2026/2027 Professional Nursing Practice
Exam: Ethics, Licensure, NCLEX, & Scope
of Practice — 120 Questions with Answers &
Explanations
Description:
Master your 2026/2027 nursing exams with 120 professionally written questions on ethics,
accountability, Nurse Practice Acts, NCLEX readiness, and professional standards. Each
answer includes a clear explanation.
Download the complete study guide trusted by nursing students today.
, 2026/2027 Nursing Professionalism Exam Q&A
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Subject: Professional Nursing Concepts, Ethics, and Legal Responsibilities
Instructions: Select the best answer for each multiple-choice question. Each question is
designed to assess knowledge of professional nursing standards, ethical principles, legal
responsibilities, and core competencies.
Section 1: Foundations of Professional Nursing
1. Both nurses are discussing nursing school programs. Which of the following is a characteristic
of a profession that is accomplished by schools of nursing?
A. Enforcing legal practice standards
B. Providing standardized content
C. Managing hospital administration
D. Determining salary scales
Answer: B
Explanation: Schools of nursing are responsible for providing a standardized, evidence-based
curriculum that ensures graduates meet the entry-level competencies of the profession. This
standardization is a key characteristic of a profession, differentiating it from mere technical
training. Legal enforcement (A) is a Board of Nursing function, while administration (C) and
salary scales (D) are employer responsibilities.
2. Both nurses are discussing nursing as a profession. Which of the following is an appropriate
statement for a nurse to make?
A. Nursing’s primary focus is on physician-directed tasks.
B. Nursing as a profession has a social contract between nursing and society.
C. Professional nursing does not require a code of ethics.
D. The main goal of nursing is to reduce healthcare costs.
Answer: B
Explanation: The social contract is a foundational element of any profession, including nursing.
,It represents the trust and expectation society places in nurses to provide competent, ethical, and
compassionate care in exchange for professional autonomy and self-regulation. Options A, C,
and D are incorrect and do not reflect the professional status of nursing.
3. Which of the following attitudes in the scenario displays a characteristic of professional career
advancement?
A. Mandy’s reluctance to take on extra tasks
B. Mandy’s focus on completing only assigned duties
C. Mandy’s positive attitude about extra responsibilities assigned by the charge nurse
D. Mandy’s criticism of the charge nurse’s leadership
Answer: C
Explanation: Professional career advancement is characterized by a willingness to take on
additional responsibilities, demonstrate leadership, and contribute beyond the minimum
requirements. A positive attitude toward extra duties reflects commitment to the team and the
profession, which are key behaviors for career growth.
Section 2: Accountability, Autonomy, and Ethical Practice
4. Which of the following actions in the scenario displays professional autonomy?
A. Delegating all vital sign assessments to assistive personnel
B. Rechecking the vital signs taken by the assistive personnel
C. Ignoring a discrepancy in vital signs
D. Documenting vital signs without verification
Answer: B
Explanation: Professional autonomy involves independent clinical judgment and taking
responsibility for the quality of care. Rechecking vital signs demonstrates the nurse’s
independent decision to verify data, ensuring accuracy and safety, which is a hallmark of
autonomous practice.
5. Which of the following actions in the scenario displays professional accountability?
A. Leaving work immediately at shift change
, B. Staying for the in-service after work
C. Avoiding difficult client assignments
D. Blaming assistive personnel for a missed task
Answer: B
Explanation: Professional accountability means being answerable for one’s own actions and
professional growth. Staying for an in-service education session demonstrates a commitment to
lifelong learning and responsibility for maintaining competence, which are core elements of
accountability.
6. Which of the following resources provides guidance on the legal responsibilities of nurses to
clients and society?
A. Hospital policy manual
B. The Code of Ethics
C. Shift schedule
D. Employee handbook
Answer: B
Explanation: The Code of Ethics (e.g., from the ANA) provides formal guidance on the ethical
and legal responsibilities nurses have to patients, colleagues, and society. It outlines duties such
as advocacy, confidentiality, and maintaining professional boundaries, which have legal
implications in practice.
7. A nurse who is displaying a selfless concern for others is exhibiting what?
A. Justice
B. Altruism
C. Fidelity
D. Veracity
Answer: B
Explanation: Altruism is a professional value defined as a selfless concern for the welfare of
others. It is demonstrated through advocacy, putting patients’ needs first, and making personal
Exam: Ethics, Licensure, NCLEX, & Scope
of Practice — 120 Questions with Answers &
Explanations
Description:
Master your 2026/2027 nursing exams with 120 professionally written questions on ethics,
accountability, Nurse Practice Acts, NCLEX readiness, and professional standards. Each
answer includes a clear explanation.
Download the complete study guide trusted by nursing students today.
, 2026/2027 Nursing Professionalism Exam Q&A
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Subject: Professional Nursing Concepts, Ethics, and Legal Responsibilities
Instructions: Select the best answer for each multiple-choice question. Each question is
designed to assess knowledge of professional nursing standards, ethical principles, legal
responsibilities, and core competencies.
Section 1: Foundations of Professional Nursing
1. Both nurses are discussing nursing school programs. Which of the following is a characteristic
of a profession that is accomplished by schools of nursing?
A. Enforcing legal practice standards
B. Providing standardized content
C. Managing hospital administration
D. Determining salary scales
Answer: B
Explanation: Schools of nursing are responsible for providing a standardized, evidence-based
curriculum that ensures graduates meet the entry-level competencies of the profession. This
standardization is a key characteristic of a profession, differentiating it from mere technical
training. Legal enforcement (A) is a Board of Nursing function, while administration (C) and
salary scales (D) are employer responsibilities.
2. Both nurses are discussing nursing as a profession. Which of the following is an appropriate
statement for a nurse to make?
A. Nursing’s primary focus is on physician-directed tasks.
B. Nursing as a profession has a social contract between nursing and society.
C. Professional nursing does not require a code of ethics.
D. The main goal of nursing is to reduce healthcare costs.
Answer: B
Explanation: The social contract is a foundational element of any profession, including nursing.
,It represents the trust and expectation society places in nurses to provide competent, ethical, and
compassionate care in exchange for professional autonomy and self-regulation. Options A, C,
and D are incorrect and do not reflect the professional status of nursing.
3. Which of the following attitudes in the scenario displays a characteristic of professional career
advancement?
A. Mandy’s reluctance to take on extra tasks
B. Mandy’s focus on completing only assigned duties
C. Mandy’s positive attitude about extra responsibilities assigned by the charge nurse
D. Mandy’s criticism of the charge nurse’s leadership
Answer: C
Explanation: Professional career advancement is characterized by a willingness to take on
additional responsibilities, demonstrate leadership, and contribute beyond the minimum
requirements. A positive attitude toward extra duties reflects commitment to the team and the
profession, which are key behaviors for career growth.
Section 2: Accountability, Autonomy, and Ethical Practice
4. Which of the following actions in the scenario displays professional autonomy?
A. Delegating all vital sign assessments to assistive personnel
B. Rechecking the vital signs taken by the assistive personnel
C. Ignoring a discrepancy in vital signs
D. Documenting vital signs without verification
Answer: B
Explanation: Professional autonomy involves independent clinical judgment and taking
responsibility for the quality of care. Rechecking vital signs demonstrates the nurse’s
independent decision to verify data, ensuring accuracy and safety, which is a hallmark of
autonomous practice.
5. Which of the following actions in the scenario displays professional accountability?
A. Leaving work immediately at shift change
, B. Staying for the in-service after work
C. Avoiding difficult client assignments
D. Blaming assistive personnel for a missed task
Answer: B
Explanation: Professional accountability means being answerable for one’s own actions and
professional growth. Staying for an in-service education session demonstrates a commitment to
lifelong learning and responsibility for maintaining competence, which are core elements of
accountability.
6. Which of the following resources provides guidance on the legal responsibilities of nurses to
clients and society?
A. Hospital policy manual
B. The Code of Ethics
C. Shift schedule
D. Employee handbook
Answer: B
Explanation: The Code of Ethics (e.g., from the ANA) provides formal guidance on the ethical
and legal responsibilities nurses have to patients, colleagues, and society. It outlines duties such
as advocacy, confidentiality, and maintaining professional boundaries, which have legal
implications in practice.
7. A nurse who is displaying a selfless concern for others is exhibiting what?
A. Justice
B. Altruism
C. Fidelity
D. Veracity
Answer: B
Explanation: Altruism is a professional value defined as a selfless concern for the welfare of
others. It is demonstrated through advocacy, putting patients’ needs first, and making personal
