Question 1

The nurse is providing patient care and pays special attention to meeting the needs of the patient while maintaining the patient's right to privacy, confidentiality, autonomy, and dignity. This nurse is applying what ethical theory?

Accepted Answer

Deontology is an ethical theory that stresses the rightness or wrongness of individual behaviors, duties, and obligations without concern for the consequences of specific actions. Meeting the needs of patients while maintaining their right to privacy, confidentiality, autonomy, and dignity is consistent with the tenets of deontology. Compared with deontology, utilitarianism is on the opposite end of the ethical theory continuum. Utilitarianism maintains that behaviors are determined to be right or wrong solely based on their consequences. Autonomy, or self-determination, is the freedom to make decisions supported by knowledge and self-confidence. Accountability is the willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions.

Question 2

When providing end-of-life care, the nurse knows it is essential to carry out which action?

Accepted Answer

Two major roles of a nurse caring for a dying patient are: (1) providing accurate information regarding the disease process and treatment options and (2) offering support for the patient and family without interjecting personal opinions. An essential ethical concept is autonomy, which underscores the importance of allowing patients to make their own health care decisions. Limiting information to what will relieve anxiety, providing personal opinions, and making decisions for the patient do not demonstrate respect for patient autonomy.

Question 3

The nurse knows practicing nursing without a license is what wrongdoing?

Accepted Answer

Practicing nursing without a license is a felony. A misdemeanor is a minor crime, such as stealing an item from a patient that does not have much value. A statute is a law created by legislative bodies. Torts are crimes committed against another person. An intentional tort example is assault and battery. Negligence and malpractice are examples of unintentional torts.

Question 4

The nurse frequently cares for patients who are nearing the end of life. The nurse identifies what strategy that is designed to prolong the time of death rather than restoring life?

Accepted Answer

Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care exist regarding the establishment of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, adherence to living will and organ donation requests, removal of extraordinary measures already initiated, and continuance of futile care (i.e., care that is useless and prolongs the time until death rather than restoring life).

Question 5

The nurse is providing care to a patient experiencing pain. The nurse assesses the pain and promptly administers the ordered analgesics as promised to the patient. This nurse has applied what concept?

Accepted Answer

Keeping promises or agreements made with others constitutes fidelity. In nursing, fidelity is essential for building trusting relationships with patients and their families. Following through on promises is a critical factor in establishing strong professional relationships with patients and their families. Autonomy, or self-determination, is the freedom to make decisions supported by knowledge and self-confidence. Accountability is the willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions. Confidentiality is the ethical concept that limits sharing private patient information.

Question 6

The student nurse learning about ethics expresses good knowledge when making which appropriate statement?

Accepted Answer

Family, friends, beliefs, education, culture, and socioeconomic status influence the development of ethical behavior. The study of ethics considers the standards of moral conduct in a society. Personal ethics are influenced by values, societal norms, and practices. Behaviors that are judged as ethical or unethical, right or wrong, reflect a person's character.

Question 7

The nurse knows which statement indicates an appropriate understanding of ethical practice by the student nurse?

Accepted Answer

The Code of Ethics for Nurses is "a succinct statement of the ethical obligations and duties of every individual (not just nurse educators) who enters the nursing profession," the profession's "nonnegotiable ethical standard," and "an expression of nursing's own understanding of its commitment to society." This is a powerful mandate for all nurses to communicate and act professionally to prevent inflicting physical or emotional pain on others while pursuing nursing education and engaging in nursing practice.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a patient whose family does not want the patient to be told about the new diagnosis of cancer because of the poor prognosis. Keeping this secret from the patient is in direct conflict with which ethical concepts?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy, or self-determination, is the freedom to make decisions supported by knowledge and self-confidence. Truthfulness defines the ethical concept of veracity. Supporting or promoting the interests of others or to do so for a cause greater than ourselves defines advocacy. To do justice is to act fairly and equitably. First, do no harm is the colloquial definition of nonmaleficence. Unlike beneficence, which requires actively doing good, nonmaleficence requires only the avoidance of harm. Confidentiality is the ethical concept that limits sharing private patient information.

Question 9

The nurse recognizes which action by the nursing student would be considered uncivil?

Accepted Answer

Civility (i.e., acting politely) is essential in all interactions among faculty and nursing students. Respectful interaction between students and faculty members establishes professional communication patterns and affects the way in which students interact with patients. Texting in class is disrespectful and is an example of incivility. Arriving on time, listening attentively, and participating in class all show respect and civility.

Question 10

The nurse identifies that The Code of Ethics for Nurses is defined in which terms?

Accepted Answer

The current nursing code, the Code of Ethics for Nurses with interpretive statements, was published in 2015. The Code of Ethics for Nurses is "a succinct statement of the ethical obligations and duties of every individual who enters the nursing profession," the profession's "nonnegotiable ethical standard," and "an expression of nursing's own understanding of its commitment to society."

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a patient recently diagnosed with cancer that is being asked to participate in a new chemotherapy trial. How would the nurse respond if working under the ethical principle of utilitarianism?

Accepted Answer

Compared with deontology, utilitarianism is on the opposite end of the ethical theory continuum. Utilitarianism maintains that behaviors are determined to be right or wrong solely based on their consequences. Deontology is an ethical theory that stresses the rightness or wrongness of individual behaviors, duties, and obligations without concern for the consequences of specific actions. Meeting the needs of patients while maintaining their right to privacy, confidentiality, autonomy, and dignity is consistent with the tenets of deontology. Autonomy, or self-determination, is the freedom to make decisions supported by knowledge and self-confidence. The remaining responses are examples of either deontology or autonomy.

Question 12

A nurse has been asked to care for a patient who is an inmate from a nearby prison. During shift report, the nurse asks, "Why was the man convicted and imprisoned?" Another nurse responds that this is not important since nurses are required to provide compassionate care for all people in all circumstances. The responding nurse has displayed what concept?

Accepted Answer

In its simplest form, beneficence can be defined as doing good. Nurses demonstrate beneficence by acting on behalf of others and placing a priority on the needs of others rather than on personal thoughts and feelings. The ethical concept of beneficence necessitates providing care for the prisoner without reproach and provide compassionate care for all people in all circumstances. Supporting or promoting the interests of others or doing so for a cause greater than ourselves defines advocacy. Confidentiality is the ethical concept that limits sharing private patient information. Autonomy, or self-determination, is the freedom to make decisions supported by knowledge and self-confidence.

Question 13

The nurse realizes that a medication error has been made. The nurse then reports the error and takes responsibility to ensure patient safety despite personal consequences. This nurse has exhibited what ethical concept?

Accepted Answer

Accountability is the willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions. Autonomy, or self-determination, is the freedom to make decisions supported by knowledge and self-confidence. Supporting or promoting the interests of others or doing so for a cause greater than oneself defines advocacy. To do justice is to act fairly and equitably.

Question 14

The nurse recognizes that starting an intravenous (IV) infusion line on a patient against his will may be classified as which wrongdoing?

Accepted Answer

Actual physical harm caused to another person is battery. Battery may involve angry, forceful touching of people, their clothes, or anything attached to them. Performing a surgical procedure without informed consent is an example of battery. Actions much more subtle, such as inserting an intravenous catheter or urinary catheter against the will of a patient, also may be classified as battery. Assault is a threat of bodily harm or violence caused by a demonstration of force by the perpetrator. A feeling of imminent harm or feeling of immediate danger must exist for assault to be claimed. A misdemeanor is a crime of lesser consequence that is punishable by a fine or incarceration in a local or county jail for up to 1 year. A felony is a more serious crime that results in the perpetrator's being imprisoned in a state or federal facility for more than 1 year.

Question 15

The nurse understands "First, do no harm" defines what ethical principle?

Accepted Answer

First, do no harm is the colloquial definition of nonmaleficence. Unlike beneficence, which requires actively doing good, nonmaleficence requires only the avoidance of harm. In its simplest form, beneficence can be defined as doing good. To do justice is to act fairly and equitably. Keeping promises or agreements made with others constitutes fidelity.

Question 16

The nurse is caring for a patient who has had many admissions and readmissions. The nurse believes that the patient keeps coming to the hospital because the patient "wants his drugs," and is "non-compliant" at home with diabetic therapy. To reduce the risk of slander against this patient, the nurse should carry out which action?

Accepted Answer

Defamation of character occurs when a public statement is made that is false and injurious to another person. Oral defamation of character is slander. Slander is spoken information that is untrue, causing prejudice against someone or jeopardizing that person's reputation. The nurse should not make opinionated, slanderous comments about patients, orally or in writing. Written forms of defamation of character are considered libel.

Question 17

After studying legal issues important to nursing, the student shows appropriate understanding with which statement?

Accepted Answer

Laws delineate acceptable nursing practice, provide a basis on which many health care decisions are determined, and protect nurses from liability in cases in which safe practice is maintained. Each state has a nurse practice act that establishes the standards of care required for legal nursing practice. Licensure, laws, rules, and regulations governing nursing practice are enforced to protect the public from harm. In many cases, the nurse is the last line of defense to prevent an error in medication administration or other types of patient care. Keeping current with changing laws related to nursing practice and technology can ensure safety for nurses and their patients.

Question 18

The nurse is providing care for a patient who has had a stroke recently and has multiple self-care deficits. The nurse is coordinating care with in-home agencies and arranging for the delivery of needed equipment. Which ethical concept is the nurse applying?

Accepted Answer

Supporting or promoting the interests of others or doing so for a cause greater than ourselves defines advocacy. Confidentiality is the ethical concept that limits sharing private patient information. Autonomy, or self-determination, is the freedom to make decisions supported by knowledge and self-confidence. Accountability is the willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions.

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a patient who has been belligerent and is in 4-point "leather" restraints. When the patient continues to be verbally abusive and still tries to kick and punch staff even though he is restrained, the nurse should carry out which action?

Accepted Answer

Provision 1.5 (of the Nursing Code of Ethics) states, "The principle of respect for persons extends to all individuals with whom the nurse interacts. The nurse maintains compassionate and caring relationships with colleagues and others with a commitment to the fair treatment of individuals, to integrity-preserving compromise, and to resolving conflict. The nurse should make all attempts to provide for the patient's needs. It is unrealistic to only provide care if security is present. Telling the patient that the police will be called is threatening.

Question 20

Which statement by the nurse indicates comprehension of ethical issues?

Accepted Answer

All nurses are faced with ethical decisions each day in practice, and some choose to obtain further education and experience in the field of bioethics and participate on institutional ethics committees along with physicians, ethicists, attorneys, and academicians. Ethics committees are required by The Joint Commission to respond to ethical challenges related to patient care requiring consultation. The work of the ethics committees in health care institutions helps to prevent unnecessary legal intervention in patient care matters. Ethics committee members come from all areas of health care, not just nursing. If acceptable resolutions are not achieved through consultation with the ethics committee, patients, families, and health care providers, the legal system may become involved.

Quiz 11: Ethical and Legal Considerations