Question 1

A resident in long-term has been deteriorating for a number of days. His daughter has been with him most of the time and is exhausted. The nurse encourages her to go home to get some rest. A few hours later, it becomes clear to the staff that death is imminent. Appreciating how exhausted the daughter is, the nurse is justified in not disturbing her.

Accepted Answer

The nurse should inform the daughter about the imminent death of her father, as she may want to be present during his final moments despite her exhaustion.

Question 2

What existing legislation has been influenced by the shifting of Canadian values over time?&#10;A) The abolition of capital punishment&#10;B) Privacy&#10;C) Medical Assistance in Dying&#10;D) All are correct

Accepted Answer

Canadian values have evolved over time, influencing legislation such as the abolition of capital punishment, privacy laws, and the legalization of Medical Assistance in Dying.

Question 3

A nurse is justified in accessing the chart of a friend who is a patient on another unit because she is aware of her friend's serious allergy to antibiotics and wants to make sure this is documented.

Accepted Answer

Accessing a patient's medical chart without a professional need related to their care violates patient privacy and confidentiality, regardless of personal relationships.

Question 4

The field of ethics is gaining greater prominence, in part, because of the growing sophistication of science and technology.

Accepted Answer

The advancement of science and technology raises complex ethical questions and dilemmas, necessitating a greater focus on ethics to address these challenges responsibly.

Question 5

Which of the following mandates that nurses have a basic understanding of the Canadian legal system?&#10;A) Provincial and federal nursing bodies&#10;B) The Supreme Court of Canada&#10;C) Provincial nursing labor unions&#10;D) The Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act, 1990

Accepted Answer

Provincial and federal nursing bodies set the standards and regulations for nursing practice, which include understanding the legal system relevant to healthcare.

Question 6

Why must nurses be familiar with the legal system?&#10;A) Some nursing actions are governed by the law.&#10;B) Nurses' decisions may not be supported by the law.&#10;C) Nurses are sometimes at risk for litigation.&#10;D) All are correct.

Accepted Answer

Nurses must be familiar with the legal system because their actions are governed by laws, their decisions need legal support, and they are at risk for litigation.

Question 7

In addition to having obligations to clients, nurses also have rights regarding what they can expect as professionals.

Accepted Answer

Nurses have professional rights, including the right to a safe work environment, fair compensation, and respect, alongside their obligations to provide care to clients.

Question 8

Through the Canada Health Act, the federal government is given authority over health care in Canada.

Accepted Answer

The Canada Health Act establishes criteria and conditions for health care funding but does not give the federal government authority over health care, which is primarily a provincial responsibility.

Question 9

Identify one of the reasons why nurses need to have an understanding of ethics.&#10;A) Nurses do not share the same perspectives regarding health care with other health care professionals.&#10;B) Morality and care are at the heart of nursing practice.&#10;C) Ethics provides a clear answer to nurses regarding the correct course of action.&#10;D) Convincing family members of compassionate courses of action is best done by nurses.

Accepted Answer

Nurses need to understand ethics because morality and care are central to their practice, guiding them in making compassionate and just decisions in patient care.

Question 10

Why is it advantageous for nurses to have knowledge of ethical theories and principles?&#10;A) Ethical theories encourage nurses to critique others' points of view.&#10;B) Nurses are able to justify and defend their positions on a situation.&#10;C) Ethical theories help nurses explain to the rest of the team why nurses have a greater understanding of the patient's perspective.&#10;D) This knowledge allows nurses to convince patients to choose comfort measures only.

Accepted Answer

Having knowledge of ethical theories and principles enables nurses to justify and defend their positions on various situations, ensuring that their actions are aligned with ethical standards and patient care guidelines.

Deck 1: An Introduction to the Ethics and the Law: a Perspective for Nurses