Question 1

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 of the above.

Accepted Answer

Nurses must be familiar with the legal system because some nursing actions are governed by the law, nurses' decisions may not be supported by the law, and nurses are sometimes at risk for litigation. Understanding the legal system and its implications can help nurses provide safe, ethical and legal care to their patients.

Question 2

Why do nurses need to have an understanding of ethics?&#10;A) Nurses do not share the same perspectives of health care with other health care professionals.&#10;B) Morality and care are at the heart of nursing practice.&#10;C) Ethics enables nurses to choose the correct course of action.&#10;D) Convincing family members of compassionate courses of action is best done by nurses.

Accepted Answer

Morality and care are fundamental principles of nursing practice. Understanding ethics helps nurses navigate moral issues and dilemmas, make ethical decisions, and provide safe and compassionate care to patients. In addition, ethics are a crucial part of nursing education and professional development. It helps nurses to establish strong relationships with patients, families, and communities, and to work effectively with other healthcare professionals in interdisciplinary teams. Choice A is incorrect as it is not true, nurses share similar perspectives of healthcare with other healthcare professionals. Choice C is partially true, but ethics does not help nurses to choose the "correct" course of action but rather a morally justifiable and patient-centered one. Choice D is inaccurate as it oversimplifies the role of nurses in convincing family members of compassionate courses of action, which involves effective communication, collaboration, and ethical decision-making.

Question 3

The field of ethics is gaining prominence in part because of the growing sophistication of science and technology,which results in an increasing number of ethical dilemmas.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. As science and technology continue to advance, new ethical questions are raised that require ethical analysis and decision-making. This has led to a greater emphasis on ethical considerations in various fields, including science and engineering, medicine, and business.

Question 4

Which of the following has mandated that nurses are to 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 labour unions&#10;D) The Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act,1990

Accepted Answer

Provincial and federal nursing bodies, such as the College of Nurses of Ontario and the Canadian Nurses Association, have mandated that nurses are to have a basic understanding of the Canadian legal system. This is necessary for nurses to provide safe and ethical care while also being aware of their legal obligations and responsibilities.

Question 5

Why is it advantageous for nurses to have knowledge of ethical theories and principles?&#10;A) It encourages nurses to critique others' points of view.&#10;B) It allows nurses to justify and defend their positions on a situation.&#10;C) It allows nurses to use rhetoric to convince an interdisciplinary team.&#10;D) It allows nurses to convince patients to choose comfort measures only.

Accepted Answer

Nurses encounter ethical dilemmas frequently in their practice, and having knowledge of ethical theories and principles allows them to understand and justify their positions on a situation. It also helps them communicate with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams about ethical issues and make informed decisions. Critiquing others' points of view and convincing patients to choose comfort measures only may be part of the responsibilities of nurses but not the primary advantage of having knowledge of ethical theories and principles.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Nurses have both obligations and rights as professionals. Some examples of these rights include the right to a safe work environment, the right to fair compensation, and the right to unionize.

Question 7

In order for society to hold nurses to a high standard of competence,restrictions are necessary on rights and privileges.

Accepted Answer

Society expects nurses to maintain a high level of competence in order to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. In order to enforce this expectation, restrictions may be necessary on the rights and privileges of nurses, such as the requirement to maintain a valid license and adhere to ethical standards and guidelines.

Deck 1: Introduction to Nursing Law and Ethics