NURS 110: Introduction to Professional Nursing - Week 6
Comprehensive Quiz (2026 Update) WCU
1. A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who wishes to refuse further
chemotherapy. The nurse supports the patient’s decision, even though the
family disagrees. Which ethical principle is the nurse primarily demonstrating?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of patients to make their own decisions about
their medical care. By supporting the patient’s choice to refuse treatment despite family
opposition, the nurse upholds this principle.
2. A nurse administers a large dose of pain medication to a patient as requested,
but the patient’s respiratory rate drops dangerously low. The nurse’s internal
struggle between providing pain relief and preventing harm represents a
conflict between which two principles?
A. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
B. Fidelity and Veracity
C. Justice and Autonomy
D. Accountability and Responsibility
Answer: A
Rationale: Beneficence involves doing good (pain relief), while nonmaleficence involves
avoiding harm (respiratory depression). The conflict arises from trying to balance these
two duties.
,3. Which action by the nurse best illustrates the ethical principle of Justice?
A. Keeping a promise to return to a patient’s room in 10 minutes.
B. Spending equal time with a demanding patient and a quiet patient based on their clinical needs.
C. Providing truthful information about a poor prognosis.
D. Allowing a patient to choose their own meal from the hospital menu.
Answer: B
Rationale: Justice refers to fairness and the equitable distribution of resources. Allocating
time and care based on need rather than patient personality or status reflects this
principle.
4. A nurse tells a patient that a procedure will not hurt, even though the nurse
knows it will be painful. Which ethical principle has the nurse violated?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Veracity
D. Confidentiality
Answer: C
Rationale: Veracity is the obligation to tell the truth. By being dishonest about the pain
associated with a procedure, the nurse violates this principle.
5. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses serves what
primary purpose?
A. To provide a legal framework for prosecuting malpractice.
B. To establish mandatory sentencing for ethical violations.
C. To provide a non-negotiable ethical standard for the profession.
D. To replace the Nurse Practice Act in clinical decision-making.
Answer: C
, Rationale: The ANA Code of Ethics provides a guide for carrying out nursing
responsibilities in a manner consistent with quality in nursing care and the ethical
obligations of the profession.
6. Which of the following is an example of an unintentional tort?
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. False Imprisonment
D. Negligence
Answer: D
Rationale: Negligence and malpractice are unintentional torts, meaning they occur when a
nurse fails to act as a reasonably prudent person would, without the specific intent to cause
harm.
7. To win a medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff must prove four elements.
Which of the following is NOT one of those elements?
A. Duty to the patient
B. Intent to cause harm
C. Breach of duty
D. Causation of injury
Answer: B
Rationale: Malpractice is an unintentional tort; therefore, the plaintiff does not need to
prove that the nurse intended to cause harm, only that the nurse’s failure to meet the
standard of care caused the injury.
Comprehensive Quiz (2026 Update) WCU
1. A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who wishes to refuse further
chemotherapy. The nurse supports the patient’s decision, even though the
family disagrees. Which ethical principle is the nurse primarily demonstrating?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of patients to make their own decisions about
their medical care. By supporting the patient’s choice to refuse treatment despite family
opposition, the nurse upholds this principle.
2. A nurse administers a large dose of pain medication to a patient as requested,
but the patient’s respiratory rate drops dangerously low. The nurse’s internal
struggle between providing pain relief and preventing harm represents a
conflict between which two principles?
A. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
B. Fidelity and Veracity
C. Justice and Autonomy
D. Accountability and Responsibility
Answer: A
Rationale: Beneficence involves doing good (pain relief), while nonmaleficence involves
avoiding harm (respiratory depression). The conflict arises from trying to balance these
two duties.
,3. Which action by the nurse best illustrates the ethical principle of Justice?
A. Keeping a promise to return to a patient’s room in 10 minutes.
B. Spending equal time with a demanding patient and a quiet patient based on their clinical needs.
C. Providing truthful information about a poor prognosis.
D. Allowing a patient to choose their own meal from the hospital menu.
Answer: B
Rationale: Justice refers to fairness and the equitable distribution of resources. Allocating
time and care based on need rather than patient personality or status reflects this
principle.
4. A nurse tells a patient that a procedure will not hurt, even though the nurse
knows it will be painful. Which ethical principle has the nurse violated?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Veracity
D. Confidentiality
Answer: C
Rationale: Veracity is the obligation to tell the truth. By being dishonest about the pain
associated with a procedure, the nurse violates this principle.
5. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses serves what
primary purpose?
A. To provide a legal framework for prosecuting malpractice.
B. To establish mandatory sentencing for ethical violations.
C. To provide a non-negotiable ethical standard for the profession.
D. To replace the Nurse Practice Act in clinical decision-making.
Answer: C
, Rationale: The ANA Code of Ethics provides a guide for carrying out nursing
responsibilities in a manner consistent with quality in nursing care and the ethical
obligations of the profession.
6. Which of the following is an example of an unintentional tort?
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. False Imprisonment
D. Negligence
Answer: D
Rationale: Negligence and malpractice are unintentional torts, meaning they occur when a
nurse fails to act as a reasonably prudent person would, without the specific intent to cause
harm.
7. To win a medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff must prove four elements.
Which of the following is NOT one of those elements?
A. Duty to the patient
B. Intent to cause harm
C. Breach of duty
D. Causation of injury
Answer: B
Rationale: Malpractice is an unintentional tort; therefore, the plaintiff does not need to
prove that the nurse intended to cause harm, only that the nurse’s failure to meet the
standard of care caused the injury.
