WGU Nursing Ethics Assessment ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
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WGU Nursing Ethics Assessment Practice Exam
,1. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a terminal illness and is in severe pain. The patient's family asks the nurse to
increase the patient's morphine dose to "hasten the end" because they cannot bear to see their loved one suffer. The
nurse refuses. Which ethical principle is the nurse primarily upholding?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Non-maleficence
D) Justice
Answer: C) Non-maleficence
Rationale: Non-maleficence is the principle of "do no harm." While the family's request stems from compassion
(beneficence), increasing a medication dose with the explicit intent to hasten death is considered active euthanasia, which
is illegal in most states and violates the nurse's duty to not cause harm. The nurse's refusal is based on preventing harm
(the patient's death by direct action). Autonomy would apply if the *patient* had requested it. Justice refers to fairness.
Beneficence is the duty to do good, but it is limited by the duty to not do harm.
2. A patient is admitted to the emergency department after a car accident. The patient is unconscious and requires
immediate surgery to save their life. The patient's spouse is present and provides consent for the surgery. This is an
example of:
A) Informed consent
B) Implied consent
C) Emergency consent
,D) Substituted judgment
Answer: D) Substituted judgment
Rationale: Substituted judgment is the process of making a decision on behalf of an incapacitated patient based on what
the patient would have wanted. The spouse is acting as a surrogate decision-maker. Emergency consent (C) is when
consent is presumed due to a life-threatening emergency without a surrogate present. Implied consent (B) is for minor
procedures like drawing blood. Informed consent (A) is the process of getting permission for a specific treatment after
explaining risks and benefits, which is part of what the spouse is doing, but the *ethical concept* of standing in for the
patient is substituted judgment.
3. Which of the following is a key component of informed consent?
A) The patient's agreement must be obtained by a physician.
B) The patient must be able to pay for the procedure.
C) The patient must understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives.
D) The patient must be informed of the hospital's financial policies.
Answer: C) The patient must understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Rationale: For informed consent to be valid, the patient must have the capacity to understand and the information must
include the nature of the procedure, its risks, benefits, and reasonable alternatives. While a physician often obtains
consent, a nurse can witness it. Ability to pay (B) is not an ethical or legal component of consent. Financial policies (D) are
irrelevant to the consent process.
, 4. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a prescribed blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The patient is
competent and has signed a refusal form. The nurse's most appropriate action is to:
A) Administer the transfusion anyway to save the patient's life.
B) Respect the patient's decision and document the refusal.
C) Try to convince the patient that their religious beliefs are wrong.
D) Ask the family to override the patient's decision.
Answer: B) Respect the patient's decision and document the refusal.
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that gives a competent patient the right to make their own healthcare
decisions, even if those decisions may lead to harm or death. The nurse must respect the patient's decision. Administering
the transfusion (A) would be battery. Trying to convince the patient (C) is coercive and disrespectful. Asking the family to
override (D) is inappropriate as the patient is competent.
5. The principle of justice in healthcare primarily relates to:
A) Doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
B) Treating all patients with fairness and equality.
C) The duty to do no harm.
D) The right of patients to make their own decisions.
Answer: B) Treating all patients with fairness and equality.
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
WGU Nursing Ethics Assessment Practice Exam
,1. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a terminal illness and is in severe pain. The patient's family asks the nurse to
increase the patient's morphine dose to "hasten the end" because they cannot bear to see their loved one suffer. The
nurse refuses. Which ethical principle is the nurse primarily upholding?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Non-maleficence
D) Justice
Answer: C) Non-maleficence
Rationale: Non-maleficence is the principle of "do no harm." While the family's request stems from compassion
(beneficence), increasing a medication dose with the explicit intent to hasten death is considered active euthanasia, which
is illegal in most states and violates the nurse's duty to not cause harm. The nurse's refusal is based on preventing harm
(the patient's death by direct action). Autonomy would apply if the *patient* had requested it. Justice refers to fairness.
Beneficence is the duty to do good, but it is limited by the duty to not do harm.
2. A patient is admitted to the emergency department after a car accident. The patient is unconscious and requires
immediate surgery to save their life. The patient's spouse is present and provides consent for the surgery. This is an
example of:
A) Informed consent
B) Implied consent
C) Emergency consent
,D) Substituted judgment
Answer: D) Substituted judgment
Rationale: Substituted judgment is the process of making a decision on behalf of an incapacitated patient based on what
the patient would have wanted. The spouse is acting as a surrogate decision-maker. Emergency consent (C) is when
consent is presumed due to a life-threatening emergency without a surrogate present. Implied consent (B) is for minor
procedures like drawing blood. Informed consent (A) is the process of getting permission for a specific treatment after
explaining risks and benefits, which is part of what the spouse is doing, but the *ethical concept* of standing in for the
patient is substituted judgment.
3. Which of the following is a key component of informed consent?
A) The patient's agreement must be obtained by a physician.
B) The patient must be able to pay for the procedure.
C) The patient must understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives.
D) The patient must be informed of the hospital's financial policies.
Answer: C) The patient must understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Rationale: For informed consent to be valid, the patient must have the capacity to understand and the information must
include the nature of the procedure, its risks, benefits, and reasonable alternatives. While a physician often obtains
consent, a nurse can witness it. Ability to pay (B) is not an ethical or legal component of consent. Financial policies (D) are
irrelevant to the consent process.
, 4. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a prescribed blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The patient is
competent and has signed a refusal form. The nurse's most appropriate action is to:
A) Administer the transfusion anyway to save the patient's life.
B) Respect the patient's decision and document the refusal.
C) Try to convince the patient that their religious beliefs are wrong.
D) Ask the family to override the patient's decision.
Answer: B) Respect the patient's decision and document the refusal.
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that gives a competent patient the right to make their own healthcare
decisions, even if those decisions may lead to harm or death. The nurse must respect the patient's decision. Administering
the transfusion (A) would be battery. Trying to convince the patient (C) is coercive and disrespectful. Asking the family to
override (D) is inappropriate as the patient is competent.
5. The principle of justice in healthcare primarily relates to:
A) Doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
B) Treating all patients with fairness and equality.
C) The duty to do no harm.
D) The right of patients to make their own decisions.
Answer: B) Treating all patients with fairness and equality.
