Eliopoulos Chapter 9- Ethical Aspects
of Gerontological Nursing Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
1. A nurse manager who provides leadership in a long-term care
facility prioritizes the need for residents to have current and
relevant immunizations, stating, "it's inconvenient and costly, but it
provides protection not only to the person getting the vaccine but
to all those that they're in contact with." Which of the following
ethical philosophies most likely underlies the nurse's statement?
A) Nonmaleficence
B) Absolutism
C) Utilitarianism
D) Relativism -
correct answer ✅Ans: C
Feedback:
The nurse's emphasis on providing a perceived good to a maximum
number of individuals is typical of a utilitarian outlook.
2. Due to a bed shortage in the area, the head nurse on a busy
geriatric medicine unit is under significant pressure to minimize
client lengths of stay and speed up discharge planning. An older
adult client who is convalescing after recent falls is adamant that he
is not ready for discharge, and tells the nurse, "It doesn't matter
who or how many people are waiting in the emergency department
for this bed; I'm simply not healthy enough to go home yet." Of
,Eliopoulos Chapter 9- Ethical Aspects
of Gerontological Nursing Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
which philosophy of ethics is the patient's statement most
indicative?
A) Absolutism
B) Relativism
C) Egoism
D) Beneficence -
correct answer ✅Ans: C
Feedback:
An emphasis on one's personal interests is characteristic of egoism.
3. Despite the wishes of her family and the recommendations of
the care team, a 70-year-old client with a diagnosis of congestive
heart failure, but who is otherwise healthy, wants to have a no-
code order in place. Which of the following statements by the care
team most clearly prioritizes the patient's autonomy?
A) "If this is what is best for everyone then we need to go ahead
with the order."
B) "Provided it can be demonstrated that she has a potentially poor
prognosis, we should certainly consider doing this."
C) "It's best that social work get involved at this point to reconcile
the family's and the patient's wishes."
, Eliopoulos Chapter 9- Ethical Aspects
of Gerontological Nursing Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
D) "If that's what she wants, then ultimately we're obliged to
respect her wishes." -
correct answer ✅Ans: D
Feedback:
Answer D most clearly prioritizes the patient's individual freedom,
preference, and rights in this case, and these considerations would
override the family's or the care team's conflicting interests.
4. Nurse H is providing care in the hospital for a 71-year-old male
patient who is in the late stages of cancer and who has painful bone
metastases. The client is non-responsive but groans and grimaces
intermittently. Nurse H is drawing up a breakthrough dose of
morphine for the patient, but Nurse R cautions that, "sure, that will
address his pain, but it could depress his respiratory drive and
actually kill him at this stage." Which of the following ethical
principles is Nurse R prioritizing?
A) Nonmaleficence
B) Justice
C) Beneficence
D) Fidelity -
correct answer ✅Ans: A
of Gerontological Nursing Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
1. A nurse manager who provides leadership in a long-term care
facility prioritizes the need for residents to have current and
relevant immunizations, stating, "it's inconvenient and costly, but it
provides protection not only to the person getting the vaccine but
to all those that they're in contact with." Which of the following
ethical philosophies most likely underlies the nurse's statement?
A) Nonmaleficence
B) Absolutism
C) Utilitarianism
D) Relativism -
correct answer ✅Ans: C
Feedback:
The nurse's emphasis on providing a perceived good to a maximum
number of individuals is typical of a utilitarian outlook.
2. Due to a bed shortage in the area, the head nurse on a busy
geriatric medicine unit is under significant pressure to minimize
client lengths of stay and speed up discharge planning. An older
adult client who is convalescing after recent falls is adamant that he
is not ready for discharge, and tells the nurse, "It doesn't matter
who or how many people are waiting in the emergency department
for this bed; I'm simply not healthy enough to go home yet." Of
,Eliopoulos Chapter 9- Ethical Aspects
of Gerontological Nursing Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
which philosophy of ethics is the patient's statement most
indicative?
A) Absolutism
B) Relativism
C) Egoism
D) Beneficence -
correct answer ✅Ans: C
Feedback:
An emphasis on one's personal interests is characteristic of egoism.
3. Despite the wishes of her family and the recommendations of
the care team, a 70-year-old client with a diagnosis of congestive
heart failure, but who is otherwise healthy, wants to have a no-
code order in place. Which of the following statements by the care
team most clearly prioritizes the patient's autonomy?
A) "If this is what is best for everyone then we need to go ahead
with the order."
B) "Provided it can be demonstrated that she has a potentially poor
prognosis, we should certainly consider doing this."
C) "It's best that social work get involved at this point to reconcile
the family's and the patient's wishes."
, Eliopoulos Chapter 9- Ethical Aspects
of Gerontological Nursing Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
D) "If that's what she wants, then ultimately we're obliged to
respect her wishes." -
correct answer ✅Ans: D
Feedback:
Answer D most clearly prioritizes the patient's individual freedom,
preference, and rights in this case, and these considerations would
override the family's or the care team's conflicting interests.
4. Nurse H is providing care in the hospital for a 71-year-old male
patient who is in the late stages of cancer and who has painful bone
metastases. The client is non-responsive but groans and grimaces
intermittently. Nurse H is drawing up a breakthrough dose of
morphine for the patient, but Nurse R cautions that, "sure, that will
address his pain, but it could depress his respiratory drive and
actually kill him at this stage." Which of the following ethical
principles is Nurse R prioritizing?
A) Nonmaleficence
B) Justice
C) Beneficence
D) Fidelity -
correct answer ✅Ans: A
