/her wishes.

Question 16

A patient with cancer has decided to end treatment and is discussing end-of-life care with the family.The nurse notices that the attending physician has just ordered another dose of chemotherapy.What would be the best action for the nurse to take as an advocate for the patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Send the order to the pharmacy so that the chemotherapy can be prepared.
B)  Call the attending physician,and request a meeting so that there can be open communication between the physician and the patient and family.
C)  Tell the patient that because the chemotherapy has been ordered,it must be given.
D)  Request a meeting with the attending physician and the patient and family so the attending physician can convince the patient to receive the chemotherapy.

Question 17

Which action by the nurse shows an understanding of the ethical principle of autonomy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Allowing a patient the right to make decisions regarding his health care
B)  Making decisions for the patient regarding her care
C)  Disregarding the patient's decisions because they are not "normal"
D)  Consulting the attending physician to make decisions for the patient

Question 18

A nurse is educating students on physician-assisted suicide (PAS).The nurse judges that the teaching has been effective when a student states which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  "PAS does not violate any ethical principles."
B)  "PAS threatens to destroy the fundamental relationship between physician and patient."
C)  "PAS does not involve nurses."
D)  "Quality of life advocates support PAS as an example of personal autonomy and control."
E)  "Nurses should be aware of the legal and ethical implications of administering legal dosages of medications."

Question 19

A nurse manager is educating a group of staff nurses about genetics and genomics.The nurse manager judges that the teaching has been effective when one of the staff nurses states

Accepted Answer

A)  "Health outcomes and treatment of disease processes have not increased with the study of genetics and genomics."
B)  "Only researchers benefit from the study of genetics and genomics."
C)  "This area of study has nothing to do with nurses."
D)  "Genetics and genomics have increased the ability of health care professionals to assist patients in improving health outcomes."

Question 20

What action can the nurse take to uphold the ethical principle of fidelity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Report unscrupulous billing practices.
B)  Disclose the results of an HIV test to a patient's family.
C)  Make health care decisions for a patient.
D)  Accept an assignment that is unsafe.

Exam 19: Ethical Issues