PrepU Chapter 6: Values, Ethics, and Advocacy

Nursing students in an ethics class have been asked to define "ethics." What would be the best definition of ethics?

The formal, systematic study of moral beliefs.

What is the term for the beliefs held by the individual about what matters?

Values

A nurse educator understands that his teaching was effective regarding the Code of Ethics for Nurses when students make which statement?

"The code is an expression of nursing's own understanding of its commitment to society."

Which of the following nursing situations is an example of the care-based approach to ethics? Select all that apply.

Holding the hand of a dying client Providing a back rub to a client on bed rest Involving the parent in the bed bath of a child

Which word is best described by the following: the protection and support of another's rights?

Advocacy

A nurse has completed four hours of his eight-hour shift on a medical-surgical unit when he receives a phone call from the nursing supervisor. The nursing supervisor informs him that he needs to give a report to the other two nurses on the medical-surgical unit and immediately report to the telemetry unit to assist with staff needs on that unit. The nurse informs the supervisor that he has been busy with his client assignment and feels this will overwhelm the nurses on the medical-surgical unit. The supervisor informs the nurse that the need is greater on the telemetry unit. This is an example of which type of ethical problem?

Allocation of scarce nursing resources

Which of the following best describes feminist ethics?

An approach critiquing existing patterns of oppression and domination in society.

Which ethical principle is related to the idea of self-determination?

Autonomy

Which ethical principle refers to the obligation to do good?

Beneficence

Which theory of ethics prioritizes the nurse's relationship with clients and the nurse's character in the practice of ethical nursing?

Care-based ethics

When examining values, a nurse notes that one country uses physician-assisted suicide and another country considers physician-assisted suicide as illegal and punishable with imprisonment. How are these two views on physician-assisted suicide affected?

Culturally

A client is brought to the emergency department by an adult child, who states, "I am unable to care for my parent anymore. Although I would like to, financially and physically I can't do it anymore." What ethical problem does the nurse identify with the adult child?

Distress

A nursing student states he is able to put himself in his client's shoes. He states he understands the situation of the ill client. This is considered to be an act of:

Empathy

Which statement best conveys the concept of ethical agency?

Ethical practice requires a skill set that must be conscientiously learned and nurtured.

A hospice nurse is caring for a client with terminal cancer. The family would like the client to continue aggressive therapy to treat the cancer, but the client has voiced to the nurse that no further pursuit of treatment is desired. The nurse speaks to the family about the client's wishes, condition, and terminal state. This action is most likely derived from which nursing obligation?

Ethical values

Using the nursing process to make ethical decisions involves following several steps. Which step is the nurse implementing when she reflects on the decision-making process and the role it will play in making future decisions?

Evaluating

A parent teaches his or her children not to drink and drive; however, the parent does drink and drive. This action causes

Failure to reflect own values

A female client is brought to the emergency room with matted hair, bruising, and malnutrition. The nurse suspects physical abuse and neglect. The nurse states, "this happens to many women." Which type of ethical approach is the nurse exhibiting?

Feminist

A client rings the call bell to request pain medication. Upon performing the pain assessment, the nurse informs the client that she will return with the pain medication. The nurse's promise to return with the pain medication is an example of which principle of bioethics?

Fidelity

A nurse states to the client that she will keep her free of pain. However, her family wishes to try a treatment to prolong her life that may necessitate withholding pain medication. This factor will cause an ethical dilemma for the nurse in relation to which ethical principle?

Fidelity

In the delivery of care, the nurse acts in accordance with nursing standards and the code of ethics and reports a medication error that she has made. The nurse is most clearly demonstrating which professional value?

Integrity

The nurse beginning practice would like to access the standards for ethical practice. Which organization will the nurse research for these standards?

International Council of Nurses

A parent of a high school student age 17 years is allowing the child to make the decision on the college that will be attended. When the child requests direction from the parent in making this decision, the parent responds by stating, "you will need to make this decision ony our own." What type of value transmission is the parent displaying?

Laissez-faire

The nurse is managing the care for a post operative client. How does the nurse demonstrate advocacy?

Limiting visitors due to client complaining of pain

A home care nurse visits a client who is confined to bed and is cared for by a chemically dependence adult child. The home is cluttered and unclean and the nurse notes that the client is wet with urine, has dried feces on the buttocks, and signs of dehydration are present. After caring for the client, the nurse contacts the health care provider and reports the incident to Adult Protective Services. What ethical framework does the nurse determine is occurring?

Nonmaleficence

A nurse knows the ethical term "Do not cause harm" is an example of:

Nonmaleficence

A nursing faculty is discussing laissez-faire values with students. Which of the following is an example of those values?

Parents allowing a child to decide not to have an intravenous line inserted

A nurse obtains an order for a bed alarm for a confused client. This is an example of which of the following ethical principles?

Paternalism

A nurse believes that abortion is an acceptable option if a pregnancy results from a situation of rape. What is the best description of this belief?

Personal morality

A nurse is caring for an older adult who has cancer and is experiencing complications requiring a revision of the plan of care. The nurse sits down with the client and the family and discusses their preferences while sharing her judgments based on her expertise. Which of the following types of health care decision making does this represent?

Shared decision making

A client continues to complain of pain despite receiving medication. The family states, "in our culture it is acceptable to complain out loud." What would be the best response by the nurse?

Tell me more about your cultural beliefs.

Nurses who value client advocacy follow what guideline?

They give priority to the good of the individual client rather than to the good of society in general.

A nurse is preparing a client for discharge from the cardiac unit and observes cigarettes in the client's belongings. The nurse asks the client to consider her health and the health of her husband. This is an example of:

Values clarification

To practice ethically, the nurse should:

avoid allowing her judgment to guide practice.

A nursing student is studying the principle of autonomy. Which example most accurately depicts this principle?

describing surgery to a client before the consent is signed

A nursing faculty is presenting a lecture on ethics. The correct definition of ethical distress is:

knowing the correct action, but unable to perform due to constraints

A nurse shows client advocacy by:

offering a hospice consultation to a client who is terminally ill.

An adolescence is in the process of value formation. What does the nurse determine that will be the greatest influence in the child's formation of values in this developmental stage?

peers.

A nurse is of the Catholic faith and votes pro-life. He is considered to have:

personal values.

Which of the following is a characteristic of the care-based approach to bioethics?

the promotion of the dignity and respect of clients as people

The differences between the pro-life and abortion rights movement are an example of:

values inquiry.

A nurse volunteers to serve on the hospital ethics committee. Which of the following indicates that the nurse knows what the purpose of an ethics committee is?

Assist in decision making based on the client's best interests.

A client age 46 years has been diagnosed with cancer. He has met with the oncologist and is now weighing his options to undergo chemotherapy or radiation as his treatment. This client is utilizing which ethical principle in making his decision?

Autonomy

A nurse who provides the information and support that clients and their families need to make the decision that is right for them is practicing what principle of bioethics?

Autonomy

A woman age 83 years who has suffered a cerebrovascular accident and is unable to swallow refuses the insertion of a feeding tube. This is an example of what ethical principle?

Autonomy

A nurse is caring for a client who is a practicing Jehovah's Witness. The physician orders two units of packed cells based on his low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. The nurse states to the surgeon that it is unethical to go against the client's beliefs even though his blood counts are very low. What is the best description of the nurse's intentions?

acting in the client's best interest

An illegal immigrant with no health insurance sustained life-threatening injuries following an automobile accident. Which action demonstrates the ethical principle of justice?

airlifting the client to a local trauma center for emergency surgery