Chapter 6: Values, Ethics, and Advocacy

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."

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

Advocacy

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.

A client diagnosed with cancer has met with the oncologist and is now weighing whether to undergo chemotherapy or radiation for treatment. This client is demonstrating which ethical principle in making this decision?

Autonomy

A nurse is providing care to a client with end-stage cancer. After weighing the alternatives, the client decides not to participate in a clinical trial offered and is requesting no further treatment. The nurse advocates for the client's decision based on the understanding that the client has the right to self-determination, interpreting the client's decision as reflecting which ethical principle?

Autonomy

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

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

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

International Council of Nurses

Which action most clearly demonstrates a nurse's commitment to social justice?

Lobbying for an expansion of healthcare resources and benefits to those in poverty

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

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

The principle of autonomy by a client is applied in which situation?

The client has decided to stop chemotherapy treatments.

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.

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

A nurse working on a critical care unit was informed by a client with multiple sclerosis that the client did not wish to be resuscitated in the event of cardiac arrest. Now the client is no longer able to express 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:

ethical distress.

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

stays with a client during death as promised.

Ethical practice is evaluated as a portion of the nurse's annual review. Which practice(s) would cause the evaluator to reduce the nurse's score on this section of the review? Select all that apply.

-The nurse is frequently late to work. -The nurse often speaks harshly to cleaning staff and transport workers.

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

-Trustworthiness -Humility -Compassion

When providing nursing care to clients, the nurse is required to adhere to ethical values and legal rules to guide practice behavior. Which values would be included? Select all that apply.

-Veracity -Fidelity -Privacy -Confidentiality

Which nursing situation is an example of an ethical dilemma?

Deciding whether to perform cardiac compressions against a client's wishes

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.

-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

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses (2012) has which elements? Select all that apply.

-People -Practice -Profession -Coworkers