NR 603 – CEA Health Ethics Practice
Examination Questions with Answers and
Rationales
SECTION I: FOUNDATIONAL ETHICAL PRINCIPLES (Questions 1–20)
1. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The
nurse respects this decision. Which ethical principle is primarily being
upheld?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own healthcare
decisions, even if those decisions conflict with medical advice.
2. A nurse administers a medication without checking the patient's ID, and
the patient has a severe allergic reaction. The nurse violated which principle?
A. Veracity
B. Fidelity
C. Beneficence
D. Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means "do no harm." The nurse's failure to verify the
patient's identity led to harm, violating this core ethical principle.
3. Which of the following medical terms refers to the concept of not
intentionally harming the patient while providing care?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Negligence
,C. Beneficence
D. Assault
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is defined as the obligation to do no harm
intentionally. Negligence refers to failing to act as a prudent nurse would, while
beneficence requires active action to benefit others.
4. A nurse spends extra time with a non-English-speaking patient to ensure
they understand discharge instructions. This demonstrates which ethical
principle?
A. Paternalism
B. Justice as fairness
C. Utilitarianism
D. Ethical relativism
Rationale: Justice requires equitable care regardless of language barriers or other
differences. Spending extra time to ensure understanding promotes fair and equal
access to care.
5. A nurse promises a patient to return in 30 minutes but gets delayed. The
nurse later apologizes. The initial promise relates to which ethical principle?
A. Beneficence
B. Veracity
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
Rationale: Fidelity is the ethical principle of keeping promises and being loyal to
commitments made to patients. It forms the foundation of trust in the nurse-patient
relationship.
6. A nurse tells a patient, "You will feel no pain during this procedure,"
though mild pain is possible. Which ethical issue arises?
A. Fraud
B. Lack of veracity
,C. Assault
D. Abandonment
Rationale: Veracity means truthfulness. Misleading a patient violates trust and
compromises the ethical obligation to provide honest information.
7. Which ethical principle is concerned with doing good and actively
benefiting the patient?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle that requires healthcare providers to
act in the best interest of the patient and to do good. It involves actions that
promote the well-being of others.
8. The four basic principles of ethics in nursing are:
A. Veracity, confidentiality, fidelity, and justice
B. Respect, honesty, compassion, and diligence
C. Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice
D. Paternalism, utilitarianism, deontology, and relativism
Rationale: The four core principles of nursing ethics are autonomy (respect for
patient decision-making), beneficence (doing good), nonmaleficence (avoiding
harm), and justice (fairness).
9. A nurse provides care to a terminally ill patient while respecting their
cultural preferences. This demonstrates:
A. Paternalism
B. Ethical relativism
C. Cultural competence and respect for autonomy
D. Utilitarianism
, Rationale: Respecting cultural preferences while providing care demonstrates
cultural competence and honors the patient's autonomy by acknowledging their
values and beliefs in the care plan.
10. Which ethical principle requires a nurse to avoid causing harm to
patients?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the principle of "do no harm." It requires healthcare
providers to avoid actions that could cause injury or harm to patients.
11. A patient has the right to self-determination, independence, and freedom
in making healthcare decisions. This describes which ethical principle?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of self-determination, independence, and
freedom. It respects the patient's capacity to make their own decisions about their
healthcare.
12. A nurse advocates for a patient to receive the same quality of care as other
patients regardless of their insurance status. This demonstrates:
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Examination Questions with Answers and
Rationales
SECTION I: FOUNDATIONAL ETHICAL PRINCIPLES (Questions 1–20)
1. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The
nurse respects this decision. Which ethical principle is primarily being
upheld?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own healthcare
decisions, even if those decisions conflict with medical advice.
2. A nurse administers a medication without checking the patient's ID, and
the patient has a severe allergic reaction. The nurse violated which principle?
A. Veracity
B. Fidelity
C. Beneficence
D. Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means "do no harm." The nurse's failure to verify the
patient's identity led to harm, violating this core ethical principle.
3. Which of the following medical terms refers to the concept of not
intentionally harming the patient while providing care?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Negligence
,C. Beneficence
D. Assault
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is defined as the obligation to do no harm
intentionally. Negligence refers to failing to act as a prudent nurse would, while
beneficence requires active action to benefit others.
4. A nurse spends extra time with a non-English-speaking patient to ensure
they understand discharge instructions. This demonstrates which ethical
principle?
A. Paternalism
B. Justice as fairness
C. Utilitarianism
D. Ethical relativism
Rationale: Justice requires equitable care regardless of language barriers or other
differences. Spending extra time to ensure understanding promotes fair and equal
access to care.
5. A nurse promises a patient to return in 30 minutes but gets delayed. The
nurse later apologizes. The initial promise relates to which ethical principle?
A. Beneficence
B. Veracity
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
Rationale: Fidelity is the ethical principle of keeping promises and being loyal to
commitments made to patients. It forms the foundation of trust in the nurse-patient
relationship.
6. A nurse tells a patient, "You will feel no pain during this procedure,"
though mild pain is possible. Which ethical issue arises?
A. Fraud
B. Lack of veracity
,C. Assault
D. Abandonment
Rationale: Veracity means truthfulness. Misleading a patient violates trust and
compromises the ethical obligation to provide honest information.
7. Which ethical principle is concerned with doing good and actively
benefiting the patient?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle that requires healthcare providers to
act in the best interest of the patient and to do good. It involves actions that
promote the well-being of others.
8. The four basic principles of ethics in nursing are:
A. Veracity, confidentiality, fidelity, and justice
B. Respect, honesty, compassion, and diligence
C. Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice
D. Paternalism, utilitarianism, deontology, and relativism
Rationale: The four core principles of nursing ethics are autonomy (respect for
patient decision-making), beneficence (doing good), nonmaleficence (avoiding
harm), and justice (fairness).
9. A nurse provides care to a terminally ill patient while respecting their
cultural preferences. This demonstrates:
A. Paternalism
B. Ethical relativism
C. Cultural competence and respect for autonomy
D. Utilitarianism
, Rationale: Respecting cultural preferences while providing care demonstrates
cultural competence and honors the patient's autonomy by acknowledging their
values and beliefs in the care plan.
10. Which ethical principle requires a nurse to avoid causing harm to
patients?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the principle of "do no harm." It requires healthcare
providers to avoid actions that could cause injury or harm to patients.
11. A patient has the right to self-determination, independence, and freedom
in making healthcare decisions. This describes which ethical principle?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of self-determination, independence, and
freedom. It respects the patient's capacity to make their own decisions about their
healthcare.
12. A nurse advocates for a patient to receive the same quality of care as other
patients regardless of their insurance status. This demonstrates:
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
