Critical Care Evolve NCLEX questions with correct
answers
The family of a critically ill patient whose care has been deemed futile
has decided to withhold treatments. Which action should the nurse take
to initiate the family's wishes?
1. Turn the patient every 2 hours.
2.Refrain from giving the patient medications.
3.Slowly wean the patient off the ventilator.
4. Obtain signatures for "do not resuscitate" orders. Correct Answer-2.
Refrain from giving the patient medications.
To withhold treatment is a decision not to administer selected treatments
in cases in which care is considered futile. Withdrawal is a removal of
treatments, such as mechanical ventilation. "Do not resuscitate" is a
written order not to initiate life-support measures in the event of
cardiopulmonary arrest. Turning the patient every two hours is not an
example of withholding treatment.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is unresponsive, unable to
communicate, and has no voluntary action or cognition. The condition is
considered permanent. The term for this condition is
1. terminal condition.
2. non-heart beating donor.
,3. persistent vegetative state.
4. brain death. Correct Answer-3. persistent vegetative state.
This is the definition of persistent vegetative state. These individuals are
not brain dead and are not necessarily terminal. A non-heart beating
donor would be someone with cardiac death. See Table 3-2 for
definitions.
A 33-year-old patient is admitted with closed head trauma following a
motor vehicle crash. She has a signed organ donor card expressing her
wish to become an organ donor. Brain death is established; however, her
spouse refuses to sign consent for organ donation. Which ethical
principle is being violated by her spouse?
1. Beneficence
2. Autonomy
3. Justice
4. Veracity Correct Answer-2. Autonomy
The patient's spouse is violating her autonomy to make her own decision
regarding organ donation. Beneficence is action intended to benefit the
patient. Justice is defined as being fair or just to the wider community in
terms of the consequences of an action. Veracity is the obligation to tell
the truth.
After reviewing her patient assignments, the nurse recognizes a conflict
of interest with one of the patients. Which action should the nurse take
to resolve this conflict?
,1. The nurse should maintain minimal contact with the patient
throughout the shift.
2. The nurse should keep all assigned patients for the day.
3. The nurse should ask other staff to provide care for the patient if a
conflict arises with the patient.
4. The nurse should request a change in assignment if care of the
assigned pa Correct Answer-The nurse should request a change in
assignment if care of the assigned patient violates his or her ethical
principles.
A nurse can request a change in assignment if care of the patient violates
his or her principles. However, care must be assumed by another nurse
so that the patient is not abandoned. The nurse should take action to
resolve the conflict instead of seeking intervention by other staff
members or limiting exposure to the patient. The nurse should be fully
present for each patient and ready to help when needed.
The nurse has just listened to a lecture on the hospital's ethics
committee. Which statement indicates that the teaching has been
effective?
1. "It serves to educate and to develop guidelines."
2. "Its goal is to protect the hospital's interests."
3. "Its members consist only of physicians and nurses."
4. "It deals with generalities instead of specific issues." Correct Answer-
1. "It serves to educate and to develop guidelines."
An ethics committee is involved in education and guideline development
in addition to providing ethics consultation. Its members include a
, variety of professionals, including physicians and nurses. An ethics
committee primarily deals with specific ethical issues referred to them.
An ethics committee protects the interest of the patient, not the hospital.
Which action by the nurse is an example of extraordinary care?
1. Ensuring proper nutrition
2.Initiating hemodialysis
3. Administering antibiotics on time
4. Inserting an IV for hydration Correct Answer-2. Initiating
hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is considered an extraordinary measure, which is a
complex, experimental, or invasive procedure. Antibiotics, nutrition, and
hydration are considered ordinary care.
The critical care nurse must demonstrate characteristics of ethical
nursing practice, which include (Select all that apply.)
Select all that apply.
1. trust.
2. compassion.
3. disclosure.
4. collaboration. Correct Answer-1. trust.
Compassion, collaboration, accountability, and trust are essential
characteristics of ethical nursing practice.
answers
The family of a critically ill patient whose care has been deemed futile
has decided to withhold treatments. Which action should the nurse take
to initiate the family's wishes?
1. Turn the patient every 2 hours.
2.Refrain from giving the patient medications.
3.Slowly wean the patient off the ventilator.
4. Obtain signatures for "do not resuscitate" orders. Correct Answer-2.
Refrain from giving the patient medications.
To withhold treatment is a decision not to administer selected treatments
in cases in which care is considered futile. Withdrawal is a removal of
treatments, such as mechanical ventilation. "Do not resuscitate" is a
written order not to initiate life-support measures in the event of
cardiopulmonary arrest. Turning the patient every two hours is not an
example of withholding treatment.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is unresponsive, unable to
communicate, and has no voluntary action or cognition. The condition is
considered permanent. The term for this condition is
1. terminal condition.
2. non-heart beating donor.
,3. persistent vegetative state.
4. brain death. Correct Answer-3. persistent vegetative state.
This is the definition of persistent vegetative state. These individuals are
not brain dead and are not necessarily terminal. A non-heart beating
donor would be someone with cardiac death. See Table 3-2 for
definitions.
A 33-year-old patient is admitted with closed head trauma following a
motor vehicle crash. She has a signed organ donor card expressing her
wish to become an organ donor. Brain death is established; however, her
spouse refuses to sign consent for organ donation. Which ethical
principle is being violated by her spouse?
1. Beneficence
2. Autonomy
3. Justice
4. Veracity Correct Answer-2. Autonomy
The patient's spouse is violating her autonomy to make her own decision
regarding organ donation. Beneficence is action intended to benefit the
patient. Justice is defined as being fair or just to the wider community in
terms of the consequences of an action. Veracity is the obligation to tell
the truth.
After reviewing her patient assignments, the nurse recognizes a conflict
of interest with one of the patients. Which action should the nurse take
to resolve this conflict?
,1. The nurse should maintain minimal contact with the patient
throughout the shift.
2. The nurse should keep all assigned patients for the day.
3. The nurse should ask other staff to provide care for the patient if a
conflict arises with the patient.
4. The nurse should request a change in assignment if care of the
assigned pa Correct Answer-The nurse should request a change in
assignment if care of the assigned patient violates his or her ethical
principles.
A nurse can request a change in assignment if care of the patient violates
his or her principles. However, care must be assumed by another nurse
so that the patient is not abandoned. The nurse should take action to
resolve the conflict instead of seeking intervention by other staff
members or limiting exposure to the patient. The nurse should be fully
present for each patient and ready to help when needed.
The nurse has just listened to a lecture on the hospital's ethics
committee. Which statement indicates that the teaching has been
effective?
1. "It serves to educate and to develop guidelines."
2. "Its goal is to protect the hospital's interests."
3. "Its members consist only of physicians and nurses."
4. "It deals with generalities instead of specific issues." Correct Answer-
1. "It serves to educate and to develop guidelines."
An ethics committee is involved in education and guideline development
in addition to providing ethics consultation. Its members include a
, variety of professionals, including physicians and nurses. An ethics
committee primarily deals with specific ethical issues referred to them.
An ethics committee protects the interest of the patient, not the hospital.
Which action by the nurse is an example of extraordinary care?
1. Ensuring proper nutrition
2.Initiating hemodialysis
3. Administering antibiotics on time
4. Inserting an IV for hydration Correct Answer-2. Initiating
hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is considered an extraordinary measure, which is a
complex, experimental, or invasive procedure. Antibiotics, nutrition, and
hydration are considered ordinary care.
The critical care nurse must demonstrate characteristics of ethical
nursing practice, which include (Select all that apply.)
Select all that apply.
1. trust.
2. compassion.
3. disclosure.
4. collaboration. Correct Answer-1. trust.
Compassion, collaboration, accountability, and trust are essential
characteristics of ethical nursing practice.
