Chapter 6: Values, Ethics, and Advocacy

Which word is best described as protection and support of another's rights?

Advocacy

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

A client rings the call bell to request pain medication. On performing the pain assessment, the nurse informs the client that the nurse will return with the pain medication. After a few moments, the nurse returns with the pain medication. The nurse's returning with the pain medication is an example of which principle of bioethics?

Fidelity

A nurse is providing care to a client and is preparing the client for breakfast. The nurse assists the client out of bed to the chair and then helps the client open the items on the breakfast tray. The client begins to eat breakfast. The nurse tells the client, "I'll be back in about 10 minutes to check on you. In the meantime, here is your call light in case you need me." About 10 minutes later, the nurse returns to check on the client. The nurse is demonstrating which ethical principle?

Fidelity

A nurse reports to the charge nurse that a client medication due at 9 am was omitted. Which principle is the nurse demonstrating?

Integrity

The nurse has an ethical dilemma and is using the ethical decision-making steps to guide to a correct decision. Place in order the steps the nurse uses in this process.

Gather data and assess the situation. Identify the ethical problem. Identify and weigh the alternatives. Implement the decision. Evaluate the decision.

Which traits are examples of virtues that can exemplify character and conduct as a professional nurse? Select all that apply.

Humility Trustworthiness Compassion

A nurse working in a critical care unit has experienced personal tragedy, extreme shortage of staff in the work environment, and health issues. The nurse has overcome much of these hardships and is now mentoring other nurses in similar situations. What behavior is this nurse demonstrating?

Moral resilience

A nurse knows that the expression "Do not cause harm" refers to which ethical principle?

Nonmaleficence

What is likely to have the greatest influence on an adolescent's formation of values during this developmental stage?

Peers

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 an extra client assignment so that the client will be cared for Maintaining current nursing registration and meeting continuing education requirements

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 moral

A nurse is providing care to an older adult client who was just diagnosed with cancer. The client together with the immediate family discuss their preferences with the health care providers involved. The health care providers offer their clinical recommendations about possible treatments. Utlimately, the group arrives at a decision. The nurse interprets this decision-making process as reflecting which type?

Shared

Which statements indicate a correct understanding of the tenets of the Code of Ethics for Nurses? Select all that apply.

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.

Which action would cause a charge nurse to have concerns about a nurse's moral agency?

The nurse was seen at a grocery store after calling in sick.

To practice ethically, the nurse should avoid:

allowing the nurse's own judgment to guide practice.

A nurse is acting inappropriately and has an odor of alcohol. This behavior breaches the principle of:

ethical conduct.

Ethical distress is:

knowing the correct action but being unable to perform it due to constraints.

A nurse shows client advocacy by:

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

Which statement by the nurse is an example of deception?

"This injection of procaine will feel like a little pinch."

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 teenage girl tries alcohol at a party with her friends. A teenage boy explores religions of friends in hopes of developing his own faith.

A nurse has completed 4 hours of an 8-hour shift on a medical-surgical unit when the nursing supervisor calls. The nursing supervisor directs the nurse 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 the nurse has been busy with client assignments 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 scenario is an example of the laissez-faire approach to value transmission?

Allowing a child to decide not to have an intravenous line inserted

Which example best describes feminist ethics?

An approach critiquing existing patterns of oppression and domination in society

A nurse volunteers to serve on the hospital ethics committee. Which action should the nurse expect to take as a member of the ethics committee?

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

Which example most accurately depicts the ethical principle of autonomy?

Describing a surgery to a client before the consent is signed

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

Integrity

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 the nurse's own judgments based on the nurse's expertise. Which type of healthcare decision making does this represent?

Shared decision making

A parent teaches a child not to drink and drive; however, the parent does drink and drive. This action results in:

a failure to model one's own values.

A client tells the nurse that the client does not want to have a painful procedure. By respecting and supporting the client's right to make decisions, the nurse is demonstrating:

advocacy.

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

personal values.

What would be an example of the nurse practicing fidelity? The nurse:

stays with a client during death as promised.

The nurse has been educating a young adult client about living with type 1 diabetes and the importance of adhering to a strict dietary regimen. The client is repeatedly admitted and is not following the prescribed plan. What statement made by the nurse may facilitate values clarification for the client?

"Rank the three most important things in your life."

A charge nurse has implemented staff education on nursing values. The nurse would determine that further education is required when which statement(s) are overheard? Select all that apply.

"The gonorrhea test was positive. That's what the client gets for sleeping around." "If that was my mother, I sure wouldn't agree to a no-code." "I can't believe the client is giving that precious baby up for adoption."

A nurse's friend states, "I admire you so much. I would love to be a nurse, but I don't think I have the courage." Which response will the nurse make?

"You can work on being more courageous as you learn to be a nurse."

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

The promotion of the dignity and respect of clients as people

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.

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

Values

It is time for a nurse to renew licensure. The nurse says, "I need some really easy and quick continuing education hours. I don't understand why we have to do these every year." What is the nurse's coworker's best response?

"Life-long learning is part of the code for nurses."