Question 1

The nurse manager's goals include allowing staff members to schedule vacation while still ensuring that an adequate number of staff members are present to deliver safe patient care. To determine the minimum number of staff members who must be scheduled to work during holidays, the nurse manager performs a risk-benefit analysis. Which ethical framework best describes the nurse manager's problem-solving approach?

Accepted Answer

The nurse manager's approach aligns with utilitarianism, which focuses on the outcomes of decisions and aims to maximize benefits while minimizing harms. In this scenario, the goal is to balance staff vacation needs with the requirement for adequate staffing to ensure patient safety, reflecting a utilitarian perspective of achieving the greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 2

The nurse preceptor observes a novice nurse preparing to insert an intravenous (IV) access device into a patient's antecubital vein. Prior to inserting the IV, the novice nurse tells the patient, "You won't feel a thing." The nurse preceptor recognizes the novice nurse's violation of which ethical principle?

Accepted Answer

Veracity refers to truthfulness or honesty. By telling the patient "You won't feel a thing," the novice nurse is not being truthful, as inserting an IV can cause discomfort or pain.

Question 3

The nurse is assigned to provide care to an unconscious, mechanically ventilated patient who is receiving palliative treatment. The patient is receiving an intravenous morphine infusion. The primary care provider's orders include discontinuing the patient's mechanical ventilation and increasing the morphine infusion rate, as needed, to maintain the patient's comfort. The nurse refuses to implement the orders based on a belief that implementing the orders would be equivalent to killing the patient. The nurse's decision illustrates which concept?

Accepted Answer

The nurse's decision illustrates ethical agency, which refers to the ability of individuals to make decisions based on their own moral values and beliefs.

Question 4

The nurse admits a patient to the hospital medical-surgical unit of the hospital. During the admission process, the nurse asks whether or not the patient has an advance directive. The basis for the nurse's inquiry is:

Accepted Answer

Patient advocacy is the basis for the nurse's inquiry about an advance directive. This role involves ensuring that the patient's wishes and preferences regarding healthcare decisions are known and can be followed, especially in situations where the patient might not be able to communicate their wishes directly.

Question 5

The nurse provides care to a patient who is admitted to the hospital for management of severe migraines. After administering a prescribed pain medication, the nurse states, "I will return in 20 minutes to reassess your pain." By following through on the commitment to return at the specified time, which ethical principle does the nurse display?

Accepted Answer

Fidelity involves keeping one's promises or commitments. By stating they will return in 20 minutes to reassess the patient's pain and following through, the nurse demonstrates fidelity, showing reliability and trustworthiness in their care.

Question 6

The emergency department nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient. The patient asks the nurse, "I appreciate everything you've done for me and I really like you. Can I take you out for dinner?" Which response does the nurse choose?

Accepted Answer

C is the correct choice because it maintains professional boundaries while acknowledging the patient's gratitude. Accepting personal invitations from patients can compromise professional ethics and boundaries.

Question 7

The primary care provider orders limited treatments for patients who are diagnosed with a terminal illness and distributes the majority of resources to patients who have a high likelihood of survival. The primary care provider's intention is to serve the greater good. Which ethical principle best describes the primary care provider's approach to allocation of resources?

Accepted Answer

The primary care provider's approach is best described by utilitarianism, which focuses on the outcomes of actions and aims to maximize overall happiness or well-being. In this case, the provider allocates resources in a way that is intended to benefit the greatest number of people, prioritizing those with a high likelihood of survival to serve the greater good.

Question 8

Which issue represents an internal constraint that may prevent the implementation of ethical decisions?

Accepted Answer

Nursing students being socialized to follow orders and not question them is an internal constraint because it involves the internal culture and training within the nursing profession, which can prevent the implementation of ethical decisions by discouraging critical thinking and questioning of orders.

Question 9

Which action is included in Step 3 of the MORAL decision-making model?

Accepted Answer

Step 3 of the MORAL decision-making model involves resolving the dilemma by evaluating the options and making a decision.

Question 10

A 60-year-old patient who is diagnosed with a treatable form of breast cancer chooses not to pursue radiation or chemotherapy. The nurse persuades the patient to receive treatment by continuing to remind the patient about her responsibilities toward her children and grandchildren. The nurse's behavior best illustrates which principle?

Accepted Answer

The nurse's behavior illustrates paternalism, as the nurse is making a decision for the patient based on what the nurse believes is best for the patient, rather than respecting the patient's autonomy to make her own healthcare decisions.

Question 11

The nurse provides care to an alert, oriented patient who is prescribed a blood transfusion for treatment of severe anemia. The patient refuses the treatment. The primary care provider explains to the patient that the blood transfusion is necessary for survival; however, the patient continues to refuse the transfusion. Which action does the nurse anticipate implementing?

Accepted Answer

The patient is alert and oriented, indicating they have the capacity to make their own healthcare decisions. Respecting patient autonomy is a fundamental principle in healthcare, so if a competent patient refuses a treatment, even if it is life-saving, their wishes should be respected and followed.

Question 12

The nurse states, "I believe nurses who do not regularly exercise should not talk to patients about the importance of physical activity. Nurses should practice what they teach." Which term best relates to the content of the nurse's statement?

Accepted Answer

The nurse's statement reflects personal values, which are principles or standards of behavior that are regarded as important by an individual. In this context, the nurse values congruence between personal behavior (regular exercise) and professional advice (importance of physical activity), indicating a belief in practicing what one preaches.

Question 13

The nursing student is delivering a classroom presentation about professional values identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Which example does the nursing student use to illustrate the value of integrity?

Accepted Answer

Integrity in nursing involves acting ethically and honestly, adhering to moral and professional standards. Choice A directly addresses acting in accordance with an appropriate code of ethics and standards of practice, which exemplifies the value of integrity as defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Question 14

The postoperative care unit (PACU) nurse provides care to a patient who underwent a total hip replacement. The nurse is aware that the patient is a practicing Jehovah's Witness. The primary care provider orders administration of blood for treatment of severe postoperative anemia. The patient is still very drowsy following general anesthesia and is unable to discuss the plan of care. The nurse understands the blood transfusion is necessary for the patient's survival. However, the nurse is also aware that the patient's religious beliefs may prohibit the patient from receiving blood products. Which term best describes the conflict the nurse is experiencing?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is experiencing an ethical dilemma, which occurs when there are two conflicting moral principles or values, such as the need to respect the patient's religious beliefs and the necessity of a blood transfusion for survival.

Question 15

Confidentiality will be maintained by the nurse who believes in and values the ethical principle of:

Accepted Answer

Autonomy refers to the principle of respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own care, including the right to confidentiality.

Question 16

An alert, oriented, competent older adult patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness. The patient requests a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation/Allow Natural Death (AND) prescription. The patient's family members oppose the patient's decision and ask the healthcare team to ignore the request. Despite lengthy discussions among the patient, physician, nurse, and family, the conflict is unresolved. The nurse asks the hospital chaplain to help the family and healthcare team members understand each other's opposing views. Which step of the MORAL model is the nurse implementing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of An alert, oriented, competent older adult patient...

Question 17

An alert, oriented, competent 87-year-old patient requests a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation/Allow Natural Death (AND) prescription. The patient's family members oppose the patient's decision and ask the hospital's ethics committee to intervene on their behalf. Which framework is the ethics committee most likely as a guide for their decision making process?

Accepted Answer

The ethics committee is most likely to use the principle of autonomy as a guide in their decision-making process. This principle respects the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions, including the choice for a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation/Allow Natural Death (AND) prescription, especially when the patient is alert, oriented, and competent.

Question 18

The nurse is assigned to provide care to a patient who developed septicemia following an abortion. The nurse believes abortion is murder of the unborn child. Which concept most specifically requires the nurse to provide high-quality patient care regardless of personal beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Nursing ethics specifically pertains to the ethical obligations of nurses to provide high-quality care to all patients, regardless of the nurse's personal beliefs or the circumstances leading to the patient's current health condition. This includes situations where the nurse may have moral objections to the patient's actions or choices, such as abortion.

Question 19

The nursing student asks the nurse educator to explain the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses. Which statement does the nurse educator include in the explanation?

Accepted Answer

The ANA Code of Ethics provides a framework for ethical practice but is not legally binding, meaning it does not have the force of law but guides nurses in ethical decision-making.

Question 20

Which concept refers to conflicts that arise between two or more ethical principles in patient care scenarios?

Accepted Answer

An ethical dilemma occurs when a situation involves two or more conflicting ethical principles, requiring a choice to be made between them. This is common in healthcare settings where decisions often have to balance different values and duties.

Quiz 44: Ethics Values