Deck 3: Issues in Nursing Practice

Question 1

The ethical decision-making process is being used for a patient regarding the use of life support measures.What action should the nurse take as the final step in this decision-making process?

A) Evaluate the outcomes.
B) Implement the decision.
C) Clarify the values of all the participants.
D) Determine which action has the strongest ethical support.

Answer 1

Evaluate the outcomes.

Question 2

A patient decides to not to have a hysterectomy,even though it is recommended by the physician.The nurse disagrees and says that it should be done,because the patient has already had children; the nurse leaves to get the consent form for the surgery.Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating with this patient?

A) Autonomy
B) Paternalism
C) Beneficence
D) Nonmaleficence

Answer 2

Paternalism

Question 3

After working a 12-hour shift,the nurse is asked to work part of the next shift due to short staffing.Which obligation to work should the nurse use to guide the response to this request?

A) Justice
B) Welfare
C) Moral
D) Legal

Answer 3

Moral

Question 4

The nurse is served with a summons relating to the care of a patient.Which action should the nurse take first?

A) Notify employer immediately.
B) Answer summons after 30 days.
C) Acknowledge liability promptly.
D) Seek legal counsel after 30 days.

Question 5

While providing wound care,the nurse skips a step and does not cleanse the wound before applying a new sterile dressing.What action did this nurse make?

A) Crime
B) Summons
C) Malpractice
D) Respondeat superior

Question 6

The nurse is reviewing information on the state board of nursing website prior to renewing a state license.Which type of law is guiding this nurse's actions?

A) Tort
B) Civil
C) Moral
D) Administrative

Question 7

The nurse is deciding whether or not to obtain personal liability insurance,even though the organization has insurance for each employee.What must the nurse do to ensure the organization's liability insurance provides adequate coverage against liability?

A) Follow institutional policies.
B) Have premiums payroll-deducted.
C) Understand the state's tort laws.
D) Provide professional nursing care.

Question 8

While planning patient care,the nurse considers what needs to be done to limit any liability.Which action should the nurse take to minimize liability when providing patient care?

A) Ensure patients' rights.
B) Follow verbal orders.
C) Follow directions exactly as given.
D) Verify employer's liability insurance.

Question 9

The nurse is concerned about a patient filing a civil liability suit.What should the nurse expect to occur if a civil liability suit is planned?

A) Receive a summons
B) Receive a copy of the complaint
C) Respondeat superior determination
D) Receive a notice that a complaint was filed with a court

Question 10

A patient has a living will and gives it to the nurse to follow.The patient says,"Do not tell my family about the living will." Which action should the nurse take?

A) Send a copy of the living will to medical records.
B) Assure the patient that the nurse will not tell anyone.
C) Encourage the patient to discuss the living will with the family.
D) Return the living will to the patient until the family is informed.

Question 11

A patient is identified to participate in a new drug study,but does not understand the drug or the study.Which ethical principle should the nurse use to prevent the patient from participating in the study?

A) Veracity
B) Autonomy
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Standard of Best Interest

Question 12

The nurse educator is preparing a seminar that focuses on the impact of technology on patient care.Which effect of technology on ethical decision making should the educator include in this seminar?

A) Ethical situations remain similar to what they have always been in health care.
B) Nurses have fewer ethical decisions, because computers now make many decisions.
C) Ethical dilemmas have become more complex owing to technologies that prolong life.
D) Nurses can postpone ethical decisions, because technology allows patients to live longer.

Question 13

A patient tells the nurse that the Patient's Bill of Rights gives patients the legal right to read their medical information.Which of these responses would be appropriate for the nurse to make?

A) "I'll ask your physician if you can read the record."
B) "Are you concerned about the care you are receiving?"
C) "I'll stay here with you while you read it in case you have any questions."
D) "Let me check with the charge nurse first."

Question 14

The nurse is concerned that a nursing assistant is violating a patient's rights.What action did the nursing assistant make to cause the nurse to come to this conclusion?

A) Telling the patient to bathe right now
B) Identifying name and title to the patient
C) Knocking before entering the patient's room
D) Asking the patient which beverage is preferred

Question 15

The nurse is concerned about a patient's ability to make decisions about a proposed treatment plan.Which patient characteristic is causing the nurse to have this concern?

A) Lower socioeconomic status
B) Authoritarian family relationship
C) Past experience with hospitalization
D) Lack of information about treatment

Question 16

During a patient care conference,the HCPs are reviewing potential outcomes based on individual interventions.Which bioethical theory is being demonstrated during this care conference?

A) Religion
B) Deontology
C) Theological
D) Utilitarianism

Question 17

The family of a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer does not want the patient to be told about the diagnosis.The patient asks the nurse,"Do I have cancer?" Which ethical principles should the nurse consider when resolving this situation?

A) Autonomy and veracity
B) Beneficence and justice
C) Welfare rights and moral obligations
D) Nonmaleficence and legal obligations

Question 18

The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient.Which statement made by the nurse conveys dignity and respect to the patient?

A) "Honey, I have your medications."
B) "I have your medications for you, dear."
C) "I have your medications for you."
D) "It's time for us to take our medications."

Question 19

The charge nurse is concerned that an HCP is breaching a patient's confidentiality.What did the charge nurse observe to come to this conclusion?

A) A physician asking a nurse if a friend has cancer
B) Use of patient initials on nurse's assignment worksheet
C) A nurse asking an unknown physician for identification
D) A nurse reviewing charts of assigned patients for orders

Question 20

The nurse assigned to care for a patient who has HIV accepts the patient assignment despite believing that the patient's condition is a punishment from God.With which ethical principle is this nurse's behavior associated?

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

Question 21

A health care administrator is reviewing material submitted to the legislature on tort reform.What should the administrator explain to nurse leaders about this legislation?

A) Limits organizational liability for damages
B) Requires continuing education for all caregivers
C) Expects all staff to have read organizational policies before completing procedures
D) Expects all staff to have malpractice or liability insurance

Question 22

A nurse is working on a medical unit in a hospital undergoing a Joint Commission review.The investigator asks the nurse to explain "never events." What examples should the nurse use to explain these kinds of events? (Select all that apply.)

A) Surgery on the wrong body part
B) Paralyzed leg after falling from a bed
C) Death from falling out of bed
D) Having to restart an intravenous (IV) infusion
E) Canceling surgery because blood work is not safe

Question 23

While standing in the lunchroom,the nurse recognizes friends of a patient who was recently transferred to critical care.The nurse approaches them and offers to take them to the patient's care area.What action is this nurse demonstrating?

A) Defamation
B) Compassion
C) False Imprisonment
D) Disclosure of Confidential Information

Question 24

The nurse manager actively listens to the nursing staff and encourages the staff to be accountable for all patient care.Which leadership style is this manager demonstrating?

A) Coaching
B) Utilitarian
C) Autonomy
D) Democratic

Question 25

A patient with malnutrition refuses to ingest animal protein products,because it is against religious teachings.What should the nurse do to support this patient's beliefs while ensuring the patient's health status?

A) Explain the animal protein is the best source of nutrition for the patient's needs at this time.
B) Talk with a dietitian about sources of non-animal-based protein to include in the patient's diet.
C) Suggest to the physician that the patient is going against medical advice and should be discharged.
D) Schedule the organization's clergy to meet with the patient to discuss interpretation of religious teachings.

Question 26

The nurse is informed of several victims of gang violence being brought by ambulance to the emergency department.Which injury should the nurse prepare to report to the authorities?

A) Fractures
B) Abrasions
C) Lacerations
D) Gunshot wounds

Question 27

The LPN is working in a senior center and is approached by a participant who asks the nurse,"Can you help me understand my Medicare benefits?" What should the nurse include in a response to this patient? (Select all that apply.)

A) Medicare is a payment system for the working poor.
B) Medicare Part B covers outpatient services and has a monthly cost.
C) Medicare is a federally funded program for individuals 65 and over.
D) Prescription drug coverage for those with Medicare is available.
E) Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care and is free to those who qualify for Social Security.

Question 28

The nurse is planning to prepare medications for assigned patients.Which actions should the nurse take to ensure a safe environment while preparing the medications? (Select all that apply.)

A) Find a laboratory value for a physician as requested.
B) Place a "no interruption sign" on the door of the medication room.
C) Answer a patient's call-light after checking the medication administration record.
D) Listen to information provided by the charge nurse about a newly admitted patient.
E) Ask coworkers to provide you with time to concentrate while preparing medication.

Question 29

Before leaving a patient's room,the nurse says that pain medication will be provided within 15 minutes.The nurse returns in 10 minutes with the pain medication.Which ethical principle did the nurse demonstrate?

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

Question 30

The nursing staff is meeting to discuss a patient's desire for all life support measures,even though the patient has end-stage renal disease.Once a list of all possible actions is generated,what should the staff do next?

A) List the stakeholders.
B) Determine the best action.
C) Gather important information.
D) Identify positive and negative consequences.

Question 31

The nurse educator is preparing an in-service program to review laws applicable for patient care.Which law should the educator include that was established to protect a patient's medical and personal information?

A) Medicare
B) Patients' Bill of Rights
C) Department of Health and Human Services regulations
D) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Question 32

The nurse is performing a procedure while caring for a patient and unintentionally eliminates a step in the procedure.What may result from the nurse's action? (Select all that apply.)

A) Negligence
B) Breach of duty
C) Unintentional tort
D) Assault and battery
E) Civil liability for employer

Question 33

The nurse is preparing to delegate a task to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).Which actions should the nurse take in compliance with The National Council of State Boards of Nursing's (NCSBN)rights of delegation? (Select all that apply.)

A) Right day
B) Right place
C) Right person
D) Right supervision
E) Right circumstances
F) Right communication