Question 1

A hospice nurse has been working closely with a client who, on several occasions, has asked about guidance and support in ending her life. The nurse, in making an ethical and moral decision, should recognise that:

Accepted Answer

Advanced health directives are legal documents that specify a person's preferences for end-of-life medical care, helping to resolve many issues related to end-of-life decisions. They allow individuals to outline their wishes regarding treatment in scenarios where they might not be able to communicate their decisions due to illness or incapacity.

Question 2

When patients and families are facing difficult choices, nurses are the ones who are there to:

Accepted Answer

Nurses are responsible for supporting and advocating for patients and families, especially during difficult decision-making processes. While making the best of the situation and listening to complaints are important, the primary role of the nurse is to be an advocate for their patients and families. Deciding what is best for them would be ethically problematic as it goes against the principle of patient autonomy.

Question 3

Which of the following fundamental responsibilities of nurses is not included in the preamble of the International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics?

Accepted Answer

While providing self-regulation is a vital responsibility of nurses, it is not specifically mentioned in the preamble of the International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics. The other options - promoting health, alleviating suffering, and preventing illness - are all included in the preamble as fundamental responsibilities.

Question 4

A nurse is having difficulty with the decision for aggressive cancer therapy in an elderly client, wondering if the therapy will actually be more harmful than the disease and knowing that the client will be subjected to harmful chemicals. This nurse is struggling with which of the following principles?

Accepted Answer

Non-maleficence is the principle of doing no harm to the patient. The nurse's concern about the potential harm that aggressive cancer therapy could cause the elderly client shows that the nurse is struggling with this principle.

Question 5

A newly graduated nurse commences work in a ward and quickly learns that time pressure requires her to practice differently to what she learnt at the university. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A newly graduated nurse commences work in...

Question 6

Which of the following does not describe the characteristics of a code of ethics?

Accepted Answer

A code of ethics is a formal statement that serves as a standard for professional actions and is shared by group members. However, a code of ethics may not necessarily have the same standards as legal standards.

Question 7

A client has been complaining of pain, even though the nurse has given the client the maximum amount of medication as ordered by the physician. Which of the following demonstrates the nurse's respect for the client's autonomy?

Accepted Answer

Calling the physician for further orders demonstrates respect for the client's autonomy by acknowledging the client's right to control their own healthcare decisions and seeking additional guidance from the physician to address their pain. The other options do not show respect for the client's autonomy and could potentially harm the client's trust in the nurse and healthcare team.

Question 8

A pregnant client says her main concern is that her baby will be born healthy, even though she admits to drinking alcohol on a regular basis. This client is struggling with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The client is struggling with values clarification, as she is trying to reconcile her desire for a healthy baby with her regular drinking habits. This suggests that she may be uncertain about her values or priorities and needs assistance in clarifying them. Morals, values transmission, and ethics are not directly relevant to this situation.

Question 9

The International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics states that nurses have four fundamental responsibilities. They are:

Accepted Answer

The International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics states that nurses have four fundamental responsibilities: to promote health, to prevent illness, to restore health and to alleviate suffering. Option A and D are close but they do not capture the full scope of the responsibilities. Option C is not entirely correct, as rendering health services to an individual does not encapsulate the full responsibilities of a nurse as outlined by the ICN Code of Ethics.

Question 10

A 20-year-old client with Down syndrome is able to live in an assisted environment and work part-time for a local bookstore. The parent of this client is adamant about not initiating a course of treatment whose side-effects are unknown with Down syndrome clients. According to the nursing code of ethics, the nurse's first loyalty is to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The nursing code of ethics states that the nurse's primary loyalty is to the client, and therefore the nurse should prioritize the client's best interest above all others, including the parent's wishes. It is important for the nurse to educate the parent about the potential benefits and risks of any treatment options, and to consider the client's ability to make decisions and have autonomy in the decision-making process.

Question 11

A client with terminal cancer is dying. For the past several days, the client has refused food and fluids, and pushes the caregiver's hands away when attempts are made to feed the client or offer any kind of fluid. The family is considering placing a gastrostomy tube because they feel the client is "starving to death". The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

The nurse should honour the client's refusal of food and fluids and help the family come to terms with the situation. The family needs to understand that refusing food and fluids is a natural part of the dying process and that placing a gastrostomy tube may cause more discomfort and prolong the dying process without improving quality of life. The nurse can provide education and support to both the client and the family during this difficult time. Taking the case to the hospital's ethics committee or talking to the physician to move forward with the family's wishes may result in unnecessary medical interventions and may not align with the client's wishes. Honouring the family's wishes and having them sign a consent form also goes against the client's stated wishes and autonomy.

Question 12

The local hospital is planning to incorporate a struggling private clinic into the infrastructure of the hospital. Although relocating the clinic may cause transportation difficulty for some clients, keeping the clinic running will allow current employees as well as clients the continued benefit of the service. This is a specific example of which theory?

Accepted Answer

This scenario aligns with utilitarianism, which seeks to maximize overall happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people. In this case, incorporating the struggling clinic into the hospital may cause transportation difficulties for some clients, but it will ultimately benefit current employees and clients by allowing the service to continue, maximizing overall happiness and well-being.

Question 13

Parents of a terminally ill child have decided to remove their child from life support, a decision that has met with much negative reaction. The nurse practices the value of autonomy through which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is practicing the value of autonomy by respecting the parents' decision to remove their child from life support. Autonomy refers to the individual's right to make their own decisions, even if others do not agree with them. Referring the parents to social services or asking to be assigned to a different client would disregard their autonomy and beliefs. Showing respect for the family is important, but it is not a demonstration of autonomy as it does not involve honoring their decision-making rights.

Question 14

A 2-year-old child is admitted to the ward with severe injuries from domestic violence. The nurse tells the mother that she should go home and leave the child to rest. The moral framework the nurse has used is:

Accepted Answer

The nurse is demonstrating a relationships-based theory by prioritizing the well-being and safety of the child over the mother's presence or desires. This theory focuses on the importance of building and maintaining relationships, especially those of trust and empathy, in ethical decision-making. The nurse's decision aligns with this theory as it aims to protect the child and uphold their best interest, even if it means sacrificing the relationship with the mother temporarily. Consequence-based theory or utilitarianism may prioritize the mother's presence over the child's safety, while principles-based theory may rely on specific rules or codes of conduct, rather than considering the context and relationships involved in the situation.

Question 15

Enduring beliefs about the worth of a person or object are called:

Accepted Answer

Enduring beliefs about the worth of a person or object are known as values. Beliefs refer to one’s conviction of something being true or false, while attitudes pertain to an individual’s feelings toward a person or object. Ethics, on the other hand, refer to moral principles that govern the behavior of individuals.

Question 16

A client has chosen to discontinue hemodialysis. His family is not supportive of his decision. The nurse who uses the theory of principles-based reasoning would make which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

The nurse using the principles-based reasoning would respect the client's autonomy and right to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare. The nurse would not impose their own values or beliefs on the client's decision.

Question 17

A student nurse accidentally left the call light outside the reach of an elderly client. Luckily, another nurse noticed the situation and was able to rectify the matter before something happened. The student responded: "I know better. I should've double-checked where the light was before I left the room." This student is demonstrating which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The student is taking responsibility for their mistake and acknowledging that they should have double-checked, demonstrating accountability for their actions.

Question 18

The nurse respecting a patient's right to make decisions even when those choices seem to the nurse not to be in the patient's best interest is said to practice the principle of:

Accepted Answer

Respecting a patient's right to make decisions, even if it goes against the nurse's opinion, is practicing the principle of autonomy. Autonomy is the patient's right to make decisions about their own medical care and treatments, and it is one of the core principles of medical ethics. It is the nurse's responsibility to respect the patient's autonomy and help them make informed decisions about their care, even if it may not seem to be in their best interest.

Question 19

A good ethical decision is one that:

Accepted Answer

A good ethical decision in healthcare prioritizes the patient's best interest while maintaining the integrity of the healthcare team involved in the patient's care.

Question 20

A toddler who has just been admitted to the paediatric unit is crying and scared. No treatment has been initiated at this point. The nurse needs to start an IV and the parent asks, "Will this be painful to my child?" In practicing veracity, the nurse responds:

Accepted Answer

Practicing veracity means being truthful with the patient and their family. Option C is the best choice as it acknowledges the potential for pain and offers a solution for the parent to step out if they need to. It also shows empathy and understanding for the parent's concerns. Option A minimizes the potential for pain, which may not be accurate and could undermine the parent's trust in the nurse. Option B is vague and does not address the parent's specific concern. Option D comes across as dismissive and does not provide any reassurance to the parent.

Quiz 5: Values, Ethics and Advocacy