Nursing Fundamentals Ch 6
Which of the following statements by the nurse is an example of deception?
"This injection of Novocain will feel like a little pinch." Explanation: Telling a client that Novocain will feel like a little pinch, is not being truthful, thus a deception. The other choices are true statements and interventions, thus not deception.
Conflict has arisen within a family who is trying to make decisions about the care of their terminally ill mother who is unconscious and on life support. When applying an ethical decision-making model to the patient's care, the care team should begin by performing what action?
Acknowledging the fact that there is a moral dimension to the issue
Which word is best described by the following: the protection and support of another's rights?
Advocacy
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
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 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
Which ethical principle is related to the idea of self-determination?
Autonomy
A nurse fails to communicate a change in the client's condition to the physician. Which element related to proving malpractice has been met?
Breach of duty Failing to communicate a change in the client's condition reflects a breach of duty. Duty describes the relationship between the person and the person being sued. Nurses have a duty to care for their clients. The existence of a duty is rarely an issue in a malpractice suit. The action or lack of action must be proven as the cause of the injury. Damages refer to the injury suffered by the client.
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
An older adult patient's health has been worsening and the patient is now hospitalized. The student nurse has taken the patient's vital signs, which indicate a sharp decline over the past several hours. In order to provide appropriate care for this patient, the nurse should do which of the following actions?
Clarify whether a do not resuscitate order is recorded in the patient's chart.
A nurse is acting inappropriately and has an odor of alcohol. This behavior breaches which of the following?
Ethical conduct
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 on the oncology unit is caring for a client on hospice care. The client is weak and is resting. The client's daughter comes storming onto the unit and demands that the nurse do everything she can to treat her mother. This is an example of what type of values conflict?
Family conflict
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
Which of the following nursing situations is an example of the care-based approach to ethics? Select all that apply.
Holding the hand of a dying client Providing a back rub to a client on bed rest Involving the parent in the bed bath of a child
An older adult patient has had a severe stroke and is unable to swallow. The patient has no cognitive deficits and is adamant that he does not receive a feeding tube or intravenous nutrition. Members of the care team have taught the patient that he will not survive without one of these two interventions. What is the most ethical response to this situation?
Honour the patient's wishes and advocate for the rejection of artificial feeding methods. Explanation: Unless there is clear evidence of coercion or mental incompetence, the patient's wishes must be respected even if there are potentially harmful consequences.
Nurses have cited specific reasons for a decrease in the quality of patient care. Select all that apply.
Inadequate staffing Decreased satisfaction
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 group of nurses are discussing the moral implications of a patient's circumstances during a care conference. Which of the following statements about morality is most accurate?
Morality is heavily influenced by one's values and beliefs.
A nurse knows the ethical term "Do not cause harm" is an example of:
Nonmaleficence
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 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
A patient was swabbed for antibiotic resistant microorganisms when she was admitted to the hospital several days earlier. The nurse has read in the patient's chart that preliminary results suggest a positive test. The patient asks the nurse, "What ever became of the swabs that that took of my nose and my groin when I was admitted?" How should the nurse respond to the patient?
Tell the patient what was noted in her chart and arrange for her to discuss this with her physician.
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.
A nursing student is completing a clinical rotation with a street nurse who works predominantly with women who have low socioeconomic status. When applying the principles of feminist ethics to these women's health and wellness, the student should prioritize which of the following?
Understanding the effects that power imbalances and oppression may have had on the women's lives Explanation: Within feminist ethics, there is a common underlying belief that the moral experiences of persons involve relationships and that these relationships occur within various social structures and contexts.
What is the term for the beliefs held by the individual about what matters?
Values
A nurse is administering evening medications and notices that a medication was omitted during the day shift. Which statement demonstrates the principle of accountability?
filling out an occurrence report and notifying the health care provider
A nurse shows client advocacy by:
offering a hospice consultation to a client who is terminally ill.
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
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 Explanation: An ethical dilemma occurs when it is difficult for a decision to be made. If there is no signed DNR, then legally cardiac compressions must be started.
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses (2005) has which of the following elements? Select all that apply.
Practice Co-workers Profession People
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 is a characteristic of the care-based approach to bioethics?
the promotion of the dignity and respect of clients as people
