Question 1

George, an ICU nurse, worked with the team as they followed the physician's order to discontinue life support on a patient diagnosed with persistent vegetative state. George believes that life is sacred and that he has a duty to do whatever it takes to preserve life. Nevertheless, he remained silent as the decision was made, and he assisted his coworkers when they unplugged the respirator. George is likely to experience which of the following?

Accepted Answer

George's belief in the sanctity of life conflicts with the decision to discontinue life support, causing him moral distress.

Question 2

Which term is described as a personal consciousness of the moral importance that guides personal action in a particular situation?

Accepted Answer

Ethic is a term used to describe a personal consciousness of the moral importance that guides personal action in a particular situation. A dilemma is a situation where a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives. A problem is something that needs to be solved or dealt with. Moral integrity is the adherence to a code of ethics or principles.

Question 3

____________ occurs when we sense that there is a moral problem but are not sure of the morally correct action.

Accepted Answer

Moral uncertainty occurs when we are unsure of the morally correct action to take, but we do not necessarily feel distress or experience a true moral dilemma that forces us to choose between conflicting values or principles. A practical dilemma involves choosing between two options, neither of which is completely satisfactory or ideal. Moral distress occurs when we know the right thing to do but are prevented from doing it due to internal or external constraints. A moral dilemma occurs when we are forced to choose between two or more values or principles that are in conflict with one another. Therefore, B is the best choice for this question.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a moral dilemma?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 5

The physician and nurse participate with a patient in making a particularly difficult moral decision. If the decision-making process is properly implemented, which of the following may occur?

Accepted Answer

All of the above options are potential outcomes of a properly implemented decision-making process. The goal may be reached, but other dilemmas may arise, and other actions may be required to address them. Therefore, it is important to approach moral decision-making as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event.

Question 6

Moral integrity is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Moral integrity is based on the soundness, reliability, wholeness, and integration of moral character. It goes beyond just being able to make good decisions and requires consistency in behavior aligned with one's moral principles. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

Question 7

Moral dilemmas occur when:

Accepted Answer

Moral dilemmas occur when there are conflicting moral claims, meaning there are different ethical principles, values or obligations that suggest different courses of action. This creates a conflict that must be resolved in order to determine the morally correct action. The other options may also be factors, but the root cause is conflicting moral claims.

Question 8

A problem consists of:

Accepted Answer

A problem is defined as a discrepancy between the current situation and a desired state. While uncertainties, unintended consequences, disagreements, and moral conflicts may be a part of the problem, they are not the defining characteristic. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 9

The first step in the ethical decision-making process is:

Accepted Answer

Articulating the problem is the first step in the ethical decision-making process as it involves identifying and defining the ethical dilemma or issue at hand. This step is crucial as it helps to ensure that all relevant factors and perspectives are taken into consideration as the decision-making process proceeds.

Question 10

Determining key participants is appropriate during which step of the moral decision-making process?

Accepted Answer

Determining key participants is appropriate during the data gathering step of the moral decision-making process. This involves identifying all relevant parties who may be affected by the decision or event under consideration.

Question 11

A registered nurse witnesses another nurse violating a patient's autonomy. Even though she did not participate in the action, the nurse who witnessed the act experiences powerlessness, frustration, and anger. This reaction describes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Moral outrage is the emotional response of feeling angry or frustrated when a healthcare professional violates ethical principles or standards of care. Although the nurse did not participate in the violation, she witnessed it and experiences powerlessness, frustration, and anger. Moral distress refers to the emotional response of feeling burdened or constrained when a nurse is aware that the right action to take is not possible. Moral uncertainty refers to the feeling of being unsure about what is morally right or wrong in a certain situation. Moral dilemma refers to the situation when a nurse is faced with difficult choices between two or more ethical principles or values.

Question 12

When a person is aware of a moral problem, acknowledges moral responsibility, and makes a moral judgment about the correct action, yet is constrained from the self-determined morally correct action, the person is experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Moral distress occurs when a person is aware of a moral problem and feels morally responsible, but is unable to act on their moral beliefs due to external constraints. It can cause emotional and psychological pain and can lead to burnout and other negative outcomes. Moral uncertainty refers to a situation where a person is uncertain about what the right thing to do is, while moral outrage refers to strong emotional reactions to perceived moral violations. Moral reckoning is not a commonly used term in ethics and does not accurately describe this scenario.

Question 13

Several types of moral problems exist and are discussed in chapter 7. Which of the following are examples of a moral problem? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Moral uncertainty, moral dilemma, and moral distress are all examples of moral problems.

Question 14

The nurse manager asks Martha, a staff nurse, if she will work an additional 4 hours at the end of her shift. Martha's patient is unstable, and there is insufficient staff on the next shift to care for her adequately. If she works overtime, Martha will break a promise she made to take her children to the circus. This situation is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Moral distress occurs when a nurse knows the right thing to do, but is unable to do it due to external constraints. In this case, Martha knows that she should stay and care for her patient, but she is unable to do so because she has a prior commitment to her children.

Question 15

Physicians sometimes make unilateral decisions in morally important situations because:

Accepted Answer

Sometimes physicians may make unilateral decisions in morally important situations because there is a power imbalance in the healthcare setting. This can be due to the fact that physicians are viewed as having more knowledge and authority than other healthcare professionals, which can lead to a situation where nurses and other professionals may feel hesitant to challenge the physician's decision. However, it is important for healthcare professionals to work collaboratively and ensure that patients are involved in the decision-making process, rather than relying solely on the physician's judgment.

Quiz 7: Ethical Decision Making