Ch. 6 (Values, Ethics, and Advocacy)
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
A hospital owned by a Catholic order of nuns will not allow tubal ligations to be performed. This is considered to be:
Institutional Policy
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."
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 holds personal information as confidential. - The nurse maintains standards of personal conduct. - The nurse is active in developing a core of research based principles.
Which are examples of virtues that can exemplify character and conduct as a professional nurse? Select all that apply.
- Trustworthiness - Humility - Compassion
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.
-The ability to be ethical begins in childhood and develops gradually. -Ethics is a systematic inquiry into the principles of right and wrong conduct. -A commitment to developing one's ability to act ethically is known as one's ethical agency.
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 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.
Which word is best described by the following: the protection and support of another's rights?
Advocacy
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.
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
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
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 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 nurse pulls the curtains before changing the dressing of the surgical wound on the abdomen of a post-surgical client. What value is served?
Dignity
A nurse is acting inappropriately and has an odor of alcohol. This behavior breaches which of the following?
Ethical Conduct
A client is scheduled to have an elective surgical procedure performed and cannot decide if he wants to do it or not. He asks the nurse to help him make the decision because he does not feel that he knows enough about the procedure. Which of the following is the best way for this nurse to advocate for this client?
Facilitate the client's decision by allowing him to verbalize his feelings and by providing information to help him assess his options
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 client requests that the nurse allow her 15 minutes two times a day for prayer during her hospitalization. What value does this represent?
Foundation value
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
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
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.
Which of the following nursing situations is an example of an ethical dilemma?
Performing cardiac compressions when a signed Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR) is not available
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.
A nurse is aware that the principle of autonomy is being applied in which situation?
The client has decided to stop chemotherapy treatments.
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.
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.
Socialization into the nursing profession may have the most significant effect on:
Values
What is the term for the beliefs held by the individual about what matters?
Values
A nursing student's attitude is defined as:
disposition toward situations.
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.
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.
What would be an example of the nurse practicing fidelity? The nurse:
stays with the client during his death as promised.
Which of the following statements by the nurse is an example of deception?
"This injection of Novocain will feel like a little pinch."
Which nursing actions describe the use of the professional value of altruism? Select all that apply.
- A 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 an understanding of the culture of his or her client.
A nurse practices the professional value of autonomy when providing nursing care for clients. Which nursing actions best describe the use of this value? Select all that apply.
- A nurse reads the Patient Bill of Rights to a visually impaired patient. - A nurse collaborates with other health care team members to ensure the best possible treatment for a patient
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses (2005) has which elements? Select all that apply.
- Co-Workers - People - Practice - Profession
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.
- Maintains confidentiality - Provides culturally competent care - Protects the privacy of the client
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.
- Promoting health - Preventing illness - Alleviating suffering - Restoring health
Which of the following nursing situations is an example 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
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
To practice ethically, the nurse should:
Avoid allowing her judgment to guide practice.
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 learns to model behavior exemplified by the instructor. What behavior does the nursing student want to emulate?
Ethical Conduct
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 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?
Help the client clarify his values.
A nursing student reports to the instructor that a medication due at 9 a.m. was omitted. Which of the following principles is the student demonstrating?
Integrity
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 is of the Catholic faith and votes pro-life. He is considered to have:
Personal Values.
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
