ATI Leadership: Legal and Ethical Scenarios Practice Pack (U.S. Nursing
2026/2027) Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who decides to stop chemotherapy despite the
provider’s recommendation. Which ethical principle is the nurse supporting by
respecting this decision?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the client’s right to make their own decisions about their
healthcare, even if those decisions do not align with the provider’s recommendations.
2. A nurse fails to provide a client with a prescribed medication, leading to the
client suffering a seizure. This is an example of which legal concept?
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. False Imprisonment
D. Negligence
Answer: D
Rationale: Negligence is the failure to provide the care that a reasonably prudent nurse
would provide in a similar situation, resulting in harm.
,3. Which ethical principle is demonstrated when a nurse ensures that all clients
on the unit receive the same level of care regardless of their socioeconomic
status?
A. Justice
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Veracity
D. Autonomy
Answer: A
Rationale: Justice relates to fairness and the equitable distribution of resources and care.
4. A nurse tells a client that if they do not stay in bed, the nurse will use
restraints to keep them there. This statement represents which intentional tort?
A. Invasion of privacy
B. Battery
C. Assault
D. Libel
Answer: C
Rationale: Assault is an action that makes a person fear that they will be touched in a
harmful or offensive manner without their consent.
5. A nurse is witnessing a client sign an informed consent form for surgery.
What is the nurse’s primary responsibility in this role?
A. To ensure the client is competent and signed the form voluntarily
B. To explain the risks and benefits of the procedure
C. To provide alternative treatment options
D. To guarantee the outcome of the surgery
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse’s role in witnessing consent is to verify that the signature is authentic
and that the client appears competent and gave consent voluntarily.
, 6. Which document allows a client to designate a specific person to make
medical decisions for them if they become incapacitated?
A. Living Will
B. Patient’s Bill of Rights
C. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
D. Incident Report
Answer: C
Rationale: A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (Health Care Proxy) designates a
surrogate to make decisions when the client is unable to do so.
7. A nurse discovers a medication error was made but the client was not
harmed. What is the nurse’s priority ethical action?
A. Hide the error since no harm occurred
B. Wait for the pharmacy to notice
C. Report the error according to facility policy (Veracity)
D. Only tell the client if they ask
Answer: C
Rationale: Veracity is the duty to tell the truth. Reporting errors promotes transparency
and client safety improvements.
8. Which situation constitutes ‘false imprisonment’?
A. Restraining a competent client who wants to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA)
B. Using side rails on a bed for a client who is sedated
C. Placing a client in a room with the door locked for safety because they are a danger to themselves
D. Admitting a client to a psychiatric unit under a legal involuntary hold
Answer: A
Rationale: Preventing a competent client from leaving the facility against their will
constitutes false imprisonment.
2026/2027) Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who decides to stop chemotherapy despite the
provider’s recommendation. Which ethical principle is the nurse supporting by
respecting this decision?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the client’s right to make their own decisions about their
healthcare, even if those decisions do not align with the provider’s recommendations.
2. A nurse fails to provide a client with a prescribed medication, leading to the
client suffering a seizure. This is an example of which legal concept?
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. False Imprisonment
D. Negligence
Answer: D
Rationale: Negligence is the failure to provide the care that a reasonably prudent nurse
would provide in a similar situation, resulting in harm.
,3. Which ethical principle is demonstrated when a nurse ensures that all clients
on the unit receive the same level of care regardless of their socioeconomic
status?
A. Justice
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Veracity
D. Autonomy
Answer: A
Rationale: Justice relates to fairness and the equitable distribution of resources and care.
4. A nurse tells a client that if they do not stay in bed, the nurse will use
restraints to keep them there. This statement represents which intentional tort?
A. Invasion of privacy
B. Battery
C. Assault
D. Libel
Answer: C
Rationale: Assault is an action that makes a person fear that they will be touched in a
harmful or offensive manner without their consent.
5. A nurse is witnessing a client sign an informed consent form for surgery.
What is the nurse’s primary responsibility in this role?
A. To ensure the client is competent and signed the form voluntarily
B. To explain the risks and benefits of the procedure
C. To provide alternative treatment options
D. To guarantee the outcome of the surgery
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse’s role in witnessing consent is to verify that the signature is authentic
and that the client appears competent and gave consent voluntarily.
, 6. Which document allows a client to designate a specific person to make
medical decisions for them if they become incapacitated?
A. Living Will
B. Patient’s Bill of Rights
C. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
D. Incident Report
Answer: C
Rationale: A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (Health Care Proxy) designates a
surrogate to make decisions when the client is unable to do so.
7. A nurse discovers a medication error was made but the client was not
harmed. What is the nurse’s priority ethical action?
A. Hide the error since no harm occurred
B. Wait for the pharmacy to notice
C. Report the error according to facility policy (Veracity)
D. Only tell the client if they ask
Answer: C
Rationale: Veracity is the duty to tell the truth. Reporting errors promotes transparency
and client safety improvements.
8. Which situation constitutes ‘false imprisonment’?
A. Restraining a competent client who wants to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA)
B. Using side rails on a bed for a client who is sedated
C. Placing a client in a room with the door locked for safety because they are a danger to themselves
D. Admitting a client to a psychiatric unit under a legal involuntary hold
Answer: A
Rationale: Preventing a competent client from leaving the facility against their will
constitutes false imprisonment.
