Ethical and Legal Issues in Canadian Nursing, 4th Edition —
Chapters 1–12
250 Original Exam-Style Practice Questions with Correct Answers
ETHICAL / LEGAL PRACTICE DECISION FLOW
1. Clarify facts → 2. Identify stakeholders → 3. Review law, standards & policy
↓
4. Identify values and options → 5. Choose and justify action → 6. Act, document & evaluate
Chapter 1: Introduction to Ethics and the Law
CHAPTER FOCUS: Introduction to Ethics and the Law
1. Ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
● replace all professional standards
● determine criminal sentences
● eliminate disagreement
2. A legal issue is best distinguished from an ethical issue because law
● always gives a single morally ideal answer
■ is enforceable through recognized legal authority
● never involves values
● applies only in hospitals
3. Professional accountability means a nurse should
● follow an order even when unsafe
● avoid documenting errors
■ answer for decisions and actions within the nurse’s role
● delegate all difficult decisions
4. An ethical dilemma commonly exists when
● the correct action is obvious
● a policy answers every question
● a patient agrees with the team
■ important values or duties conflict
5. The purpose of professional standards is to
■ describe expectations for safe, competent practice
● replace clinical judgment
● serve only as employment rules
● apply only to students
Original practice material • Page 1
,6. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
● eliminate disagreement
■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
● replace all professional standards
● determine criminal sentences
7. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that a legal issue is best distinguished from an ethical issue because law
● applies only in hospitals
● always gives a single morally ideal answer
■ is enforceable through recognized legal authority
● never involves values
8. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that professional accountability means a nurse should
● delegate all difficult decisions
● follow an order even when unsafe
● avoid documenting errors
■ answer for decisions and actions within the nurse’s role
9. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that an ethical dilemma commonly exists when
■ important values or duties conflict
● the correct action is obvious
● a policy answers every question
● a patient agrees with the team
10. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that the purpose of professional standards is to
● apply only to students
■ describe expectations for safe, competent practice
● replace clinical judgment
● serve only as employment rules
11. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
● determine criminal sentences
● eliminate disagreement
■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
● replace all professional standards
12. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that a legal issue is best distinguished from an ethical issue
because law
● never involves values
● applies only in hospitals
● always gives a single morally ideal answer
■ is enforceable through recognized legal authority
13. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that professional accountability means a nurse should
■ answer for decisions and actions within the nurse’s role
● delegate all difficult decisions
Original practice material • Page 2
, ● follow an order even when unsafe
● avoid documenting errors
14. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that an ethical dilemma commonly exists when
● a patient agrees with the team
■ important values or duties conflict
● the correct action is obvious
● a policy answers every question
15. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that the purpose of professional standards is to
● serve only as employment rules
● apply only to students
■ describe expectations for safe, competent practice
● replace clinical judgment
16. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
● replace all professional standards
● determine criminal sentences
● eliminate disagreement
■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
17. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding a legal issue is best distinguished from an ethical issue because
law
■ is enforceable through recognized legal authority
● never involves values
● applies only in hospitals
● always gives a single morally ideal answer
18. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding professional accountability means a nurse should
● avoid documenting errors
■ answer for decisions and actions within the nurse’s role
● delegate all difficult decisions
● follow an order even when unsafe
19. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding an ethical dilemma commonly exists when
● a policy answers every question
● a patient agrees with the team
■ important values or duties conflict
● the correct action is obvious
20. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding the purpose of professional standards is to
● replace clinical judgment
● serve only as employment rules
● apply only to students
■ describe expectations for safe, competent practice
21. A patient-care team is discussing this issue. Which response is best? ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
Original practice material • Page 3
, ■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
● replace all professional standards
● determine criminal sentences
● eliminate disagreement
Chapter 2: Ethical Theories
CHAPTER FOCUS: Ethical Theories
22. Utilitarian reasoning emphasizes
● absolute duties regardless of consequences
● personal preference alone
● following tradition without analysis
■ overall consequences and the greatest balance of benefit over harm
23. Deontological ethics places greatest emphasis on
■ duties, obligations, and moral rules
● maximizing aggregate utility only
● avoiding all emotions
● majority opinion
24. Virtue ethics focuses primarily on
● random outcomes
■ the character and virtues of the moral agent
● legal penalties
● organizational profit
25. Respect for autonomy supports a patient’s right to
● ignore all risks
● require staff to agree
■ make informed choices consistent with capacity and law
● receive every requested treatment
26. The principle of nonmaleficence means
● doing whatever is fastest
● giving priority only to autonomy
● withholding all treatment
■ avoiding or minimizing preventable harm
27. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that utilitarian reasoning emphasizes
■ overall consequences and the greatest balance of benefit over harm
● absolute duties regardless of consequences
● personal preference alone
● following tradition without analysis
28. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that deontological ethics places greatest emphasis on
● majority opinion
Original practice material • Page 4
Chapters 1–12
250 Original Exam-Style Practice Questions with Correct Answers
ETHICAL / LEGAL PRACTICE DECISION FLOW
1. Clarify facts → 2. Identify stakeholders → 3. Review law, standards & policy
↓
4. Identify values and options → 5. Choose and justify action → 6. Act, document & evaluate
Chapter 1: Introduction to Ethics and the Law
CHAPTER FOCUS: Introduction to Ethics and the Law
1. Ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
● replace all professional standards
● determine criminal sentences
● eliminate disagreement
2. A legal issue is best distinguished from an ethical issue because law
● always gives a single morally ideal answer
■ is enforceable through recognized legal authority
● never involves values
● applies only in hospitals
3. Professional accountability means a nurse should
● follow an order even when unsafe
● avoid documenting errors
■ answer for decisions and actions within the nurse’s role
● delegate all difficult decisions
4. An ethical dilemma commonly exists when
● the correct action is obvious
● a policy answers every question
● a patient agrees with the team
■ important values or duties conflict
5. The purpose of professional standards is to
■ describe expectations for safe, competent practice
● replace clinical judgment
● serve only as employment rules
● apply only to students
Original practice material • Page 1
,6. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
● eliminate disagreement
■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
● replace all professional standards
● determine criminal sentences
7. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that a legal issue is best distinguished from an ethical issue because law
● applies only in hospitals
● always gives a single morally ideal answer
■ is enforceable through recognized legal authority
● never involves values
8. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that professional accountability means a nurse should
● delegate all difficult decisions
● follow an order even when unsafe
● avoid documenting errors
■ answer for decisions and actions within the nurse’s role
9. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that an ethical dilemma commonly exists when
■ important values or duties conflict
● the correct action is obvious
● a policy answers every question
● a patient agrees with the team
10. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that the purpose of professional standards is to
● apply only to students
■ describe expectations for safe, competent practice
● replace clinical judgment
● serve only as employment rules
11. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
● determine criminal sentences
● eliminate disagreement
■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
● replace all professional standards
12. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that a legal issue is best distinguished from an ethical issue
because law
● never involves values
● applies only in hospitals
● always gives a single morally ideal answer
■ is enforceable through recognized legal authority
13. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that professional accountability means a nurse should
■ answer for decisions and actions within the nurse’s role
● delegate all difficult decisions
Original practice material • Page 2
, ● follow an order even when unsafe
● avoid documenting errors
14. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that an ethical dilemma commonly exists when
● a patient agrees with the team
■ important values or duties conflict
● the correct action is obvious
● a policy answers every question
15. What is the most appropriate interpretation of the principle that the purpose of professional standards is to
● serve only as employment rules
● apply only to students
■ describe expectations for safe, competent practice
● replace clinical judgment
16. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
● replace all professional standards
● determine criminal sentences
● eliminate disagreement
■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
17. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding a legal issue is best distinguished from an ethical issue because
law
■ is enforceable through recognized legal authority
● never involves values
● applies only in hospitals
● always gives a single morally ideal answer
18. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding professional accountability means a nurse should
● avoid documenting errors
■ answer for decisions and actions within the nurse’s role
● delegate all difficult decisions
● follow an order even when unsafe
19. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding an ethical dilemma commonly exists when
● a policy answers every question
● a patient agrees with the team
■ important values or duties conflict
● the correct action is obvious
20. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate regarding the purpose of professional standards is to
● replace clinical judgment
● serve only as employment rules
● apply only to students
■ describe expectations for safe, competent practice
21. A patient-care team is discussing this issue. Which response is best? ethics in nursing primarily helps nurses
Original practice material • Page 3
, ■ identify and reason through questions about what ought to be done
● replace all professional standards
● determine criminal sentences
● eliminate disagreement
Chapter 2: Ethical Theories
CHAPTER FOCUS: Ethical Theories
22. Utilitarian reasoning emphasizes
● absolute duties regardless of consequences
● personal preference alone
● following tradition without analysis
■ overall consequences and the greatest balance of benefit over harm
23. Deontological ethics places greatest emphasis on
■ duties, obligations, and moral rules
● maximizing aggregate utility only
● avoiding all emotions
● majority opinion
24. Virtue ethics focuses primarily on
● random outcomes
■ the character and virtues of the moral agent
● legal penalties
● organizational profit
25. Respect for autonomy supports a patient’s right to
● ignore all risks
● require staff to agree
■ make informed choices consistent with capacity and law
● receive every requested treatment
26. The principle of nonmaleficence means
● doing whatever is fastest
● giving priority only to autonomy
● withholding all treatment
■ avoiding or minimizing preventable harm
27. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that utilitarian reasoning emphasizes
■ overall consequences and the greatest balance of benefit over harm
● absolute duties regardless of consequences
● personal preference alone
● following tradition without analysis
28. In a clinical scenario, the nurse should recognize that deontological ethics places greatest emphasis on
● majority opinion
Original practice material • Page 4
