Question 1

The nurse questions a physician's order to administer a placebo to the patient.The nurse's action is based on which ethical principle?&#10;A) Autonomy&#10;B) Beneficence&#10;C) Justice&#10;D) Fidelity

Accepted Answer

Autonomy refers to the freedom to make decisions free of external control.In this case,the nurse questions the physician's order for a placebo because it supports the patient's autonomy.Although beneficence,taking a positive action for others,has implications here,it is not the primary operating principle.Justice refers to fairness and is most often used in discussions about access to health care resources.Fidelity refers to the agreement to keep promises.

Question 2

A young woman who is pregnant with a fetus exposed to multiple teratogens consents to have her fetus undergo serial PUBS (percutaneous umbilical blood sampling)to examine how exposure affects the fetus over time.Although these tests will not improve the fetus' outcomes and will expose it to some risks,the information gathered may help infants in the future.Which ethical principle is at greatest risk?

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

Nonmaleficence

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that focuses on avoidance of harm or hurt.The nurse must balance risks and benefits of care.Repeated PUBS may place the mother and fetus at risk for infection and increased pain,and may place the mother at risk for increased emotional health stress.Fidelity refers to the agreement to keep promises.Autonomy refers to freedom from external control,and beneficence refers to taking positive actions to help others.

Question 3

A nurse argues that we need to reform our health care system because we have a large number of people who are uninsured and end up needing expensive emergent care when low-cost measures could have prevented their illnesses.What ethical framework is she using to make this case?

A) Deontology
B) Ethics of care
C) Feminist ethics
D) Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism is a system of ethics that believes that value is determined by usefulness.This system of ethics focuses on the outcome of the greatest good for the greatest number of people.Deontology would not look to consequences of actions.The ethics of care would not be helpful because consensus on this issue is not achievable.Relationships,which are an important component of feminist ethics,are not addressed in this case.

Question 4

The nurse values autonomy above all other principles.Which patient assignment will the nurse find most difficult to accept?&#10;A) Teenager in labor who requests epidural anesthesia&#10;B) Middle-aged father of three with an advance directive declining life support&#10;C) Elderly patient who requires dialysis&#10;D) Family elder who is making the decisions for a 30-year-old female member

Accepted Answer

Autonomy refers to freedom from external control.A person who values autonomy highly may find it difficult to accept situations where the patient is not the primary decision maker regarding his or her care.A teenager requesting an epidural,a father with an advanced directive,and an elderly patient requiring dialysis all describe a patient or family that can make their own decisions and choices regarding care.

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient supported with a ventilator who has been unresponsive since arrival via ambulance 8 days ago.The patient has not been identified,and no family members have been found.The nurse is concerned about the plan of care regarding maintenance or withdrawal of life support measures.The nurse determines that this is an ethical dilemma not resolved by scientific data.Place the steps the nurse will use to resolve this ethical dilemma in the correct order.

A) The nurse identifies possible solutions or actions to resolve the dilemma.
B) The nurse reviews the medical record, including entries by all health care disciplines, to gather information relevant to this patient's situation.
C) Health care providers use negotiation to redefine the patient's plan of care.
D) The nurse evaluates the plan and revises it with input from other health care providers as necessary.
E) The nurse arranges a meeting with health care team members to clarify opinions, values, and facts.
F) The nurse states the problem.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is caring for a patient...

Question 6

The patient's son requests to view the documentation in his mother's medical record.What is the nurse's best response to this request?&#10;A) &#34;I'll be happy to get that for you.&#34;&#10;B) &#34;You will have to talk to the physician about that.&#34;&#10;C) &#34;You will need your mother's permission.&#34;&#10;D) &#34;You are not allowed to see it.&#34;

Accepted Answer

The nurse understands that sharing health information is governed by HIPAA legislation,which defines rights and privileges of patients for protection of privacy.Private health information cannot be shared without the patient's specific permission.The other three responses either are outright false and/or use poor communication techniques.

Question 7

Which philosophy of health care ethics would be particularly useful when making ethical decisions about vulnerable populations?&#10;A) Feminist ethics&#10;B) Deontology&#10;C) Bioethics&#10;D) Utilitarianism

Accepted Answer

Feminist ethics particularly focuses on the nature of relationships,especially those where there is a power imbalance or a point of view that is not routinely accepted.Examples of populations that are considered vulnerable include children,pregnant women,incarcerated persons,and minority groups.Deontology refers to making decisions or "right-making characteristics," bioethics focuses on consensus building,and utilitarianism speaks to the greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 8

When people work together to solve ethical dilemmas,individuals must examine their own values.This step is crucial to ensure that&#10;A) The group identifies the one correct solution.&#10;B) Fact is separated from opinion.&#10;C) Judgmental attitudes are not provoked.&#10;D) Different perspectives are respected.

Accepted Answer

Values are personal beliefs that influence opinions.To be able to negotiate differences in opinions,the nurse must first be clear about personal values,which will influence behaviors,decisions,and actions.Ethical dilemmas are a problem in that no one right solution exists.

Question 9

Determinations regarding quality of life are&#10;A) Based on a person's ability to act according to ethical principles.&#10;B) Based on a patient's self-determination.&#10;C) Value judgments that can vary from person to person.&#10;D) Consistent and stable over the course of one's lifetime.

Accepted Answer

Determinations regarding quality of life are value judgments.This means that they are judgments based on what individuals believe is desirable.Beliefs about what people find desirable vary from person to person.

Question 10

Ethical dilemmas are common occurrences when caring for patients.The nurse understands that dilemmas are a result of&#10;A) Presence of conflicting values.&#10;B) Hierarchical systems.&#10;C) Judgmental perceptions of patients.&#10;D) Poor communication with the patient.

Accepted Answer

Poor communication and the hierarchical systems that exist in health care,such as reporting structures within the hospital or the historically unequal relationship between physicians and nurses,may complicate dilemmas.The primary,underlying reason that ethical dilemmas occur is that there are no clear cut,universally accepted solutions to a problem when participating individuals do not share the same values.Without clarification of values,the nurse may not be able to distinguish fact from opinion or value,and this can lead to judgmental attitudes.

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a severely ill patient with AIDS who now requires ventilator support.Which intervention is considered futile?&#10;A) Administering the influenza vaccine&#10;B) Providing oral care every 5 hours&#10;C) Applying fentanyl patches prn for pain&#10;D) Supporting the patient's lower extremities with pillows

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is caring for a severely...

Question 12

The nurse finds it difficult to care for a patient whose advance directive states that no extraordinary resuscitation measures should be taken.Which step may help the nurse to find resolution in this assignment?

A) Call for an ethical committee consult.
B) Decline the assignment on religious grounds.
C) Scrutinize her own personal values.
D) Convince the family to challenge the directive.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse finds it difficult to care...

Question 13

Four patients in labor all request epidural analgesia to manage their pain at the same time.Which ethical principle is compromised when only one nurse anesthetist is on call?&#10;A) Justice&#10;B) Nonmaleficence&#10;C) Beneficence&#10;D) Fidelity

Accepted Answer

The answer of Four patients in labor all request epidural...

Question 14

Which patient is most likely to have difficulty with the ethical concept of autonomy?&#10;A) 18-year-old patient in labor&#10;B) 35-year-old patient with appendicitis&#10;C) 53-year-old patient with pancreatitis&#10;D) 78-year-old patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which patient is most likely to have...

Question 15

The patient tells the nurse that she is afraid to speak up regarding her desire to end care for fear of upsetting her husband and children.Which principle in the nursing code of ethics ensures that the nurse will promote the patient's cause?

A) Responsibility
B) Advocacy
C) Confidentiality
D) Accountability

Accepted Answer

The answer of The patient tells the nurse that she...

Question 16

The nurse has become aware of missing narcotics in the patient care area.Which ethical principle obligates the nurse to report the missing medications?&#10;A) Advocacy&#10;B) Responsibility&#10;C) Confidentiality&#10;D) Accountability

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse has become aware of missing...

Question 17

Which issue has increased the attention paid to quality of life concerns in recent history?&#10;A) Health care disparities&#10;B) National movement regarding disabled persons&#10;C) Aging of the population&#10;D) Health care financial reform

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which issue has increased the attention paid...

Question 18

During a severe respiratory epidemic,the local health care organizations decide to give health care providers priority access to ventilators over other members of the community who also need that resource.Which philosophy would give the strongest support for this decision?

A) Feminist ethics
B) Utilitarianism
C) Deontology
D) Ethics of care

Accepted Answer

The answer of During a severe respiratory epidemic,the local health...

Deck 22: Ethics and Values