NURSING ETHICS MIDTERM EXAM PREP
STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
●● Character Ethics.
Answer: Theories of ethics, sometimes called virtue ethics, that are
related to the concept of innate moral virtue
●● Focal Virtues (I don't think I need this in here).
Answer: This is the big, green header, which is right after Virtue Ethics
and Character Ethics, on Pg. 49 and it contains the next 4 words being
Compassion, Discernment, Trustworthiness, and Integrity
●● Compassion.
Answer: A focal virtue combining an attitude of active regard for
another's welfare with an imaginative awareness and emotional response
of deep sympathy, tenderness, and discomfort at the other person's
misfortune or suffering
●● Discernment.
Answer: A focal virtue of sensitive insight, acute judgment and
understanding that results in decisive action
,●● Trustworthiness.
Answer: A focal virtue that results in recognition by others of one's
consistency and predictability in following moral norms
●● Integrity.
Answer: Refers to adherence to moral norms that is sustained over time.
Implicit in this is trustworthiness and a consistency of convictions,
actions, and emotions
●● Privacy (I don't think I need this in here).
Answer: (This is right before Confidentiality, but I am not sure if it is
necessary for it to be in there, yet it goes right along with what
Confidentiality truly is)
- Refers to the right of an individual to control the personal information
or secrets that are disclosed to others
●● Confidentiality.
Answer: The ethical principle that requires nondisclosure of private or
secret information with which one is entrusted. In research, it refers to
the researcher's assurance to participants that information provided will
not be made public or available to anyone other than those involved in
the research process without the participant's consent
●● Limits of Confidentiality.
,Answer: - There are arguments that favor questioning the absolute
obligation of confidentiality in certain situations
--> these arguments include theories related to the principles of harm
and vulnerability
~~> The harm principle can be applied when the nurse or other
professional recognizes that maintaining confidentiality will result in
preventable wrongful hard to innocent others
==> Ex: Mandatory premarital testing for syphilis, for example, is
intended to prevent the spread of a serious communicable disease to
innocent babies and spouses
++> In this instance, society chooses to override the privacy of the
individual to protect the health of the innocent
~~> The harm principle is strengthened when one considers the
vulnerability of the innocent. The duty to protect others from harm is
stronger t=when the third party is dependent on others or is in some way
especially vulnerable. This duty is called the Vulnerability Principle
Vulnerability implies risk or susceptibility to harm when vulnerable
individuals have a relative inability to protect themselves
--> Ex: For example, nurses have an absolute duty to report child abuse.
Because children are dependent and vulnerable, they are at greater risk
of harm.
- Coupling of the harm principle with the Vulnerability Principle
produces a rather strong argument for abandoning the principle of
Confidentiality in certain instances
- Actions that are considered ethical are not always found to be legal.
Though there is an ethical basis for subsuming the principle of
Confidentiality in special circumstances, and there is some legal
, precedent for doing so, there is legal risk to disclosing sensitive
information. There is dynamic tension between the patient's right to
Confidentiality and the duty to warn innocent others. Nurses need to
recognize that careful consideration of the eth
●● Justice (Medical Justice).
Answer: An ethical principle that relates to fair, equitable, and
appropriate treatment in light of what is due or owed to persons,
recognizing that giving to some will deny receipt to others who might
otherwise have received these things. In research, it implies the rights of
fair treatment and privacy, including anonymity and confidentiality
●● Distributive Justice.
Answer: - Application of an ethical principle that relates to fair,
equitable, and appropriate distribution in society, determined by justified
norms that structure the terms of social cooperation. Its scope includes
policies that allot diverse benefits and burdens such as property,
resources, taxation, privileges, and opportunities
- Unfortunately, there is a finite supply of goods and services, and it is
impossible for all people to have everything they might want or need
--> One of the primary purposes of governing systems is to formulate
and enforce policies that deal with fair and equitable distribution of
scarce resources
--> Decisions about this are made on a variety of levels.
STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
●● Character Ethics.
Answer: Theories of ethics, sometimes called virtue ethics, that are
related to the concept of innate moral virtue
●● Focal Virtues (I don't think I need this in here).
Answer: This is the big, green header, which is right after Virtue Ethics
and Character Ethics, on Pg. 49 and it contains the next 4 words being
Compassion, Discernment, Trustworthiness, and Integrity
●● Compassion.
Answer: A focal virtue combining an attitude of active regard for
another's welfare with an imaginative awareness and emotional response
of deep sympathy, tenderness, and discomfort at the other person's
misfortune or suffering
●● Discernment.
Answer: A focal virtue of sensitive insight, acute judgment and
understanding that results in decisive action
,●● Trustworthiness.
Answer: A focal virtue that results in recognition by others of one's
consistency and predictability in following moral norms
●● Integrity.
Answer: Refers to adherence to moral norms that is sustained over time.
Implicit in this is trustworthiness and a consistency of convictions,
actions, and emotions
●● Privacy (I don't think I need this in here).
Answer: (This is right before Confidentiality, but I am not sure if it is
necessary for it to be in there, yet it goes right along with what
Confidentiality truly is)
- Refers to the right of an individual to control the personal information
or secrets that are disclosed to others
●● Confidentiality.
Answer: The ethical principle that requires nondisclosure of private or
secret information with which one is entrusted. In research, it refers to
the researcher's assurance to participants that information provided will
not be made public or available to anyone other than those involved in
the research process without the participant's consent
●● Limits of Confidentiality.
,Answer: - There are arguments that favor questioning the absolute
obligation of confidentiality in certain situations
--> these arguments include theories related to the principles of harm
and vulnerability
~~> The harm principle can be applied when the nurse or other
professional recognizes that maintaining confidentiality will result in
preventable wrongful hard to innocent others
==> Ex: Mandatory premarital testing for syphilis, for example, is
intended to prevent the spread of a serious communicable disease to
innocent babies and spouses
++> In this instance, society chooses to override the privacy of the
individual to protect the health of the innocent
~~> The harm principle is strengthened when one considers the
vulnerability of the innocent. The duty to protect others from harm is
stronger t=when the third party is dependent on others or is in some way
especially vulnerable. This duty is called the Vulnerability Principle
Vulnerability implies risk or susceptibility to harm when vulnerable
individuals have a relative inability to protect themselves
--> Ex: For example, nurses have an absolute duty to report child abuse.
Because children are dependent and vulnerable, they are at greater risk
of harm.
- Coupling of the harm principle with the Vulnerability Principle
produces a rather strong argument for abandoning the principle of
Confidentiality in certain instances
- Actions that are considered ethical are not always found to be legal.
Though there is an ethical basis for subsuming the principle of
Confidentiality in special circumstances, and there is some legal
, precedent for doing so, there is legal risk to disclosing sensitive
information. There is dynamic tension between the patient's right to
Confidentiality and the duty to warn innocent others. Nurses need to
recognize that careful consideration of the eth
●● Justice (Medical Justice).
Answer: An ethical principle that relates to fair, equitable, and
appropriate treatment in light of what is due or owed to persons,
recognizing that giving to some will deny receipt to others who might
otherwise have received these things. In research, it implies the rights of
fair treatment and privacy, including anonymity and confidentiality
●● Distributive Justice.
Answer: - Application of an ethical principle that relates to fair,
equitable, and appropriate distribution in society, determined by justified
norms that structure the terms of social cooperation. Its scope includes
policies that allot diverse benefits and burdens such as property,
resources, taxation, privileges, and opportunities
- Unfortunately, there is a finite supply of goods and services, and it is
impossible for all people to have everything they might want or need
--> One of the primary purposes of governing systems is to formulate
and enforce policies that deal with fair and equitable distribution of
scarce resources
--> Decisions about this are made on a variety of levels.
