Nursing 354 Ethical Nursing Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which ethical principle requires a nurse to respect a competent patient's
right to make decisions about their own healthcare?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
Answer: Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognizes a competent
person's right to make informed decisions about their own healthcare.
2. A nurse administers a medication specifically to promote a patient's well-
being. Which ethical principle is demonstrated?
A. Beneficence
B. Veracity
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Answer: Beneficence
,Rationale: Beneficence means acting for the patient's benefit and promoting
well-being.
3. Which ethical principle means avoiding actions that could cause harm to a
patient?
A. Fidelity
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Advocacy
Answer: Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means the obligation to avoid causing harm.
4. A nurse provides the same quality of care to patients regardless of
socioeconomic status. Which principle is demonstrated?
A. Fidelity
B. Veracity
C. Justice
D. Autonomy
Answer: Justice
Rationale: Justice requires fairness and equitable treatment in healthcare.
5. A nurse tells a patient the truth about an upcoming procedure. Which
ethical principle is demonstrated?
A. Veracity
B. Fidelity
C. Beneficence
D. Justice
Answer: Veracity
Rationale: Veracity is the duty to be truthful and honest with patients.
, 6. A nurse promises to return with a patient's pain medication and does so as
promised. Which principle is demonstrated?
A. Justice
B. Fidelity
C. Autonomy
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: Fidelity
Rationale: Fidelity involves keeping promises and honoring professional
commitments.
7. What is the primary purpose of informed consent?
A. To protect healthcare providers from all legal liability
B. To ensure patients understand the proposed treatment before deciding
C. To allow nurses to make decisions for patients
D. To eliminate the need for patient education
Answer: To ensure patients understand the proposed treatment before deciding
Rationale: Informed consent supports patient autonomy by ensuring the patient
receives appropriate information needed to make a voluntary decision.
8. Which healthcare professional generally has the responsibility for explaining
the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a medical procedure?
A. Nursing assistant
B. Registered nurse
C. Provider performing the procedure
D. Unit secretary
Answer: Provider performing the procedure
Rationale: The provider performing or prescribing the procedure is generally
responsible for obtaining informed consent and explaining the procedure, risks,
benefits, and alternatives.
, 9. A competent adult patient refuses a recommended treatment. What should
the nurse do first?
A. Force the treatment because it is medically necessary
B. Notify security
C. Respect the refusal and ensure the patient understands the consequences
D. Ask the family to override the decision
Answer: Respect the refusal and ensure the patient understands the
consequences
Rationale: Competent adults have the right to accept or refuse treatment. The
nurse should support informed decision-making and document the refusal
appropriately.
10.Which situation is an example of an ethical dilemma?
A. A nurse takes a scheduled break
B. Two ethical principles conflict when determining the best action
C. A patient receives routine vital signs
D. A nurse documents medication administration
Answer: Two ethical principles conflict when determining the best action
Rationale: An ethical dilemma occurs when competing ethical principles, values,
or obligations create difficulty in determining the appropriate action.
11.A nurse advocates for a patient who cannot communicate their healthcare
preferences. What is the nurse primarily doing?
A. Practicing patient advocacy
B. Practicing deception
C. Violating autonomy
D. Practicing discrimination
Answer: Practicing patient advocacy
Rationale: Advocacy involves protecting patient rights, supporting informed
choices, and helping ensure the patient's interests are represented.
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which ethical principle requires a nurse to respect a competent patient's
right to make decisions about their own healthcare?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
Answer: Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognizes a competent
person's right to make informed decisions about their own healthcare.
2. A nurse administers a medication specifically to promote a patient's well-
being. Which ethical principle is demonstrated?
A. Beneficence
B. Veracity
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Answer: Beneficence
,Rationale: Beneficence means acting for the patient's benefit and promoting
well-being.
3. Which ethical principle means avoiding actions that could cause harm to a
patient?
A. Fidelity
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Advocacy
Answer: Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means the obligation to avoid causing harm.
4. A nurse provides the same quality of care to patients regardless of
socioeconomic status. Which principle is demonstrated?
A. Fidelity
B. Veracity
C. Justice
D. Autonomy
Answer: Justice
Rationale: Justice requires fairness and equitable treatment in healthcare.
5. A nurse tells a patient the truth about an upcoming procedure. Which
ethical principle is demonstrated?
A. Veracity
B. Fidelity
C. Beneficence
D. Justice
Answer: Veracity
Rationale: Veracity is the duty to be truthful and honest with patients.
, 6. A nurse promises to return with a patient's pain medication and does so as
promised. Which principle is demonstrated?
A. Justice
B. Fidelity
C. Autonomy
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: Fidelity
Rationale: Fidelity involves keeping promises and honoring professional
commitments.
7. What is the primary purpose of informed consent?
A. To protect healthcare providers from all legal liability
B. To ensure patients understand the proposed treatment before deciding
C. To allow nurses to make decisions for patients
D. To eliminate the need for patient education
Answer: To ensure patients understand the proposed treatment before deciding
Rationale: Informed consent supports patient autonomy by ensuring the patient
receives appropriate information needed to make a voluntary decision.
8. Which healthcare professional generally has the responsibility for explaining
the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a medical procedure?
A. Nursing assistant
B. Registered nurse
C. Provider performing the procedure
D. Unit secretary
Answer: Provider performing the procedure
Rationale: The provider performing or prescribing the procedure is generally
responsible for obtaining informed consent and explaining the procedure, risks,
benefits, and alternatives.
, 9. A competent adult patient refuses a recommended treatment. What should
the nurse do first?
A. Force the treatment because it is medically necessary
B. Notify security
C. Respect the refusal and ensure the patient understands the consequences
D. Ask the family to override the decision
Answer: Respect the refusal and ensure the patient understands the
consequences
Rationale: Competent adults have the right to accept or refuse treatment. The
nurse should support informed decision-making and document the refusal
appropriately.
10.Which situation is an example of an ethical dilemma?
A. A nurse takes a scheduled break
B. Two ethical principles conflict when determining the best action
C. A patient receives routine vital signs
D. A nurse documents medication administration
Answer: Two ethical principles conflict when determining the best action
Rationale: An ethical dilemma occurs when competing ethical principles, values,
or obligations create difficulty in determining the appropriate action.
11.A nurse advocates for a patient who cannot communicate their healthcare
preferences. What is the nurse primarily doing?
A. Practicing patient advocacy
B. Practicing deception
C. Violating autonomy
D. Practicing discrimination
Answer: Practicing patient advocacy
Rationale: Advocacy involves protecting patient rights, supporting informed
choices, and helping ensure the patient's interests are represented.
