Which ethical principle in nursing focuses on doing no harm?
a) Beneficence
b) Non-maleficence
c) Autonomy
d) Justice
Answer: b) Non-maleficence
The principle of autonomy in nursing ethics refers to:
a) Doing good for the patient
b) Treating all patients equally
c) Respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions
d) Keeping patient information confidential
Answer: c) Respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions
The Nursing Code of Ethics is primarily designed to:
a) Increase nurse salaries
b) Provide a framework for ethical decision-making
c) Promote healthcare organizations
d) Guide patient medical treatment
Answer: b) Provide a framework for ethical decision-making
Which ethical principle involves the fair distribution of resources?
a) Autonomy
b) Justice
c) Beneficence
d) Fidelity
Answer: b) Justice
In nursing, what does the principle of beneficence mean?
a) Avoiding harm to the patient
b) Acting in the patient’s best interest
c) Allowing patients to make their own decisions
d) Ensuring fair treatment for all patients
Answer: b) Acting in the patient’s best interest
Confidentiality in nursing practice is primarily protected under:
a) The Nursing Code of Ethics
b) The Nurse Practice Act
c) HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
d) The Affordable Care Act
Answer: c) HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
What is the primary focus of the principle of fidelity in nursing?
a) Ensuring patient autonomy
b) Being truthful and faithful to commitments
c) Distributing resources fairly
d) Avoiding harm
Answer: b) Being truthful and faithful to commitments
Which term describes the ethical responsibility of nurses to keep patient information private?
a) Veracity
b) Justice
c) Confidentiality
d) Fidelity
Answer: c) Confidentiality
What is the first step in ethical decision-making in nursing?
a) Identifying the ethical issue
b) Collecting data
c) Evaluating outcomes
d) Implementing an action plan
Answer: a) Identifying the ethical issue
The principle of veracity in nursing ethics refers to:
a) Fair treatment of all patients
b) Being honest and truthful
c) Respecting patient autonomy
d) Preventing harm to the patient
Answer: b) Being honest and truthful
In nursing, advocacy means:
a) Arguing with physicians
b) Ensuring patient safety
c) Speaking up for the patient’s rights and best interests
d) Promoting hospital policies
Answer: c) Speaking up for the patient’s rights and best interests
Which ethical principle supports a patient’s right to refuse treatment?
a) Justice
b) Autonomy
c) Beneficence
d) Fidelity
Answer: b) Autonomy
The concept of informed consent in nursing requires:
a) Administering treatment without explanation
b) Providing detailed information about treatments and obtaining patient consent
c) Ignoring patient decisions
d) Making decisions on behalf of the patient
Answer: b) Providing detailed information about treatments and obtaining patient consent
A nurse’s obligation to report unsafe or unethical practices is an example of:
a) Confidentiality
b) Beneficence
c) Whistleblowing
d) Justice
Answer: c) Whistleblowing
What is the primary focus of professional boundaries in nursing?
a) Ensuring high salaries for nurses
b) Maintaining appropriate relationships with patients
c) Increasing patient autonomy
d) Promoting hospital profits
Answer: b) Maintaining appropriate relationships with patients
What does the term “moral distress” refer to in nursing?
a) The stress of working long hours
b) The difficulty in making ethical decisions when there are conflicting values
c) The challenge of caring for difficult patients
d) The need for additional training in ethics
Answer: b) The difficulty in making ethical decisions when there are conflicting values
The ANA Code of Ethics is published by which organization?
a) American Medical Association
b) American Nurses Association
c) National League for Nursing
d) World Health Organization
Answer: b) American Nurses Association
Which ethical principle is involved when a nurse provides pain relief to a suffering patient?
a) Autonomy
b) Non-maleficence
c) Beneficence
d) Justice
Answer: c) Beneficence
Which action would be considered a breach of patient confidentiality?
a) Discussing a patient’s condition with the healthcare team
b) Sharing patient information with a family member without consent
c) Reporting patient safety concerns to the nurse manager
d) Documenting patient care in the medical record
Answer: b) Sharing patient information with a family member without consent
In the context of nursing ethics, “justice” primarily means:
a) Providing equal care to all patients
b) Ensuring that nurses are paid fairly
c) Following the law
d) Promoting patient autonomy
Answer: a) Providing equal care to all patients
Which of the following is an example of a violation of professional boundaries in nursing?
a) Maintaining a professional demeanor with patients
b) Accepting expensive gifts from a patient
c) Providing patient education
d) Reporting unsafe conditions
Answer: b) Accepting expensive gifts from a patient
What is the ethical responsibility of a nurse who observes a colleague acting unethically?
a) Ignore the behavior
b) Report the behavior according to facility policy
c) Join in the behavior
d) Discuss the issue with the patient
Answer: b) Report the behavior according to facility policy
In nursing, the principle of non-maleficence requires nurses to:
a) Do good for the patient
b) Ensure that patients are not harmed
c) Support patient autonomy
d) Distribute resources fairly
Answer: b) Ensure that patients are not harmed
Which principle of nursing ethics involves keeping promises and commitments?
a) Veracity
b) Fidelity
c) Autonomy
d) Justice
Answer: b) Fidelity
What is the primary purpose of the Nursing Code of Ethics?
a) To guide nurses in ethical practice
b) To increase nurse compensation
c) To define legal regulations for nursing
d) To establish patient treatment protocols
Answer: a) To guide nurses in ethical practice
What does the term “cultural competence” refer to in nursing professionalism?
a) Ignoring cultural differences
b) Recognizing and respecting the cultural beliefs and practices of patients
c) Providing the same care to all patients
d) Prioritizing Western medical practices
Answer: b) Recognizing and respecting the cultural beliefs and practices of patients
A nurse who refuses to participate in a procedure that conflicts with their personal ethical beliefs is exercising which ethical principle?
a) Autonomy
b) Justice
c) Veracity
d) Beneficence
Answer: a) Autonomy
What is an essential component of ethical decision-making in nursing?
a) Ignoring patient wishes
b) Relying solely on intuition
c) Using a systematic process to analyze and resolve ethical issues
d) Following hospital policies without question
Answer: c) Using a systematic process to analyze and resolve ethical issues
Which of the following actions exemplifies professional integrity in nursing?
a) Falsifying patient records
b) Reporting errors promptly and honestly
c) Accepting gifts from patients
d) Withholding information from patients
Answer: b) Reporting errors promptly and honestly
Which of the following best describes the ethical principle of veracity?
a) Promoting patient welfare
b) Maintaining confidentiality
c) Telling the truth
d) Ensuring patient safety
Answer: c) Telling the truth
The ethical concept of “informed consent” is based on which principle?
a) Non-maleficence
b) Autonomy
c) Beneficence
d) Justice
Answer: b) Autonomy
What does the ethical principle of justice require in healthcare?
a) Providing all patients with the same resources
b) Making decisions based on the patient’s social status
c) Ensuring fair distribution of healthcare resources
d) Prioritizing the care of paying patients
Answer: c) Ensuring fair distribution of healthcare resources
When a nurse respects a patient’s decision to refuse treatment, they are upholding which ethical principle?
a) Fidelity
b) Non-maleficence
c) Autonomy
d) Beneficence
Answer: c) Autonomy
The term “moral courage” in nursing refers to:
a) Ignoring unethical practices
b) Taking a stand on ethical issues despite potential risks
c) Avoiding conflict in the workplace
d) Following orders without question
Answer: b) Taking a stand on ethical issues despite potential risks
Which principle is violated if a nurse administers a medication without the patient’s consent?
a) Justice
b) Veracity
c) Autonomy
d) Fidelity
Answer: c) Autonomy
A nurse’s commitment to continuous professional development is an example of which ethical principle?
a) Justice
b) Non-maleficence
c) Fidelity
d) Beneficence
Answer: c) Fidelity
The ethical principle that emphasizes equal treatment and care for all patients is:
a) Justice
b) Autonomy
c) Beneficence
d) Veracity
Answer: a) Justice
What is the role of a nurse in maintaining patient confidentiality?
a) Discussing patient information with friends
b) Sharing patient information on social media
c) Ensuring that patient information is only shared with authorized individuals
d) Leaving patient records in public areas
Answer: c) Ensuring that patient information is only shared with authorized individuals
Which of the following is an example of ethical dilemmas in nursing?
a) Deciding the most effective medication for a patient
b) Balancing patient autonomy with the need for life-saving treatment
c) Administering a routine injection
d) Following a physician’s orders
Answer: b) Balancing patient autonomy with the need for life-saving treatment
The principle of non-maleficence is most closely associated with:
a) Preventing harm to patients
b) Promoting patient welfare
c) Ensuring truthful communication
d) Providing equal care
Answer: a) Preventing harm to patients
A nurse who refuses to provide care that violates their ethical beliefs is exercising:
a) Non-maleficence
b) Justice
c) Moral integrity
d) Veracity
Answer: c) Moral integrity
In nursing, ethical practice requires balancing which two principles when dealing with patient information?
a) Veracity and fidelity
b) Confidentiality and beneficence
c) Autonomy and justice
d) Non-maleficence and autonomy
Answer: b) Confidentiality and beneficence
Which ethical principle is most relevant when obtaining a patient’s consent for a procedure?
a) Justice
b) Fidelity
c) Autonomy
d) Non-maleficence
Answer: c) Autonomy
Which ethical principle would be violated if a nurse lied to a patient about their diagnosis?
a) Fidelity
b) Non-maleficence
c) Veracity
d) Justice
Answer: c) Veracity
Which of the following demonstrates ethical nursing practice regarding patient autonomy?
a) Forcing treatment on a patient
b) Providing patients with all the necessary information to make informed decisions
c) Ignoring a patient’s wishes
d) Making decisions for the patient
Answer: b) Providing patients with all the necessary information to make informed decisions
What is a key ethical responsibility of nurses in relation to patient advocacy?
a) Making decisions for the patient
b) Supporting the patient’s choices and best interests
c) Avoiding patient requests
d) Prioritizing the hospital’s policies over patient needs
Answer: b) Supporting the patient’s choices and best interests
The ethical principle of non-maleficence is focused on:
a) Avoiding harm to the patient
b) Promoting patient autonomy
c) Ensuring truthfulness in all communications
d) Ensuring fairness in the distribution of resources
Answer: a) Avoiding harm to the patient
The term “ethical dilemma” in nursing refers to:
a) A situation where all choices involve some form of ethical compromise
b) A clear choice between right and wrong
c) A situation where the nurse’s personal beliefs are irrelevant
d) An issue that can be easily resolved by hospital policy
Answer: a) A situation where all choices involve some form of ethical compromise
In the context of nursing ethics, “fidelity” involves:
a) Maintaining patient confidentiality
b) Ensuring that all patients receive the same level of care
c) Being loyal and keeping promises to patients
d) Providing pain relief to suffering patients
Answer: c) Being loyal and keeping promises to patients
Which of the following actions best represents ethical behavior in nursing?
a) Ignoring a patient’s pain
b) Documenting care accurately and truthfully
c) Accepting bribes for better care
d) Discriminating against patients based on their background
Answer: b) Documenting care accurately and truthfully