BSN3A Nursing Ethics and Legal Issues
Exam Practice Questions & [Verified
Answers], Plus Explained Rationales|2026
Latest Update| Instant Download PDF
1. Which ethical principle requires nurses to respect a patient's right
to make independent healthcare decisions?
A. Beneficence
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognizes a
competent patient's right to make informed decisions about their own
healthcare, including accepting or refusing treatment.
2. A nurse administers medication after verifying the patient's
identity, medication, dose, route, and time. Which principle is
primarily demonstrated by taking these precautions?
A. Fidelity
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Veracity
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means avoiding harm. Following
medication-safety procedures reduces the risk of preventable patient
injury.
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,3. Which action best demonstrates the ethical principle of
beneficence?
A. Allowing a patient to refuse treatment
B. Maintaining patient confidentiality
C. Providing appropriate interventions to promote the patient's well-
being
D. Treating all patients identically regardless of need
Rationale: Beneficence means acting for the patient's benefit and
taking appropriate actions to promote health, prevent harm, and
improve well-being.
4. A nurse provides the same quality of care to patients regardless of
socioeconomic status. Which ethical principle is demonstrated?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Veracity
Rationale: Justice involves fairness and equitable treatment, including
fair distribution of healthcare resources and services.
5. A patient asks the nurse, "Will this procedure hurt?" The nurse
provides accurate information about expected discomfort. Which
ethical principle is demonstrated?
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
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,C. Fidelity
D. Veracity
Rationale: Veracity means truthfulness. Nurses should provide
accurate, understandable information rather than intentionally
misleading patients.
6. Which statement best describes informed consent?
A. The nurse decides whether treatment is appropriate.
B. The physician signs the consent form for the patient.
C. A competent patient voluntarily agrees to treatment after receiving
adequate information.
D. Consent is unnecessary for invasive procedures when the patient is
hospitalized.
Rationale: Informed consent requires adequate information about the
proposed intervention, risks, benefits, alternatives, and the voluntary
agreement of a competent patient.
7. What is the nurse's primary responsibility regarding informed
consent for a procedure?
A. Explaining every technical detail of the procedure
B. Verifying that the appropriate consent process has occurred and
notifying the provider if the patient has questions or concerns
C. Obtaining consent whenever the provider is unavailable
D. Persuading the patient to accept the treatment
Rationale: The provider performing the procedure generally explains
the procedure and obtains informed consent. The nurse helps verify
that the process is complete, witnesses the signature when
3|Page
, appropriate, and advocates when the patient appears confused or has
unanswered questions.
8. A competent adult refuses a recommended blood transfusion for
personal reasons. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the transfusion because it is medically indicated.
B. Ask the patient's family to authorize the transfusion.
C. Respect the patient's informed refusal and notify the healthcare
provider.
D. Obtain a court order immediately.
Rationale: A competent adult has the right to refuse treatment. The
nurse should respect the decision, ensure the refusal is informed,
document appropriately, and communicate with the healthcare team.
9. Which situation is an example of negligence?
A. A nurse refuses to falsify documentation.
B. A patient refuses medication after receiving appropriate education.
C. A nurse fails to implement a required fall precaution for a high-risk
patient who subsequently falls.
D. A nurse reports a medication error according to policy.
Rationale: Negligence involves failing to provide the level of care that
a reasonably prudent nurse would provide under similar
circumstances, potentially resulting in harm.
10. Which elements generally must be established to prove
professional negligence?
4|Page
Exam Practice Questions & [Verified
Answers], Plus Explained Rationales|2026
Latest Update| Instant Download PDF
1. Which ethical principle requires nurses to respect a patient's right
to make independent healthcare decisions?
A. Beneficence
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognizes a
competent patient's right to make informed decisions about their own
healthcare, including accepting or refusing treatment.
2. A nurse administers medication after verifying the patient's
identity, medication, dose, route, and time. Which principle is
primarily demonstrated by taking these precautions?
A. Fidelity
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Veracity
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means avoiding harm. Following
medication-safety procedures reduces the risk of preventable patient
injury.
1|Page
,3. Which action best demonstrates the ethical principle of
beneficence?
A. Allowing a patient to refuse treatment
B. Maintaining patient confidentiality
C. Providing appropriate interventions to promote the patient's well-
being
D. Treating all patients identically regardless of need
Rationale: Beneficence means acting for the patient's benefit and
taking appropriate actions to promote health, prevent harm, and
improve well-being.
4. A nurse provides the same quality of care to patients regardless of
socioeconomic status. Which ethical principle is demonstrated?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Veracity
Rationale: Justice involves fairness and equitable treatment, including
fair distribution of healthcare resources and services.
5. A patient asks the nurse, "Will this procedure hurt?" The nurse
provides accurate information about expected discomfort. Which
ethical principle is demonstrated?
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
2|Page
,C. Fidelity
D. Veracity
Rationale: Veracity means truthfulness. Nurses should provide
accurate, understandable information rather than intentionally
misleading patients.
6. Which statement best describes informed consent?
A. The nurse decides whether treatment is appropriate.
B. The physician signs the consent form for the patient.
C. A competent patient voluntarily agrees to treatment after receiving
adequate information.
D. Consent is unnecessary for invasive procedures when the patient is
hospitalized.
Rationale: Informed consent requires adequate information about the
proposed intervention, risks, benefits, alternatives, and the voluntary
agreement of a competent patient.
7. What is the nurse's primary responsibility regarding informed
consent for a procedure?
A. Explaining every technical detail of the procedure
B. Verifying that the appropriate consent process has occurred and
notifying the provider if the patient has questions or concerns
C. Obtaining consent whenever the provider is unavailable
D. Persuading the patient to accept the treatment
Rationale: The provider performing the procedure generally explains
the procedure and obtains informed consent. The nurse helps verify
that the process is complete, witnesses the signature when
3|Page
, appropriate, and advocates when the patient appears confused or has
unanswered questions.
8. A competent adult refuses a recommended blood transfusion for
personal reasons. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the transfusion because it is medically indicated.
B. Ask the patient's family to authorize the transfusion.
C. Respect the patient's informed refusal and notify the healthcare
provider.
D. Obtain a court order immediately.
Rationale: A competent adult has the right to refuse treatment. The
nurse should respect the decision, ensure the refusal is informed,
document appropriately, and communicate with the healthcare team.
9. Which situation is an example of negligence?
A. A nurse refuses to falsify documentation.
B. A patient refuses medication after receiving appropriate education.
C. A nurse fails to implement a required fall precaution for a high-risk
patient who subsequently falls.
D. A nurse reports a medication error according to policy.
Rationale: Negligence involves failing to provide the level of care that
a reasonably prudent nurse would provide under similar
circumstances, potentially resulting in harm.
10. Which elements generally must be established to prove
professional negligence?
4|Page
