Deck 6: The DNP Graduate As Ethical Consultant

Question 1

The Nursing's Social Policy Statement is an ethical framework for nurses to use, especially when dealing with ________.

A) laws
B) managers
C) social issues
D) minority patients

Answer 1

C
Explanation: Although Chism discusses various ethical frameworks, the Nursing's Social Policy Statement is primarily for social issues, not other issues.

Question 2

'The nurse maintains a standard of personal health so patient care is not compromised' best characterizes the ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses element of ___________.

A) Nurses and the Profession
B) Nurses and Coworkers
C) Nurses and People
D) Nurses and Practice

Answer 2

D
Explanation: Although personal care could be said to be important for any of the Code of Ethics for Nurses, it is only referenced in the 'Nurses and Practice' element.

Question 3

'Promote, advocate for and protect the health, safety and rights of patients' is identified in which provision in the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses?

A) Provision 9
B) Provision 5
C) Provision 1
D) Provision 3

Answer 3

D
Explanation: While nurses heed the call to promote, advocate for and protect the health, safety and rights of patients in general, it is only specified in Provision 3.

Question 4

Which of the following does NOT explain the purpose of the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses?

A) It is a statement about how to engage with political figures.
B) It outlines nurses' call to help society.
C) It delineates nursing's firm ethical standards.
D) It promotes nursing's ethical values and obligations.

Question 5

What event led to a series of developments related to the birth of bioethics?

A) The prison studies
B) Milgram's obedience studies
C) Making public the Tuskegee syphilis study
D) Henrietta Lack's family filing suit

Question 6

Which of the following best describes critical theory?

A) It describes actions that are judged by their utility.
B) It addresses domination by powerful groups that result in oppressing others.
C) It uses principles to become rules for conduct that are bound by duty.
D) It focuses on the inherent character of people rather than actions.

Question 7

Which of the following best characterizes bioethics?

A) Using a set of duties and standards to decide the right or wrong decision.
B) A study of ethical situations that evolve from advances in medicine, research and biology.
C) Using outcomes from similar cases to consider how to address a current case.
D) A focus on personal stories when making individual ethical decisions.

Question 8

Read the case scenario and the craft an informed response to it. Case scenario: Dr. G works in a rural clinic that serves a diverse population that often does not have a strong educational history. A minority under-educated patient comes in who is considering not taking any measures to treat her cancer but is concerned about how her family might react. Using your knowledge about ethics and ethical-decision making, how might you respond to this situation?
Responses should be one to two paragraphs in length.
Tips: Ensure that you factor in the patient's education and minority/cultural status. Use any of the ethical decision-making models or frameworks discussed in Chism to support your answer.

Question 9

What are the important and meaningful differences between the ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses and the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses? For what scenarios or issues would you leverage one more than the other and why? Responses should be one to two paragraphs in length.
Tips: Explain the main differences between the two codes of ethics and how you would leverage each in at least two different ways/scenarios.

Question 10

Of the ethical theories described by Chism, which one or two do you think would be most effective in analyzing the following case scenario, and why/how. Responses should be one to two paragraphs in length.
Case scenario: A patient with terminal cancer and believed to have only about 6 months to live has been ordered morphine to help with the pain and, because she is bedridden, is supposed to be turned every two hours to prevent bed sores. However, the patient screams every time she is turned, yelling that the pain is unbearable. Dr. Z, who supervises the nurses, calls a conference to determine what to do. The nurses caring for the patient have differing views: one believes that it is doing more harm than good to turn the patient. Another believes that it is very important to follow the medical literature that advises turning bedridden patients every two hours. A new nursing graduate believes that the patient should be consulted, while another nurse believes that the primary physician on the case should make the final decision.
Tips: Apply the ethical theory you would use in the scenario and how you (or the team) would use it to come to a decision. Be sure to support for your claims.