Chapter 42. Nursing Ethics

Chapter 42. Nursing Ethics

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

Multiple Choice

Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

 

____    1.         A 77-year-old woman with an inoperable brain tumor has been hospitalized for the past 5 days. Her daughter comes to visit her. The patient has asked that her daughter not be told her diagnosis. After visiting with her mother, the daughter asks to speak to the nurse. She says, “My mother claims she has pneumonia, but I know she is not telling me the truth.” The daughter asks the nurse to tell her what is truly wrong with her mother. The nurse should tell her that:

1)

Her mother has an inoperable brain tumor, but does not wish anyone to know.

2)

She needs to speak to the physician in charge of her mother’s care.

3)

Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even family.

4)

Her mother is very sick with a serious case of pneumonia that could lead to death.

 

ANS:   3

The nurse’s first allegiance is to the patient and her desire for confidentiality. Telling the daughter to speak to the physician would place the physician in the same position as the nurse. Telling her that her mother has pneumonia would be a lie. The nurse, of course, should inform the physician of the patient’s wishes so that he will be prepared if the daughter questions him about her mother’s health condition.

 

PTS:    1          DIF:    Moderate         REF:    p. 1529

KEY:   Nursing process: Interventions | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application

 

 

 

____    2.         Which of the following terms refers to the ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice?

1)

Nursing ethics

2)

Bioethics

3)

Ethical dilemma

4)

Moral distress

 

ANS:   1

Nursing ethics refers to ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice. Bioethics is a broader field that refers to the application of ethics to healthcare. An ethical dilemma occurs when a choice must be made between two equally undesirable actions, and there is no clearly right or wrong option. Moral distress occurs when someone is unable to carry out his or her moral decision.

 

PTS:    1          DIF:    Moderate         REF:    V1, p. 1526

KEY:   Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Recall

 

 

 

____    3.         A belief about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that influences decision making is called which of the following?

1)

Morals

2)

Attitudes

3)

Beliefs

4)

Values

 

ANS:   4

A value is a belief you have about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that influences decision making. Morals are private, personal, or group standards of right and wrong. Attitudes are mental dispositions or feelings toward a person, object, or idea. A belief is something that one accepts as true.

 

PTS:    1          DIF:    Difficult          REF:    p. 1530

KEY:   Nursing process: N/A  | Client need: N/A | Cognitive level: Recall

 

 

 

____    4.         A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is conscious and competent and has decided that he wants to be removed from the ventilator. His family and the multidisciplinary team agree. The nurse believes the patient intends suicide and would prefer he choose differently but says nothing. The nurse remains at the bedside holding the patient’s hand. In this instance the nurse is displaying which of the following?

1)

Value set

2)

Value system

3)

Value neutrality

4)

Value awareness

 

ANS:   3

Value neutrality occurs when we put aside our own values regarding an issue in order to provide nonjudgmental care to clients. A value set is your list of values. A value system is your value set with the values ranked on a continuum from most important to least important.

 

PTS:    1          DIF:    Moderate         REF:    p. 1532

KEY:   Nursing process: Interventions | Client need: PSI | Cognitive level: Application

 

 

 

____    5.         A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is alert and oriented and, after giving it much thought, has decided that he wants to be removed from the ventilator. The nurse believes the patient intends suicide but supports his final decision. When the ventilator is removed, the nurse remains with the patient to support him. The nurse’s action demonstrates respect for what moral principle?

1)

Nonmaleficence

2)

Autonomy

3)

Beneficence

4)

Fidelity

 

ANS:   2

Autonomy refers to a person’s right to choose and his ability to act on that choice. In this case, the nurse respects the patient’s right to choose to die. Nonmaleficence is the twofold principle of doing no harm and preventing harm. Beneficence is the duty to do or promote good. Fidelity is the obligation to keep promises.

 

PTS:    1          DIF:    Moderate         REF:    p. 1534

KEY:   Nursing process: Interventions | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Comprehension