Fundamentals Ethical

A nursing student is employed and working as an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) on a busy surgical unit. The nurse knows that the UAP is enrolled in a nursing program and will be graduating soon. The nurse asks the UAP if they have performed a urinary catheterization on clients while in school. When the UAP says yes, the nurse asks them to help by doing a urinary catheterization on a post surgical client. What is the best response by the UAP? 1. "Let me get permission from the client first." 2. "Sure, which client is it?" 3. "I can't do it unless you supervise me." 4. "I can't do it. Is there something else I can help you with."

. "I can't do it. Is there something else I can help you with."

Professional safeguards that protect the nurse from being wrongfully accused of malpractice include which of the following? Select all that apply 1. Code of Ethics 2. Statute of Limitations 3. Affidavit of Merit 4. Standard of Proof 5. Sources of Law

2. Statute of Limitations 3. Affidavit of Merit 5. Sources of Law

The major responsibility for upholding patient care standards belongs to the: 1. chief executive officer of the facility 2. nurse manager. 3. on-call physician. 4. staff nurse providing patient care.

2. nurse manager.

To establish legal liability on the grounds of malpractice, the injured party must prove which of the following? Select all that apply 1. A duty of care was owed to the injured party. 2. An agreement was made to assume another party's liability. 3. There was a breach of duty. 4. Causation was present. 5. Actual harm or damages were suffered by the plaintiff.

1. A duty of care was owed to the injured party. 3. There was a breach of duty. 4. Causation was present. 5. Actual harm or damages were suffered by the plaintiff.

A patient who is not fully informed about his or her health status is an example of a violation of which ethical principle? 1. Autonomy 2. Justice 3. Utilitarianism 4. Confidentiality

1. Autonomy

Which ethical principle is violated when the RN tells the hospital accountant that the patient is HIV-positive? Select all that apply 1. Beneficence 2. Veracity 3. Confidentiality 4. Autonomy 5. Fidelity

1. Beneficence 3. Confidentiality

The court has found that a registered nurse (RN) harmed a patient by violating his rights. The nurse is ordered to pay the patient a large sum of money. The court has determined that the nurse has committed a: 1. civil act. 2. criminal act. 3. critical wrong. 4. quality breach.

1. civil act.

A staff nurse is facing a dilemma between meeting clinical ethical standards and meeting organizational goals. The nurse manager understands that the best way to assist staff members in resolving ethical dilemmas effectively is to focus on: 1. doing the right thing and taking the right action. 2. meeting clinical standards before organizational goals. 3. meeting organizational goals before clinical standards. 4. referring indecisive staff members for additional training.

1. doing the right thing and taking the right action.

Which of the following patient-related events may be considered as examples of common negligence allegations in a nursing malpractice suit? Select all that apply 1. Staffing levels in the medical unit 2. Patient fall with injury 3. Heparin error 4. Failure to utilize rapid response team with change in vital signs 5. Failure to ensure telemetry monitor is on the correct patient

2. Patient fall with injury 3. Heparin error 4. Failure to utilize rapid response team with change in vital signs 5. Failure to ensure telemetry monitor is on the correct patient

Which of the following are examples of intentional torts that may occur in the health care field? Select all that apply 1. Slip and fall in the hospital cafeteria 2. Patient restrained by the neck utilizing the nurse's arm 3. Ovary removal against the patient's signed consent 4. Restraining a patient without a physician's order 5. Hospital-acquired pressure ulcer

2. Patient restrained by the neck utilizing the nurse's arm 3. Ovary removal against the patient's signed consent 4. Restraining a patient without a physician's order

A Middle Eastern man has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The family has asked the medical and nursing staff to keep this information from the patient because in their culture they are fearful of delivering bad news as it may cause the patient to give up hope. Which ethical principles and dilemmas might be faced by nursing staff? (Select all that apply). 1. Justice 2. Autonomy 3. Veracity 4. Confidentiality

2. Autonomy 3. Veracity

A new RN is observed breaking sterile technique by the perioperative nurse. This is an example of a violation of which ethical principle? 1. Autonomy 2. Justice 3. Nonmaleficence 4. Confidentiality

3. Nonmaleficence

A staff nurse came in to work the 7 PM to 7 AM shift. She had met her friends for "happy hour" earlier in the evening. Her breath smells of alcohol. If this nurse is allowed to provide care for patients, she may be at risk for: 1. maleficence. 2. mélange. 3. nonmaleficence. 4. nonmanager.

3. nonmaleficence.

nurse manager is evaluating the efficiency of a process on the nursing unit. The manager believes that the unit could be more efficient if one aspect of this process were delegated to unlicensed personnel. To establish whether the delegation of this duty would be legal, he should check with the: 1. ANA. 2. current federal defense attorney. 3. state nurse practice act. 4. policy and procedure manual of the unit.

3. state nurse practice act.

The most common source of legal liability for nurse managers is a(n): 1. medical malpractice suit. 2. organizational nursing issue. 3. tort. 4. vicarious liability.

3. tort.

The nurse on a medical unit is caring for a 19-year-old with complications from a congenital heart defect. The client's mother is consistently at the bedside asking questions and attempting to direct the treatment plan. Which of the following shows how the nurse should communicate with the mother? 1. Discuss personal information that the client shared with the nurse in confidence. 2. Provide the mother with any information required for continuity of care. 3. Explain that client confidentiality prevents the nurse from disclosing information .4. Ask the client if he gives permission for the nurse to share information with the mother.

4. Ask the client if he gives permission for the nurse to share information with the mother.

Which ethical principle is violated when there are insufficient community resources to meet the needs of low-income families? 1. Nonmaleficence 2. Autonomy 3. Beneficence 4. Justice

4. Justice

Nurse managers are able to respond better to ethical dilemmas when they have access to the organization's: 1. mission and vision. 2. patient safety plan. 3. medical staff bylaws. 4. ethics committee.

4. ethics committee.

On admission, the patient was found to have a blood glucose level of 218. The RN knows that except in emergency situations, it is hospital policy to obtain physician's orders before administering any medication. Because the on-call physician did not return the page, the nurse administered insulin according to the common sliding scale. Four hours later, the patient was found nonresponsive in her bed and later died. According to the autopsy, the patient died from heart failure. Her postmortem blood glucose level was 22. Because of the nurse's actions, the admitting hospital may be found to be :1. a judicial risk. 2. an ostensible authority. 3. indemnified .4. vicariously liable.

4. vicariously liable.

The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted by a neighbor in a local grocery store. The neighbor says to the nurse, "How is Carol doing? She is my best friend and is seen at your clinic every week." Which is the most appropriate nursing response? A) I cannot discuss any client situation with you. B) If you want to know about Carol, ask her yourself. C) Only because you're worried about your friend, i'll tell you that she is approving. D) Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time and needs her privacy.

A) I cannot discuss any client situation with you.

Ques 16. One mechanism that ensures autonomy in the nursing profession is the: 1. American Nurses Association (ANA). 2. Department of Health Professionals. 3. Nursing Code of Ethics. 4. Professional Regulatory Board.

American Nurses Association (ANA).

After initial assessment, the nurse determines the need to place a restraint on a patient. The patient refuses application of the restraint. What is the best nursing action for this patient? A. Apply the restraint anyway. B. Contact the primary health care provider. C. Compromise with the patient and then apply the restraint. D. Medicate the patient with a sedative and then apply the restraint.

B. Contact the primary health care provider.

If a nurse decides to withhold a medication because it might further lower the patient's blood pressure, the nurse will be practicing the principle of: A. responsibility. B. accountability. C. competency. D. moral behavior.

B. accountability.

The distribution of nurses to areas of "most need" in the time of a nursing shortage is best described as an example of: A. Utilitarianism B. Deontology C. Justice D. Nonmaleficence

C. Justice

A student nurse employed as a nursing assistant may perform care: A. as learned in school. B. expected of a nurse at that level. C. identified in the hospital's job description. D. requiring technical rather than professional skills.

C. identified in the hospital's job description.

The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and questions the dosage. The nurse should: A.Administer the medication. B.Notify the physician. C.Withhold the medication. D.Document that the dosage appears incorrect.

C.Withhold the medication.

A nurse is caring for a patient who states, "I just want to die." For the nurse to comply with this request, the nurse should discuss: A.Living wills. B.Assisted suicide. C.Passive euthanasia. D.Advance directives.

D

Your patient is about to undergo a controversial orthopedic procedure. The procedure may cause periods of pain. Although nurses agree to do no harm, this procedure may be the patient's only treatment choice. This example describes the ethical principle of: A.Autonomy. B.Fidelity. C.Justice. D.Non-maleficence.

D. Non-maleficence.

A registered nurse arrives at work and is told to "float" to the ICU for the day because the ICU is understaffed and needs an additional nurse to care for the clients. The nurse has never worked in the ICU. Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing action? A. Refuse to float in the ICU B. Call the hospital lawyer C. Call the nursing supervisor D. Report to the ICU and identify tasks that can be safely performed

D. Report to the ICU and identify tasks that can be safely performed

The nurse notes that an advance directive is in the client's medical record. Which of the following statements represents the best description of guidelines a nurse would follow in this case? a. A durable power of attorney for health care is invoked only when the client has a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state b. A living will allows an appointed person to make health care decisions when the client is in an incapacitated state. c. A living will is invoked only when the client has a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state. d. The client cannot make changes in the advance directive once the client is admitted into the hospital.

c. A living will is invoked only when the client has a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state.

Nurses agree to be advocates for their patients. Practice of advocacy calls for the nurse to: a. Seek out the nursing supervisor in conflicting situations b. Work to understand the law as it applies to the client's clinical condition c. Assess the client's point of view and prepare to articulate this point of view d. Document all clinical changes in the medical record in a timely manner

c. Assess the client's point of view and prepare to articulate this point of view