Deck 8: Ethical Issues in Patient Care

Question 1

Which measure can be used to avoid ethical dilemmas in the health care setting?

A)Advance directive or living will
B)Religious beliefs of the nurse
C)Designation of a durable power of attorney
D)Values of the caregivers

Answer 1

Advance directive or living will

Question 2

The International Council of Nurses (ICN)Code of Ethics for nurses is primarily a statement in support of:

A)Environmental protection.
B)Professional membership.
C)Everyday decision making.
D)Collective bargaining.

Answer 2

Everyday decision making.

Question 3

A nurse decides to use the ethical principle of teleology to make clinical decisions.This principle is based on the premise that actions are determined by their consequences.Which situation would most likely cause an ethical dilemma for this nurse?

A)Assisting with a laparoscopy for a tubal pregnancy
B)Refusal of a patient to take his medications
C)Patient reconsiders surgery for cancer
D)Woman refuses to terminate her pregnancy even knowing the fetus has non-life-sustaining defects

Answer 3

Woman refuses to terminate her pregnancy even knowing the fetus has non-life-sustaining defects

Question 4

The ethical principle of autonomy is being respected in which situation?

A)A patient's right to refuse medications
B)The right of a patient with tuberculosis to refuse to wear a mask when leaving the unit
C)The right of a family to refuse to wear a gown and gloves when visiting a patient on contact precautions
D)The right of a family to refuse to wear masks when visiting a patient on neutropenic precautions

Question 5

A nurse decides to use the ethical principle of utilitarianism to make clinical decisions.This principle is based on the greatest good for the greatest number.Which situation would most likely cause an ethical dilemma for this nurse?

A)Triaging a disaster scene
B)Maintaining ventilatory support on a patient with six children
C)Evacuation of all mobile patients during a flood
D)Allowing a patient with influenza to return home from the clinic after diagnosis

Question 6

A nurse agrees to trade shifts with another nurse.A conflict arises now with the nurse's ability to work that shift.Which ethical principle should the nurse use to make a decision when conflict arises regarding the nurse's inability to honor an agreement to trade shifts?

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

Question 7

In caring for a baby with non-life-sustaining defects,the nurse will most likely make decisions based on:

A)Personal ethical beliefs and values.
B)Treating all patients equally.
C)Treating all patients with respect and courtesy.
D)The futility of life issue.

Question 8

In addition to the organ procurement coordinator,which other resource is the best resource for the nurse to use in helping the family make a decision when there is disagreement among family members regarding organ donation?

A)Nurse manager
B)Physician
C)Ethics committee
D)Social worker

Question 9

A nurse is caring for a patient with end-stage heart failure and understands the futility of care for this patient.The family is in denial and refuses to consent to a DNR (do not resuscitate).Their misperceptions regarding the DNR status may be based on which interpretation?

A)A DNR order provides minimal care.
B)A DNR order allows for pain medication administration.
C)A DNR order allows for the administration of antibiotics.
D)A DNR order allows for nutrition.

Question 10

A nurse observes unsafe practice by a physician and reports it to the risk management department of the hospital.Which ethical principle does this represent?

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

Question 11

When nurses are confronted with ethical dilemmas that challenge their values and beliefs,what is the best source to rely on to make the right decision?

A)Personal religious beliefs
B)Hospital chaplain
C)Family interactions
D)Belief in patient advocacy

Question 12

The American Nurses Association ( ANA )Code of Ethics for nurses is primarily a statement in support of:

A)Patient advocacy.
B)Professional membership.
C)Missionary work.
D)Preventative health care.

Question 13

A nurse is caring for a patient who has developed MODS (multiorgan dysfunction syndrome)resulting from septic shock.The patient is ventilator dependent and on vasopressors to maintain a Doppler-measured blood pressure of 80 mm Hg.The family is resistant to permit terminal weaning.The best action by the nurse is to:

A)Insist that the family disconnect the patient from the ventilator.
B)Ask the family to meet with the hospital's ethics committee.
C)Seek a family member who does agree and have them sign the consent form.
D)Arrange for the vasopressors to be turned off when the family is not present.

Question 14

If a patient does not have an advance directive or has not expressed his wishes regarding end of life care,what ethical principle may help the family to make the right decision?

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

Question 15

Autonomy is an ethical principle that can be applied to which clinical situation?

A)A nurse acts as a whistleblower in reporting unsafe practices observed on a clinical area.
B)A nurse administers an IV morphine drip for a patient being terminally weaned.
C)A nurse adheres to the HIPAA law when asked to reveal information on a patient to a nurse's family member.
D)A nurse permits a patient to refuse a medication.

Question 16

Which ethical principle should help guide the nurse who suspects another nurse is incorrectly charting pain medications and then taking them?

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

Question 17

A nurse decides to use the ethical principle of deontology to make clinical decisions.This principle is based on treating all people the same regardless of circumstances and on one's duty to do the right thing regardless of circumstances.Which situation would most likely cause an ethical dilemma for this nurse?

A)Assisting with a laparoscopy for a tubal pregnancy
B)Refusal of a patient to take his medications
C)Patient reconsiders surgery for cancer
D)Woman refuses to terminate her pregnancy even knowing the fetus has non-life-sustaining defects

Question 18

A nurse renewing advanced cardiac life support is practicing which ethical principle?

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

Question 19

A basis for ethical dilemma can result from a request for organ donation.Which factor may contribute to this conflict?

A)The patient is ventilator dependent.
B)The patient has signed her driver's license giving consent.
C)The patient has not previously expressed her wishes on organ donation.
D)The patient's religion is unclear about organ donations.

Question 20

The nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure resulting in irreversible kidney damage who decides to go home to die rather than accept hemodialysis.The nurse understands that the patient is practicing which ethical principle?

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

Question 21

The institutional review board ( IRB )is responsible for overseeing biomedical research involving humans.Because most studies are randomized blind studies ( patients and providers are unaware of who is receiving treatment and who is receiving a placebo ),the risks for harm can be great.Which measure is taken to avoid harm to the subjects during biomedical research? Select all that apply.

A)The rights and welfare of subjects are protected.
B)The benefits of the study to the patient outweigh the risks.
C)The patient must agree to complete confidentiality about the study.
D)Prisoners are used as subjects because they have no right to sue.
E)Patients must sign informed consent forms.