NCLEX-Style Review
Questions for Nursing
Process, Legal,
Professionalism & Ethics
2026 | Q&A & Rationales
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Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,A nurse is providing patient teaching for a patient Nonmaleficence
undergoing chemotherapy. The nurse is explaining that
the chemotherapy will cause some unpleasant side Nonmaleficence involves the duty to do no harm. Although the patient will
effects, such as nausea and hair loss. In this situation, the experience nausea and hair loss (harm), the treatment will eventually produce
nurse is using which ethical principle? good for the patient. Beneficence is frequently defined as the "doing of good."
Beneficence Autonomy means that individuals have the right to determine their own actions
Nonmaleficence and the freedom to make their own decisions. Justice means that the same care is
Autonomy provided to patients with similar diseases and health care needs.
Justice
A nurse is on duty in the emergency room when the nurse Utilitarianism
is notified that a school bus has been struck by a train.
Immediately the nurse reports to the triage area and Utilitarian ethics states that "what makes an action right or wrong is its utility, with
begins the task of determining the severity of injuries, so useful actions bringing about the greatest good for the greatest number of
that the most critical patients receive care first. Which people." By triaging the patients according to the severity of the injury, the nurse
ethical theory is the nurse putting into action? will be able to save the lives of more patients, thus doing the greatest good for
Utilitarianism the greatest number of people. Act deontologists determine the right thing to do
Act deontology by gathering all the facts and then making a decision. Rule deontologists
Rule deontology emphasize that principles guide our actions. Virtue ethics are tendencies to act,
Virtue ethics feel, and judge that develop through appropriate training but come from natural
tendencies.
A nurse is working in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Gather as much information as possible about the situation
where a premature baby (26 weeks gestation) is facing
respiratory disorders, numerous infections, and a brain The nurse should clarify the ethical dilemma by gathering as much information as
hemorrhage. The parents want every measure to be taken possible about the situation. This compares with the assessment phase of the
to keep their baby alive, but several members of the nursing process and is the first step in the ethical decision making model. Most
health care team are advocating removal of life support. ethical dilemmas have multiple options, which should all be considered, but
The nurse believes there are several ethical issues gathering additional data must be the first step. Making a decision and acting in a
involved in this case. What step should the nurse take first fair and equitable manner must take place, but gathering additional data is the
when facing an ethical dilemma? first step. Evaluating the actions taken is the last step of the ethical decision
making model.
Gather as much information as possible about the
situation
Identify the options available in this situation
Act in a fair and equitable manner for all involved
Evaluate the actions taken using ethical principles
A nurse reports a medication error and monitors the Injury
patient, who suffers no ill effects. Which element is
lacking to prove nursing malpractice? Since there is no injury, then malpractice cannot be proven. Breach of duty, duty
Duty of care of care, and standard of care are not relevant elements in this case.
Breach of duty
Injury
Standard of care
, The patient has a central venous line. The registered The nurse is responsible for the acts delegated.
nurse (RN) delegates changing the sterile dressing over
the line to a nursing assistant. The nursing assistant does The registered nurse is responsible for delegating appropriately. It is not
not understand sterile technique and contaminates the appropriate to delegate a skill requiring sterile technique and assessment of a
dressing. An infection develops in the patient. The nurse central line site to a nursing assistant. It is not within the nursing assistant's scope
manager discusses the action of the RN. Which statement of practice to perform central line dressing changes. The hospital is responsible
is correct regarding the nurse's action? for the acts of its employees under the concept of respondeat superior. Harm was
The nursing assistant is guilty of malpractice. caused by this act, since the patient did develop an infection, so a malpractice suit
The nurse is responsible for the acts delegated. can be claimed.
The hospital cannot be held responsible for the act of its
employees.
No harm came to the patient, so a malpractice suit
cannot be claimed.
The registered nurse, employed by the risk management The nurse should not refer to a patient, even by nickname or room number.
department of a hospital is giving an inservice class on
social media to nursing employees. Which one of these The nurse should never refer to a patient on social media, even by nickname or
statements should be included in this class? room number. Social media posts are not considered private and are not always
accessible only to the intended recipient. Even deleted content is accessible at
Posts are private and accessible only to the intended times on social media. Disclosing any patient information is a harmful act, even if it
recipient. is disclosed only to the intended recipient.
Once content has been deleted, it is no longer
accessible.
No harm is done if patient information is disclosed only
to the intended recipient.
The nurse should not refer to a patient, even by nickname
or room number.
The registered nurse (RN), who is supervising a group of Assault
nurses at a health clinic, overhears a nurse telling a Assault is a threat or an attempt to make bodily contact with another person
patient, "If you do not stop shouting, I am going to give without that person's consent. Breach of confidentiality is revealing health care
you an injection." The RN immediately intervenes and tells information to those not involved with the care of the patient. Delegation involves
the nurse this action can lead to which accusation? giving someone else authority to act for another. Respondeat superior attributes
Delegation the acts of the employees to their employer.
Breach of confidentiality
Assault
Respondeat superior
A recent graduate of a nursing program has accepted a Maintain good relationships with patients and families
position in a long term care unit. The nurse can use which
strategy to reduce the risk of malpractice suits? Maintaining good relationships with patients and families does reduce the risk of
Carry malpractice insurance malpractice suits. Carrying malpractice insurance does not reduce the risk of a
Request supervision for all care malpractice suit. Requesting supervision for all care provided is not feasible in
Not sign his or her name in patient records many situations and does not reduce the risk of malpractice suits. Not signing
Maintain good relationships with patients and families patient records can actually increase the risk of lawsuits, as failure to document is
considered a category of negligence that results in malpractice lawsuits.
Questions for Nursing
Process, Legal,
Professionalism & Ethics
2026 | Q&A & Rationales
|Graded A+ | Guaranteed
success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,A nurse is providing patient teaching for a patient Nonmaleficence
undergoing chemotherapy. The nurse is explaining that
the chemotherapy will cause some unpleasant side Nonmaleficence involves the duty to do no harm. Although the patient will
effects, such as nausea and hair loss. In this situation, the experience nausea and hair loss (harm), the treatment will eventually produce
nurse is using which ethical principle? good for the patient. Beneficence is frequently defined as the "doing of good."
Beneficence Autonomy means that individuals have the right to determine their own actions
Nonmaleficence and the freedom to make their own decisions. Justice means that the same care is
Autonomy provided to patients with similar diseases and health care needs.
Justice
A nurse is on duty in the emergency room when the nurse Utilitarianism
is notified that a school bus has been struck by a train.
Immediately the nurse reports to the triage area and Utilitarian ethics states that "what makes an action right or wrong is its utility, with
begins the task of determining the severity of injuries, so useful actions bringing about the greatest good for the greatest number of
that the most critical patients receive care first. Which people." By triaging the patients according to the severity of the injury, the nurse
ethical theory is the nurse putting into action? will be able to save the lives of more patients, thus doing the greatest good for
Utilitarianism the greatest number of people. Act deontologists determine the right thing to do
Act deontology by gathering all the facts and then making a decision. Rule deontologists
Rule deontology emphasize that principles guide our actions. Virtue ethics are tendencies to act,
Virtue ethics feel, and judge that develop through appropriate training but come from natural
tendencies.
A nurse is working in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Gather as much information as possible about the situation
where a premature baby (26 weeks gestation) is facing
respiratory disorders, numerous infections, and a brain The nurse should clarify the ethical dilemma by gathering as much information as
hemorrhage. The parents want every measure to be taken possible about the situation. This compares with the assessment phase of the
to keep their baby alive, but several members of the nursing process and is the first step in the ethical decision making model. Most
health care team are advocating removal of life support. ethical dilemmas have multiple options, which should all be considered, but
The nurse believes there are several ethical issues gathering additional data must be the first step. Making a decision and acting in a
involved in this case. What step should the nurse take first fair and equitable manner must take place, but gathering additional data is the
when facing an ethical dilemma? first step. Evaluating the actions taken is the last step of the ethical decision
making model.
Gather as much information as possible about the
situation
Identify the options available in this situation
Act in a fair and equitable manner for all involved
Evaluate the actions taken using ethical principles
A nurse reports a medication error and monitors the Injury
patient, who suffers no ill effects. Which element is
lacking to prove nursing malpractice? Since there is no injury, then malpractice cannot be proven. Breach of duty, duty
Duty of care of care, and standard of care are not relevant elements in this case.
Breach of duty
Injury
Standard of care
, The patient has a central venous line. The registered The nurse is responsible for the acts delegated.
nurse (RN) delegates changing the sterile dressing over
the line to a nursing assistant. The nursing assistant does The registered nurse is responsible for delegating appropriately. It is not
not understand sterile technique and contaminates the appropriate to delegate a skill requiring sterile technique and assessment of a
dressing. An infection develops in the patient. The nurse central line site to a nursing assistant. It is not within the nursing assistant's scope
manager discusses the action of the RN. Which statement of practice to perform central line dressing changes. The hospital is responsible
is correct regarding the nurse's action? for the acts of its employees under the concept of respondeat superior. Harm was
The nursing assistant is guilty of malpractice. caused by this act, since the patient did develop an infection, so a malpractice suit
The nurse is responsible for the acts delegated. can be claimed.
The hospital cannot be held responsible for the act of its
employees.
No harm came to the patient, so a malpractice suit
cannot be claimed.
The registered nurse, employed by the risk management The nurse should not refer to a patient, even by nickname or room number.
department of a hospital is giving an inservice class on
social media to nursing employees. Which one of these The nurse should never refer to a patient on social media, even by nickname or
statements should be included in this class? room number. Social media posts are not considered private and are not always
accessible only to the intended recipient. Even deleted content is accessible at
Posts are private and accessible only to the intended times on social media. Disclosing any patient information is a harmful act, even if it
recipient. is disclosed only to the intended recipient.
Once content has been deleted, it is no longer
accessible.
No harm is done if patient information is disclosed only
to the intended recipient.
The nurse should not refer to a patient, even by nickname
or room number.
The registered nurse (RN), who is supervising a group of Assault
nurses at a health clinic, overhears a nurse telling a Assault is a threat or an attempt to make bodily contact with another person
patient, "If you do not stop shouting, I am going to give without that person's consent. Breach of confidentiality is revealing health care
you an injection." The RN immediately intervenes and tells information to those not involved with the care of the patient. Delegation involves
the nurse this action can lead to which accusation? giving someone else authority to act for another. Respondeat superior attributes
Delegation the acts of the employees to their employer.
Breach of confidentiality
Assault
Respondeat superior
A recent graduate of a nursing program has accepted a Maintain good relationships with patients and families
position in a long term care unit. The nurse can use which
strategy to reduce the risk of malpractice suits? Maintaining good relationships with patients and families does reduce the risk of
Carry malpractice insurance malpractice suits. Carrying malpractice insurance does not reduce the risk of a
Request supervision for all care malpractice suit. Requesting supervision for all care provided is not feasible in
Not sign his or her name in patient records many situations and does not reduce the risk of malpractice suits. Not signing
Maintain good relationships with patients and families patient records can actually increase the risk of lawsuits, as failure to document is
considered a category of negligence that results in malpractice lawsuits.
