Chapter 6
A nurse cultivates dispositions that enable practicing nursing in a manner in which he or she believes in. This nurse is displaying what essential element of ethical agency? Ethical responsiveness Ethical sensibility Ethical valuing Ethical character
Ethical character
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? Implementing Planning Diagnosing Evaluating
Evaluating
A nurse is providing care for a client with cancer. The client's wife indicates that she does not want her husband to be told he is terminal. This is a breach of which ethical principle? Nonmaleficence Beneficence Autonomy Fidelity
Fidelity
The nurse strives to uphold human dignity when providing care to clients. What behavior exemplified by the nurse would be included? Select all that apply. Promotes universal health care Demonstrates accountability Provides culturally competent care Protects the privacy of the client Maintains confidentiality
Protects the privacy of the client Maintains confidentiality Provides culturally competent care
What are standards for decision making that endure for a significant time in one's life? Ethics Beliefs Values Roles
Values
What is the term for the beliefs held by the individual about what matters? Values Ethics Bioethics Morals
Values
An oncology client in an outpatient chemotherapy clinic asks several questions regarding his care and treatment. The nurse explains the clinic's routine, typical side effects of the chemotherapy, and ways to decrease the number of side effects experienced. Which characteristic is the nurse demonstrating? Justice Fidelity Autonomy Veracity
Veracity
Which statement by the nurse is an example of deception? "This injection of procaine will feel like a little pinch." "I will administer your pain medication as soon as it is due." "I am going to teach you how to give yourself insulin." "It is important to get out of bed to prevent pneumonia."
"This injection of procaine will feel like a little pinch."
A nurse is caring for a client with a complete spinal cord injury that has caused paraplegia. The client is very distraught and asks the nurse, "Are they sure, even with therapy, I will never walk again?" Which statement made by the nurse demonstrates veracity? "Sometimes with physical therapy, a person may notice some improvement with movement." "I see you are upset; I can ask your physician to stop by and explain your injury in more detail." "It is too soon to tell. There is always a possibility you will regain movement in your legs." "You have a complete injury, which results in a total loss of movement and sensation below the level of injury."
"You have a complete injury, which results in a total loss of movement and sensation below the level of injury."
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 Veracity Justice Autonomy
Fidelity
A parent of a 17-year-old high school student 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 on your own." What type of value transmission is the parent displaying? Modeling Moralizing Laissez-faire Responsible choice
Laissez-faire
An older adult client falls out of bed after a nurse inadvertently left the side rails down. The nurse feels guilty and is upset about the incident. This is an example of which type of ethical situation? Moral distress Ethical dilemma Moralizing Conscientious objection
Moral distress
Which nursing situations are examples of the care-based approach to ethics? Select all that apply. Providing a back rub to a client on bed rest Involving the parent in the bed bath of a child Holding the hand of a dying client Taking a week's vacation from work Documenting data in the electronic medical record
Providing a back rub to a client on bed rest Involving the parent in the bed bath of a child Holding the hand of a dying client
The nurse is engaged in dialogue with a client in an effort to identify the client's values. Value systems are often formally embedded and integrated into: nature. religion. treatment. activity.
religion.
The graduate nurse is beginning practice after taking NCLEX. What professional values should the nurse incorporate into practice? Select all that apply. Moralizing Altruism Human dignity Social Justice Autonomy
Altruism Autonomy Human dignity Social Justice
A nurse seeks to incorporate the principle of bioethics known as nonmaleficence when caring for clients in a long-term care facility. Which nursing actions best exemplify this principle? The nurse performs regular client assessments for pressure ulcers. The nurse provides information to clients to help them make decisions about treatment options. The nurse follows "medication rights" when administering medicine to clients. The nurse arranges for hospice for a client who is terminally ill. The nurse acts fairly when allocating time and resources to clients. The nurse keeps promises to provide diligent care to clients.
The nurse performs regular client assessments for pressure ulcers. The nurse follows "medication rights" when administering medicine to clients.
A nurse working on a critical care unit was informed by a client with multiple sclerosis that she did not wish to be resuscitated in the event of cardiac arrest. The client is no longer able to express her wishes, and the family has informed the physician that they want the client to be resuscitated. Aware of the client's wishes, the nurse is involved in a situation that may involve: confidentiality. ethical distress. paternalism. deception.
ethical distress.
The purpose of a values inquiry discussion with a group of nursing students is to: improve the group's image. examine social issues. alter the group's views. examine past decisions.
examine social issues. Values inquiry is a method of examining social issues and the values that motivate human choices.
Which nursing action demonstrates the principle of fidelity? treating an uninsured client in the emergency department filing an incident report after making a medication error administering a vaccination witnessing a client signature on an informed consent
filing an incident report after making a medication error Fidelity means being faithful to work-related commitments and obligations. The ethical principle is best demonstrated by the nurse following the employer's policies by completing the incident report following a medication error. Administering vaccines is an example of beneficence; treating an uninsured client in the emergency room is an example of justice; witnessing a client signature on an informed consent is autonomy.
A nurse is asked to serve on an ethics committee. Which roles of the nurse would the nurse be required to fill on the committee? Select all that apply. making the final decision about end-of-life care deciding whether mechanical ventilation is appropriate for a client serving as a liaison between the family and the committee members presenting explanations about technical terminology advocating for the client's wishes
serving as a liaison between the family and the committee members presenting explanations about technical terminology advocating for the client's wishes
Socialization into the nursing profession may have the most significant effect on: roles. planning. documentation. values.
values.
Which ethical principle refers to the obligation to do good? Beneficence Veracity Fidelity Nonmaleficence
Beneficence
A nurse manager receives negative survey results citing a decrease in the quality of client care. What areas does the nurse manager research as a causative factor in the decrease of quality care delivery? Select all that apply. Inadequate staffing patterns Decreased satisfaction of nurses in the workplace Increase in acuity of clients on the unit Nurses working weekends Nurses working 12-hour shifts
Inadequate staffing patterns Decreased satisfaction of nurses in the workplace
A nursing student reports to the instructor that a medication due at 9 am was omitted. Which principle is the student demonstrating? Social justice Autonomy Altruism Integrity
Integrity
The nurse beginning practice would like to access the standards for ethical practice. Which organization will the nurse research for these standards? Department of Health Professions Canadian Hospital Association International Council of Nurses World Health Organization
International Council of Nurses
A nurse is providing care for three clients on a medical unit, two of whom are significantly more acute than the third. The nurse is making a concerted effort to ensure that the less acute client still receives a reasonable amount of time, attention, and care during the course of the shift. Which of the following is the nurse attempting to enact? Nonmaleficence Fidelity Justice Beneficence
Justice The ethical principle of justice includes an effort to fairly distribute benefits and to minimize discrimination, even when circumstances make this difficult to achieve. This is demonstrated by the nurse's efforts to fairly distribute her time and care. Beneficence is an ethical principle that addresses the idea that a nurse's actions should promote good. Nonmaleficence states that one should not do harm to patients. Fidelity is faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
An employee health nurse is assisting a stressed, working mother with value clarification. Which of the following best defines value clarification? a process by which people come to understand their own values and value systems a systematic inquiry into principles of right and wrong conduct, of virtue and vice, and of good and evil, as they relate to conduct. an organization of values in which each is ranked along a continuum of importance, often leading to a personal code of conduct. a belief about the worth of something, about what matters, that acts as a standard to guide one's behavior.
a process by which people come to understand their own values and value systems
A nurse who is caring for a new mother realizes that the woman is not prepared to go home with her newborn after a hospital stay of only 24 hours. However, hospital policy dictates that the mother be discharged. This nurse may be faced with which moral problem? Ethical uncertainty Ethical distress Ethical dilemma Ethical dissatisfaction
Ethical distress
A nurse uses the utilitarian action guiding theory when deciding how to handle the following ethical conflict: A 13-year old female client with anorexia refuses to eat food despite the fact that she is slowly starving to death. The parents insist the nurse use a feeding tube to feed her. Which statement is an example of this theory in practice? The nurse refuses to force feed the client because the nurse believes that force feeding a client who refuses food is wrong even if it saves her life. The nurse believes that force feeding a client violates the principles of autonomy and nonmaleficence. The nurse believes that force feeding a client could be right or wrong depending on the process used to accomplish the action. The nurse forces food via an eating tube because the end result is good in that it will save the client's life.
The nurse forces food via an eating tube because the end result is good in that it will save the client's life.
Nurses must maintain the privacy of clients. Which example is a breach in privacy and would pose an ethical problem? talking to the family when they visit the client documenting the care in the client's record participating in a hands-off report at the end of the shift taking a picture of a client with the nurse's cell phone
taking a picture of a client with the nurse's cell phone
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 Confidentiality Justice Beneficence
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? Fidelity Nonmaleficence Justice Autonomy
Autonomy
A nurse is caring for a woman 28 years of age who has delivered a baby by Cesarean section. She describes her pain as a 9. The nurse medicates her for pain. This is an example of which ethical framework? Beneficence Nonmaleficence Fidelity Justice
Beneficence Beneficence means doing or promoting good. The treatment of the client's pain is the nurse's act of doing good.
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 is the adult child experiencing? Uncertainty Distress Dissatisfaction Dilemma
Distress
A nursing student learns to model behavior exemplified by the instructor. What behavior does the nursing student want to emulate? Autonomy Decision making Standards of practice Ethical conduct
Ethical conduct Modeling professional behavior of the instructor will teach the student to use appropriate ethical conduct. Standards of practice are knowledge and skills learned in a nursing program and then conducted in a clinical setting. Standards of practice guide the nursing profession but are not modeled from one person. Autonomy is defined as the ability of the person to make his or her own decisions. The nursing student is using autonomy when deciding to model the professional nurse in learning ethical conduct. Decision making is the thought process of selecting a logical choice from the available options. The nursing student does not have to choose from a variety of options.
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 Moralizing Paternalism Values clarification
Feminist
The nurse is caring for clients in a hospital setting. Which situations encountered by the nurse have a significant ethical component? Select all that apply. deciding when to stop cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a client in cardiac arrest helping a client make end-of-life decisions addressing a suspected breach in confidentiality deciding which continuing education offerings should be chosen deciding how to reassign staff in light of budget cuts
helping a client make end-of-life decisions addressing a suspected breach in confidentiality deciding how to reassign staff in light of budget cuts deciding when to stop cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a client in cardiac arrest
A nursing faculty is presenting a lecture on ethics. The correct definition of ethical distress is: belief about worth as a standard to guide behavior being aware of the principles of right and wrong supporting the rights of a client during hospitalization knowing the correct action, but unable to perform due to constraints
knowing the correct action, but unable to perform due to constraints
A nurse is preparing a presentation about ethical and legal issues for nurses. As part of the presentation, the nurse is planning to review the different types of laws. Which example would the nurse include as an intentional tort? Select all that apply. Assault Misdemeanor Negligence False imprisonment Libel
Assault False imprisonment Libel
A child on a pediatric unit hits one of the other children and subsequently has video game privileges revoked for the rest of the day. The next day the same child plays with the other children without any problems in order to avoid losing video game privileges again. According to Kohlberg, the child is demonstrating what stage of development? Trust versus mistrust Moralizing First-level preconventional stage Self-actualization
First-level preconventional stage
A client requests that the nurse allow her 15 minutes two times a day for prayer during her hospitalization. What value does this represent? Free value Foundation value Future value Focused value
Foundation value A habitual act is indicative of a foundation value.
A nurse is reviewing The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses. Based on this code, the nurse would identify which responsibility as being fundamental? Select all that apply. Preventing illness Restoring health Promoting health Alleviating suffering Providing holistic care
Promoting health Preventing illness Restoring health Alleviating suffering
One value associated with the functional health pattern of activity and exercise is Personal health Sensory pleasure Self-preservation Survival
Sensory pleasure Values associated with activity and exercise include sensory pleasure, competition, image, and play.
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. The adherence to formal personal values. The adherence to informal personal values. The informal, systematic study of moral beliefs.
The formal, systematic study of moral beliefs.
A nurse instructor is educating students about the use of ethical agency in nursing practice. Which statements accurately represent the basic principles of ethics? Select all that apply. Ethics is a systematic inquiry into the principles of right and wrong conduct. An action that is legal or customary is ethically right. Most nurses are born with a natural ability to behave in an ethically professional way. The term "ethics" generally refers to personal or communal standards of right or wrong. The ability to be ethical begins in childhood and develops gradually. A commitment to developing one's ability to act ethically is known as one's ethical agency.
The nurse maintains standards of personal conduct. The nurse is active in developing a core of research-based principles. The nurse holds personal information as confidential.
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. school administration. work. awareness of other cultures.
peers
What would be an example of the nurse practicing fidelity? The nurse: stays with the client during his death as promised. provides continuity of care. withholds information as requested. regulates visitors.
stays with the client during his death as promised.
A nurse is of the Catholic faith and votes pro-life. He is considered to have: personal morality. ethics. legal obligations. personal values.
personal values.
The nursing student demonstrates the need for further instruction with which statement concerning moral values? "Moral values determine one's beliefs about others." "Moral values give individuals some sense of what is right and wrong." "Moral values place an emphasis on emotional attitudes." "Moral values are intertwined with one's religion."
"Moral values give individuals some sense of what is right and wrong." Moral values give individuals the ability to identify correct behaviors and the ability to discern right from wrong.
A nurse educator understands that his teaching was effective regarding the Code of Ethics for Nurses when students make which statement? "The code provides nurses with specific guidelines for practice." "The code critiques existing patterns of oppression and domination in society." "The code enables nurses to provide good care to clients." "The code is an expression of nursing's own understanding of its commitment to society."
"The code is an expression of nursing's own understanding of its commitment to society." The Code of Ethics for Nurses provides nurses with a nonnegotiable statement of the ethical obligations of individuals who enter the nursing profession. It serves as an expression of nursing's own understanding of its commitment to society. The feminist ethics approach critiques patterns of oppression and domination in society. Clinical virtues enable nurses to provide good care to clients. The principle-based approach to ethics provides nurses with specific action guidelines for practice.
Which of the following actions best describe the use of the professional value of altruism (helping)? (select all that apply) A. A nurse demonstrates an understanding of the culture of his patient B. A nurse becomes a mentor to a student nurse working on the floor C. A nurse is accountable for the care provided to a mentally challenged patient D. A nurse lobbies for universal access to healthcare E. A nurse respects the right of a Native American to call in a shaman for a consultation F. A nurse protects the privacy of a patient with AIDSA
A nurse demonstrates an understanding of the culture of his or her client. A longtime nurse becomes a mentor to a student nurse working on the floor. A nurse respects the right of a Native American/First Nations client to call in a shaman for a consultation.
A nurse demonstrates the professional value known as altruism when caring for clients in a long-term care facility. What nursing action demonstrates this behavior? A nurse consults a client when planning care to determine priorities. A nurse researches the culture of a Muslim client when planning care. A nurse helps an older adult client fill out an informed consent form. A nurse promotes universal access to health care for underserved populations.
A nurse researches the culture of a Muslim client when planning care. The professional value of altruism is a concern for the welfare and well-being of others. In professional practice, altruism is reflected by the nurse's concern for the welfare of clients, other nurses, and other health care providers. Altruism is demonstrated by the nurse researching the culture of a Muslim client when planning nursing care. The other options are not examples of altruism.
A school nurse interviewing parents of a child who is doing poorly in school determines that the parents practice a laissez-faire method of discipline. What are examples of this form of value transmission? Select all that apply. A boy is taken for ice cream to celebrate his good report card. A teenage girl is punished for staying out too late with her friends. A teenage girl tries alcohol at a party with her friends. Before meals, a boy says a prayer that he learned from his parents. A boy is taught how to behave in public by his schoolteacher. A teenage boy explores religions of friends in hopes of developing his own faith.
A teenage boy explores religions of friends in hopes of developing his own faith. A teenage girl tries alcohol at a party with her friends.
Identify the activities a nurse would use in value processing. Select all that apply. Prizing Modeling Rewarding Choosing Acting
Choosing Acting Prizing
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? Ethically Culturally Spiritually Economically
Culturally
Which statement best conveys the concept of ethical agency? Ethical practice is best learned and fostered by surrounding oneself with people who exhibit ethical character. Ethical practice requires a skill set that must be conscientiously learned and nurtured. A nurse's understanding and execution of ethical practice is primarily a result of increased years of experience. Individuals who enter the nursing profession often innately possess ethical characteristics.
Ethical practice requires a skill set that must be conscientiously learned and nurtured. Ethical agency must be cultivated in the same way that nurses cultivate the ability to do the scientifically right thing in response to a physiologic alteration. It is inaccurate to assume that it will passively develop from the presence of other ethical practitioners, or from years of experience. It is not an innate characteristic of personality.
A nursing faculty member is discussing laissez-faire values with students. Which scenario is an example of those values? Telling a child an injection will feel like a pinch before the nurse gives the injection Modeling healthy behaviors for teenagers, such as not smoking electronic cigarettes Parents allowing a child to decide not to have an intravenous line inserted Teaching children right from wrong and telling them the reason behind a bad action
Parents allowing a child to decide not to have an intravenous line inserted
he International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses (2005) has which elements? Select all that apply. Profession Practice Family People Coworkers
People Practice Profession Coworkers
A nurse is having lunch in the break room and overhears the other nurses talking about a difficult client in an inappropriate way. The nurses attempt to engage her in the conversation. Which response by the nurse would best represent behavior that supports the value of human dignity in nursing practice? Laughing and joining in the conversation, even though the nurse really does not believe that the client is as bad as her peers say that he is Getting up and walking out of the break room because her break is over Telling the other nurses what the client did to her last week, even though she treats the client with dignity because he cooperates better with his plan of care Saying that she believes that this discussion is inappropriate and disrespectful to the client and that she does not want to be a part of it
Saying that she believes that this discussion is inappropriate and disrespectful to the client and that she does not want to be a part of it
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 type of health care decision making does this represent? Ethical decision making Client sovereignty model Shared decision making Paternalistic model
Shared decision making
While delivering patient care, the home healthcare nurse has the ability to see the whole picture and how various parts are related to the client's diagnosis and problems in the home environment. What skills does the nurse possess that allow her to see the connection of various parts of the situation? Instrumental skills Interpersonal skills Imaginal skills System skills
System skills Systems skills are those that help a person see the whole picture and how various parts relate.
A nursing instructor is discussing The Code of Ethics with students. Which response indicates an understanding of the tenets of the Code of Ethics for Nurses? Select all that apply. The nurse participates in the advancement of the profession. The nurse is active in developing a core of research-based principles. The nurse has the right to fair compensation for the workload. The nurse maintains standards of personal conduct. The nurse holds personal information as confidential.
The nurse maintains standards of personal conduct. The nurse is active in developing a core of research-based principles. The nurse holds personal information as confidential.
Nurses who value client advocacy follow what guideline? They choose the claims of the client's well-being over the claims of the client's autonomy. They value their loyalty to an employing institution or to a colleague over their commitment to their clients. They make decisions for clients who are uninformed concerning their rights and opportunities. They give priority to the good of the individual client rather than to the good of society in general.
They give priority to the good of the individual client rather than to the good of society in general.
When providing nursing care to clients, nurses are required to adhere to ethical values and legal rules to guide behavior. Which values would be included? Select all that apply. Veracity Fidelity Privacy Confidentiality safety
Veracity Fidelity Privacy Confidentiality
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 siding with the client over the surgeon observing institutional policies being legally responsible
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 avoiding treating the client so as to not do any additional harm filing the paperwork for the client to receive retroactive health insurance telling the client honest information about the client's medical condition and prognosis
airlifting the client to a local trauma center for emergency surgery
A nurse is contributing to the analysis of an ethical dilemma. When analysing the dilemma according to the ethical framework, what is most important for the nurse to take into consideration? conflict between competing priorities. the relationship between law and values. standards of conduct. decision making.
standards of conduct. Ethics is the branch of philosophy dealing with standards of conduct and moral judgment. It does not directly address law. It includes, but is not limited to, decision making and competing priorities.
A nursing student is studying the principle of autonomy. Which example most accurately depicts this principle? administering a morning dose of insulin before breakfast transporting a client to a scheduled physical therapy appointment describing surgery to a client before the consent is signed changing a dressing on a wound as needed
describing surgery to a client before the consent is signed
A nursing student's attitude is defined as: choosing between alternatives. desire to do good. disposition toward situations. belief in one's self.
disposition toward situations. An attitude is one's disposition toward an object or a situation; it can be a mental or emotional mindset, and it can be positive or negative.
The foundation for decisions about resource allocation throughout a society or group is based on the ethical principle of: veracity. autonomy. justice. confidentiality.
justice. Justice is the foundation for decisions about resource allocation throughout a society or group.
Which action most clearly demonstrates a nurse's commitment to social justice? lobbying for an expansion of health care resources and benefits documenting patient care in a timely, honest, and thorough manner answering a client's questions about her care clearly and accurately ensuring that a hospital client's diet is culturally acceptable
lobbying for an expansion of health care resources and benefits
Which actions by the nurse demonstrate the ethical principle of fidelity? Select all that apply. performing an intervention for a client at the time that was promised taking scheduled breaks on time taking an extra client assignment so that client will be cared for calling in sick due to lack of sleep maintaining current nursing registration and meeting continuing education requirements
maintaining current nursing registration and meeting continuing education requirements performing an intervention for a client at the time that was promised taking an extra client assignment so that client will be cared for
A nurse who is infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) accidentally gets a cut while debriding a wound, exposing the client to possible HIV infection. Failure of the nurse to report this incident violates which ethical principles? (Select all that apply.) autonomy fidelity veracity justice nonmaleficence
nonmaleficence veracity fidelity
A nurse is caring for a hospitalized client. Which nursing action demonstrates a caring and compassionate attitude? (Select all that apply.) explaining all nursing procedures clearly leaving the room promptly once care is completed notifying the client before leaving for lunch listening to the client tell stories about past experiences offering snacks and beverages to visiting family
notifying the client before leaving for lunch offering snacks and beverages to visiting family explaining all nursing procedures clearly listening to the client tell stories about past experiences
Which of the following is a characteristic of the care-based approach to bioethics? the need to emphasize the relevance of clinical experience the need for an orientation toward service the promotion of the dignity and respect of clients as people The rightness or wrongness of an action is independent of its consequences.
the promotion of the dignity and respect of clients as people
A public health nurse is involved in planning a community outreach program for a large assisted living community. Due to the aging population within the community, the program will offer hypertension screening and management. This decision is based on which principle? utilitarianism autonomy nonmaleficence veracity
utilitarianism Teleology, also known as utilitarianism, is ethical decision-making process based on final outcomes and what is best for the most people. The choice that benefits many people justifies harm that may come to a few. The nurse did not display veracity, nonmaleficence, or autonomy in this scenario.
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: ethical dilemma. values clarification. moral distress. social justice.
values clarification. Values clarification is a process that allows an individual to examine and understand what choices to make. Moral distress is the emotional state that arises from a situation when a nurse feels that the ethically correct action to take is different from what he or she is tasked with doing. An example of this is the nurse taking away the cigarettes out of the belongings bad. Ethical distress, on the other hand, occurs when a decision is made regarding what one believes to be the right course of action, but barriers prevent the nurse from carrying out or completing the action. The nurse can expect ethical distress if they remove the cigarettes from the client's belongings bag. Social justice is a concept of fair and just relations between the individual and society. An example is the selling of cigarettes to those who had a cardiac event. Moral distress, ethical dilemma, and social justice are not reflected in this scenario.
The differences between the pro-life and abortion rights movement are an example of: values clarification. social activism. values inquiry. ethical inconsistency.
values inquiry.
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? Legal responsibilities Ethical values Nursing education principles Advanced practice licensure guidelines
Ethical values Moral values involve correct behavior, such as having some sense of right and wrong. Moral values help direct nurses to deal with human interactions that involve the integrity of life or health.
A dying client tells the nurse that he doesn't want to see his family because he doesn't want to cause them more sadness. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? Educate the client on death and dying concepts. Arrange a meeting between the family and the client. Help the client clarify his values. Allow the client time for quiet reflection.
Help the client clarify his values.
The nurse is reviewing charges to clients for surgical procedures and observes different charges dependant upon insurance status. The nurse immediately reports this bias in charges to the supervisor for action. What principle of bioethics is the nurse demonstrating? Justice Fidelity Nonmaleficence Beneficence
Justice The nurse is seeking to distribute the benefits, risks, and costs of nursing care justly. When recognizing subtle instances of bias and discrimination. the bioethical principle of justice is being practiced. The principle of nonmaleficence means to avoid doing harm, to remove harm, and to prevent harm. Beneficence is committing oneself to actively promoting the client's health or well being. Fidelity is being faithful to the promise that is made to be competent.
The nurse is managing the care for a postoperative client. How does the nurse demonstrate advocacy? Turning and positioning the client every 4 hours Changing the channel on the television while providing care Administering pain medication when the pain level reaches 9 on pain scale of 0 to 10 Limiting visitors due to client complaining of pain
Limiting visitors due to client complaining of pain Advocating for clients is a nursing responsibility and is performed with the best interest and welfare of the client in providing safe, competent, and comforting care. Limiting visitors is an example of advocacy. The nurse recognizes that the client is in pain; therefore, limiting the visitors allows for the nurse to advocate for additional measures to allow the client to rest and recover. Administering pain medication and turning and the client every 4 hours are important and necessary interventions for a postoperative client, but this is not advocacy. Changing the channel on the television while providing care also does not promote advocacy.
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? Fidelity Nonmaleficence Autonomy Justice
Nonmaleficence The principle of nonmaleficence means to avoid doing harm, to remove harm, and to prevent harm. Autonomy means to respect the rights of clients or their surrogates to make health care decisions. Justice means to give each individual his due. Fidelity means to keep promises.
