Deck 7: Ethics: Basic Concepts for Professional Nursing Practice

Question 1

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development,adolescents who shoplift are operating in which level of moral development?

A) Preconventional
B) Conventional
C) Postconventional
D) Developmental

Answer 1

Preconventional

Question 2

Which of the following ethical theories is illustrated by the example of triage in disaster nursing?

A) Deontology
B) Principlism
C) Utilitarianism
D) Virtue ethics

Answer 2

Utilitarianism

Question 3

Answering a terminally ill child's questions about his or her condition honestly is based on a belief in the ethical principle of

A) autonomy.
B) fidelity.
C) justice.
D) veracity.

Answer 3

veracity.

Question 4

Which of the following is the best description of a code of ethics?

A) A document that describes the correct course of action and does not change regardless of societal changes
B) A document that all professions must have even if not representative of practice
C) A document that permits others to know what principles guide professional decision making
D) A document widely open to interpretation by professionals in various settings

Question 5

A nurse is turning a bedfast patient to prevent pressure ulcers.The patient complains that the process is painful.The nurse explains the reason for the turning schedule and completes the task.This is an example of the ethical principle of

A) autonomy.
B) fidelity.
C) nonmaleficence.
D) veracity.

Question 6

A patient who is terminally ill is experiencing great pain.To relieve the patient's suffering,the nurse needs to administer larger doses of morphine.This relieves the pain but also inhibits respiration.Which principle justifies the risk of harm?

A) Justice
B) Fidelity
C) Veracity
D) Double effect

Question 7

When nurses receive a patient assignment and accept reports on these patients,they are committed to providing care to those assigned to them.This is based on the ethical principle of

A) beneficence.
B) fidelity.
C) justice.
D) veracity.

Question 8

Respecting the right of a patient with terminal cancer to refuse chemotherapy is based on a belief in the ethical principle of

A) justice.
B) autonomy.
C) nonmaleficence.
D) death with dignity.

Question 9

Taking a pediatric patient to the playroom on a promised time and day is based on the belief in the ethical principle of

A) autonomy.
B) fidelity.
C) justice.
D) veracity.

Question 10

Respecting an elderly woman's decision to stay in her own home is based on a belief in the ethical principle of

A) justice.
B) autonomy.
C) nonmaleficence.
D) death with dignity.

Question 11

Flight 93,hijacked on September 11,2001,crashed into the Pennsylvania countryside because some of the passengers decided to try to take control of the plane and prevent it from being used as a weapon of mass destruction against structures in Washington,D.C.They decided to act despite grave danger to themselves.This is an example of which level of Kohlberg's theory of moral development?

A) Preconventional
B) Conventional
C) Postconventional
D) Conventional phase 4

Question 12

Which of the following situations is an example of moral distress?

A) You hear nurses in the lounge making off-color jokes about a patient. You are afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation.
B) You have been late for work a couple of times in the last 2 weeks, and your co-workers are covering for you.
C) You become romantically involved with a co-worker, which is against the unit policy, so you resign your position.
D) You purposefully use vague language when explaining a patient's condition to the family. Staff expects that the patient may be brain-dead, but test results are not yet conclusive.

Question 13

Gilligan's theory on moral development differed from Kohlberg's theory because Gilligan considered which population not addressed by Kohlberg?

A) Children
B) Men
C) Women
D) Adolescents

Question 14

A nurse who advocates for a longer stay when a medically indigent patient is being prematurely discharged to reduce hospital cost is relying on which ethical principle?

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

Question 15

Which of the following ethical theories is illustrated by the example of following the Golden Rule,"Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you"?

A) Deontology
B) Principlism
C) Utilitarianism
D) Virtue ethics

Question 16

The current emphasis on eliminating racially based health disparities is based on which of the following ethical principles?

A) Double effect
B) Fidelity
C) Justice
D) Veracity

Question 17

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development,individuals who act "because it is the rule of society" are operating in which level of moral development?

A) Preconventional
B) Conventional
C) Postconventional
D) Developmental

Question 18

According to Kohlberg's theory,which of the following is true of moral development?

A) Participating in decision making promotes moral reasoning.
B) Intellectual development has no effect on moral development.
C) Participating in debates on ethical issues decreases moral development.
D) Holding people responsible for their actions does not improve moral development.

Question 19

A school nurse teaching school-aged children about water safety is an example of which ethical principle?

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

Question 20

A father of four is admitted after an automobile accident in which two of the children were killed.Recognizing that he is in very serious condition,the nurse believes that it would be appropriate to avoid telling him about the death of his children unless he asks directly.This could be considered a violation of the ethical principle of

A) beneficence.
B) fidelity.
C) justice.
D) veracity.

Question 21

Which of the following are activities in the ethical decision making process?

A) Avoid looking at legal cases or precedents related to the situation.
B) Determine if the people who are affected by the dilemma have value conflicts.
C) Brainstorm with others involved to identify all possible solutions.
D) Evaluate the action taken to determine whether it accomplished its purpose.
E) Discuss only acceptable solutions that are practical to implement.

Question 22

A nurse is involved in an ethically challenging case.To use an ethical decision-making model,which step should the nurse perform first?

A) Gather and examine all possible solutions.
B) Identify the ethical dilemma in the case.
C) Identify all parties who will be impacted by the decision.
D) Gather all information important to the situation