Ethics in Nursing Practice

Every question here, with the answer

1. A competent adult patient with metastatic lung cancer tells the nurse she does not want another round of chemotherapy and wants to discuss palliative care. Her family disagrees with her wishes. Which ethical principle most directly supports the nurse honoring the patient’s treatment decision?

   1. Fidelity
   2. Autonomy
   3. Accountability
   4. Justice

   Answer: Autonomy

   Autonomy supports the patient’s right to make her own decisions about care, even when family members may disagree. Justice focuses on equal treatment, accountability on responsibility for actions, and fidelity on faithfulness and loyalty.

2. A nurse is experiencing moral distress after repeatedly knowing what patients need but being unable to provide that care because of crisis-level resource difficulties. Which actions are appropriate strategies to help prevent or manage moral distress? Select all that apply.

   1. Review the Codes of Ethics for nurses and the facility’s ethics policies.
   2. Use employee assistance programs or counseling to work through moral distress.
   3. Keep concerns private until the distress resolves without involving others.
   4. Seek out trusted mentors to talk through issues.
   5. Pay attention to the nurse’s internal compass when asked to work outside the comfort zone.

   Answer: Review the Codes of Ethics for nurses and the facility’s ethics policies., Use employee assistance programs or counseling to work through moral distress., Seek out trusted mentors to talk through issues., Pay attention to the nurse’s internal compass when asked to work outside the comfort zone.

   The section lists recognizing one’s internal compass, expanding ethics knowledge, seeking trusted mentors, and using employee assistance programs or counseling as strategies. Keeping concerns private is not recommended because the section emphasizes recognizing distress and using support resources.

3. A nurse realizes they made an error during care. Which response best demonstrates the nursing ethical virtue of integrity?

   1. Go to the nurse manager and inform the nurse manager of the error.
   2. Ask another nurse to correct the error without documenting who made it.
   3. Continue care as usual because errors are expected in practice.
   4. Avoid mentioning the error unless another team member notices it.

   Answer: Go to the nurse manager and inform the nurse manager of the error.

   The section specifically identifies reporting one’s own error to the nurse manager as acting with the virtue of integrity. The other responses avoid honesty, clarity, or responsibility for the nurse’s own action.

4. A new graduate nurse is reviewing how ethics are interwoven into the ANA Standards of Practice, which are based on the nursing process. Which activities are included in the Standards of Practice? Select all that apply.

   1. Assessment
   2. Diagnosis
   3. Research
   4. Patient education
   5. Leadership

   Answer: Assessment, Diagnosis, Patient education

   Assessment, diagnosis, and patient education are listed as Standards of Practice. Leadership and research are listed under the Standards of Professional Performance, not the Standards of Practice.

5. A nurse is assigned to participate in an intervention that is allowable by the nurse practice act, but the nurse finds it morally unacceptable on religious grounds. What is the nurse’s priority action to protect patient care?

   1. Disclose the objection as soon as possible to someone with authority to change assignments.
   2. Object to caring for the patient rather than objecting to the intervention.
   3. Refuse the assignment at the bedside without notifying anyone in advance.
   4. Complete the intervention without speaking up because patient autonomy always overrides the nurse’s conscience.

   Answer: Disclose the objection as soon as possible to someone with authority to change assignments.

   The section states that when experiencing conscientious objection, the nurse should disclose it as soon as possible to someone who can change assignments. This helps reduce compromise to patient care; the objection is to an action, intervention, or therapy, not to the person.

6. A nursing committee is using today’s feminist ethics to evaluate barriers to care in the community. Which issues should the committee examine according to this approach? Select all that apply.

   1. Only whether a decision creates the greatest good for the most people
   2. Political issues that affect healthcare justice
   3. Economic issues that affect healthcare affordability
   4. Cultural issues that affect healthcare equity
   5. Social issues that affect healthcare affordability and access

   Answer: Political issues that affect healthcare justice, Economic issues that affect healthcare affordability, Cultural issues that affect healthcare equity, Social issues that affect healthcare affordability and access

   The section explains that today’s feminist ethics examines social, cultural, economic, and political issues affecting affordability, accessibility, equity, and justice. Focusing only on the greatest good for the most people reflects utilitarianism rather than feminist ethics.