Chapter 02: Ethical and Legal Issues

Chapter 02: Ethical and Legal Issues

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. The difference between morals and ethics is that ethics:

a.	is more concerned with the “why” of behavior.
b.	distinguishes the good or right in conduct.
c.	is broader in scope.
d.	concentrates on the right or wrong of behavior.

 

ANS:   A

Ethics is derived from an evaluation of an action, based on a set of standards; morals are codes of conduct, determining right or wrong actions. Morals are concerned with the “shoulds,” “should nots,” “oughts,” and “ought nots” of actions and behaviors. Ethics and morals are both broad in scope. Ethics is concerned with the “why” of the action rather than with whether the action is right or wrong.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension       REF:    8

OBJ:    Nursing Process: Assessment TOP:    Ethics

MSC:   NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

 

2. A patient’s wife has been informed by the physician that her spouse has a permanent C2-3 spinal injury, resulting in permanent quadriplegia. The wife states that she does not want the physician or nursing staff to tell the patient about his injury. The patient is awake, alert, and oriented when he asks his nurse to tell him what has happened. The nurse has conflicting emotions about how to handle the situation and is experiencing:

a.	powerlessness.
b.	moral distress.
c.	moral doubt.
d.	frustration.

 

ANS:   B

The nurse has been placed in a situation initially causing moral distress and is struggling with determining the ethically appropriate action to take. Powerlessness can be a symptom of moral distress. Moral doubt can be a symptom of moral distress. Frustration can be a symptom of moral distress.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analysis      REF:    8

OBJ:    Nursing Process: Analysis

TOP:    Ethics  MSC:   NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

 

3. The critical care nurse can best enhance the principle of autonomy by:

a.	allowing the patient to do as much for himself or herself as possible.
b.	assisting with only those tasks that cannot be done by the patient.
c.	providing the patient with all information and facts.
d.	guiding the patient toward the best choices for care.

 

ANS:   C

Autonomy can be viewed as the freedom to make decisions about one’s own body without the coercion or interference of others. Patients and families must have all the information about a certain situation to make an autonomous decision that is best for them. Allowing the patient to do as much for himself/herself as possible is the concept of self-care. Assisting with only those tasks that cannot be done by the patient is the concept of self-care. Guiding the patient toward the best choice for care can be viewed as interfering with the patient’s freedom to make a decision and, thus, interfering with the patient’s autonomy.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Synthesis     REF:    9

OBJ:    Nursing Process: Planning

TOP:    Ethics  MSC:   NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

 

4. Which of the following ethical principles is most important when soliciting informed consent from a patient?

a.	Nonmaleficence
b.	Fidelity
c.	Beneficence
d.	Veracity

 

ANS:   D

Veracity is important when soliciting informed consent because the patient needs to be aware of all potential risks and benefits to be derived from specific treatments or their alternatives. Nonmaleficence is concerned with doing no harm to the patient. Fidelity is concerned with faithfulness and promise-keeping to the patient. Beneficence is concerned with doing good and preventing harm to the patient.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension       REF:    9

OBJ:    Nursing Process: Evaluation

TOP:    Ethics  MSC:   NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

 

5. Fidelity includes faithfulness and promise-keeping to patients and incorporates the added concepts of:

a.	confidentiality and privacy.
b.	truth and reflection.
c.	autonomy and paternalism.
d.	beneficence and nonmaleficence.

 

ANS:   A

Confidentiality is a right involving the sharing of patient information with only those involved in the patient’s care. Privacy includes confidentiality but goes further to include the right to privacy of person and personal space, such as ensuring that a patient is adequately covered during a procedure. Truth and reflection are not part of the ethical principle of fidelity. Autonomy is a separate ethical principle from fidelity, and paternalism is related to the concept of beneficence. Beneficence and nonmaleficence are separate ethical concepts that relate to doing no harm to the patient.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension       REF:    10

OBJ:    Nursing Process: Assessment TOP:    Ethics

MSC:   NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care