Question 1

Mrs.Occhino,68,is ordered to follow a high-protein renal diet.She tells the nurse that she will eat only food brought into the hospital by her family.Which approach by the nurse would be most helpful at this time?

Accepted Answer

Asking Mrs. Occhino about her decision helps the nurse understand her preferences and concerns, allowing for a more patient-centered approach to care.

Question 2

Aggressive cancer therapy is planned for Mr.Renaulds,80.His nurse is stressed,wondering if the therapy will actually do more harm than good because of the toxic chemicals used.This nurse is struggling with which of the following principles?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is struggling with the principle of nonmaleficence, which is the obligation to not cause harm or minimize harm to patients. The concern about the potential harm from the aggressive cancer therapy is a reflection of this principle. Autonomy pertains to the patient's right to make decisions for themselves, justice pertains to fair distribution of resources and services, and beneficence refers to the obligation to do good and promote the patient's well-being. While these principles may also be relevant to Mr. Renaulds' treatment, the nurse's specific concern about potential harm is most closely related to the principle of nonmaleficence.

Question 3

What is the purpose of the mnemonic device LEARN?

Accepted Answer

LEARN is a mnemonic device designed to enhance collaboration in ethical decision making by providing a structured approach for individuals and teams to discuss and address ethical dilemmas.

Question 4

Which of the following is a characteristic of ethics rounds in a health care setting?

Accepted Answer

Ethics rounds often incorporate traditional teaching approaches into discussions, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of ethical dilemmas in healthcare settings. This method facilitates learning and understanding of ethical principles and their application in real-world scenarios.

Question 5

What is the agreed-upon basis of nursing ethics?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the agreed-upon basis of nursing...

Question 6

Which of the following is a known dimension of moral distress?

Accepted Answer

A known dimension of moral distress is feeling violated in one's personal values or moral beliefs. The other options may cause workplace stress, but they are not specific to moral distress.

Question 7

When faced with a difficult decision,why is it important for the nurse to distinguish between ethics and law?

Accepted Answer

An action can be legal but not necessarily moral, highlighting the importance for nurses to distinguish between ethics (morality) and law (legality) when making difficult decisions. This distinction ensures that nurses consider both the legal requirements and the ethical implications of their actions, aiming for decisions that are not only lawful but also morally sound.

Question 8

Which of the following situations describes a breach of nursing ethics?

Accepted Answer

Discussing patient situations in public areas like a cafeteria can lead to a breach of confidentiality, which is against nursing ethics.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true regarding nursing values?

Accepted Answer

Nursing values, such as compassion, integrity, and respect, play a crucial role in shaping the quality of care provided to patients. The CNA Code of Ethics provides ethical guidelines, but it is not the only factor in ethical nursing practice. Nursing values and beliefs are related but have distinct differences. Lastly, all caregiving situations have moral components, as decisions made by nurses can impact patients' lives and well-being.

Question 10

Mr.Terrill,71,has been admitted to hospital with a myocardial infarction and refuses to have any discussion about advanced directives.The nurse should be aware of which moral principle affecting his decision?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy is the moral principle of respecting the individual's right to make their own decisions. Mr. Terrill's refusal to discuss advanced directives is an exercise of his autonomy, and the nurse should respect his decision. While other principles like nonmaleficence (do no harm) and veracity (truthfulness) are important, they are not directly applicable to Mr. Terrill's decision to refuse discussion about advanced directives. Social justice, which involves fair distribution of resources in society, is not relevant to this situation.

Question 11

Why may client advocacy be difficult for nurses?

Accepted Answer

Client advocacy may create conflicts between nurses and other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, who may have different opinions on what is best for the client. Nurses also have to balance advocacy with other ethical principles, such as maintaining confidentiality and respecting patient autonomy. However, client advocacy is still a crucial aspect of nursing care, and nurses should work to navigate these potential conflicts in the best interest of their clients.

Question 12

Craig,a second year undergraduate nursing student,realizes that he had omitted a step while performing an abdominal assessment on his client.Which action would indicate that he is engaging in reflective practice?

Accepted Answer

Documenting the situation in his clinical journal shows that Craig is reflecting on his practice and taking steps to learn from his mistake. This is an example of reflective practice, which is an important aspect of professional development for healthcare providers. The other options do not demonstrate reflective practice in the same way. Requesting re-assignment or asking a peer to repeat the assessment would not address the issue of the omitted step, while submitting a critical incident form is typically reserved for more serious incidents.

Question 13

Christopher,4,is terminally ill,and his parents have decided to remove him from life support.Which of the following demonstrates that the assigned nurse,Angela,practices the value of autonomy?

Accepted Answer

The value of autonomy involves respecting the patient's or family's right to make decisions about their own health care. In this case, it is the family's decision to remove the child from life support. Angela demonstrates the value of autonomy by showing respect for their decision even if she may disagree with it privately.

Question 14

Which of the following is true about the personal and professional values of nurses?

Accepted Answer

Values clarification is a nursing intervention used to help nurses and patients identify their values and make decisions based on those values. Personal values may not always be the same as professional values, and utilitarianism is not universally accepted as a nursing value. Personal values may also be held at an unconscious level.

Question 15

Mrs.Umlah,33,has recently returned from major surgery.The nurse enters her room with the intention of turning her in bed but decides against it because it would cause her great pain.What is the principle being utilized by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence is the principle of doing no harm to the patient. In this situation, the nurse decided not to turn the patient in bed because it would cause her great pain, which would be a violation of the nonmaleficence principle.

Question 16

Mr.Hakim,56,has inoperable cancer and has decided not to have chemotherapy.Although his nurse believes that everything possible should be done to preserve life,she supports his decision.Which moral principle is being employed by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is respecting Mr. Hakim's autonomy or right to choose what happens to his own body, even if it means not pursuing all possible treatment options.

Question 17

Which of the following is true about a nursing code of ethics?

Accepted Answer

A nursing code of ethics outlines the ethical values and commitment of the nursing profession. It is not meant to provide specific answers for nursing care decisions or describe competencies required for safe practice. It is also not legislation that protects the public.

Question 18

Sheena,a nurse-manager,is on a committee considering funding for a community kitchen.There is much controversy regarding a rural vs.downtown location.What moral theory would be useful to guide Sheena in her choice of location?

Accepted Answer

Teleology, or consequentialism, considers the consequences of actions when determining what is morally right. In this case, Sheena should consider the potential positive effects on the community for both the rural and downtown locations, and choose the one that would have the greatest overall impact.

Question 19

Which of the following situations best illustrates values transmission?

Accepted Answer

Values transmission refers to the process of passing on values from one generation to the next. In this scenario, the child is observing and imitating his mother's behavior, which indicates that he is learning and adopting her values.

Question 20

Latisha is a staff nurse who observes certain religious holidays.Her manager tries to make sure that these accommodations can be met if possible.The manager is practicing which of the following values?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Latisha is a staff nurse who observes...

Quiz 5: Values, ethics, and Advocacy