NUR 3826
Legal & Ethical Issues in Nursing
Midterms (Qns & Ans)
2025
1. Which of the following is a key principle of nursing ethics?
- A. Autonomy
- B. Profit maximization
- C. Marketing strategies
- D. Financial management
- ANS: A. Autonomy
©2024/2025
, - Rationale: Autonomy is a key principle of nursing ethics,
emphasizing the patient's right to make informed decisions about
their own care.
2. What is the primary purpose of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
- A. To regulate healthcare marketing
- B. To protect patient privacy and confidentiality
- C. To increase healthcare profits
- D. To manage hospital finances
- ANS: B. To protect patient privacy and confidentiality
- Rationale: HIPAA aims to protect patient privacy and
confidentiality by setting standards for the secure handling of
health information.
3. Which of the following is an example of a breach of patient
confidentiality?
- A. Sharing patient information with unauthorized individuals
- B. Documenting patient care accurately
- C. Discussing patient care with the healthcare team
- D. Providing patient education
- ANS: A. Sharing patient information with unauthorized
individuals
©2024/2025
, - Rationale: Sharing patient information with unauthorized
individuals is a breach of patient confidentiality and violates
ethical and legal standards.
4. What is the main goal of informed consent in healthcare?
- A. To ensure patients are aware of financial costs
- B. To provide patients with information about their treatment
options
- C. To promote healthcare marketing
- D. To increase hospital revenue
- ANS: B. To provide patients with information about their
treatment options
- Rationale: The main goal of informed consent is to provide
patients with information about their treatment options, allowing
them to make informed decisions about their care.
5. Which of the following is a legal requirement for nurses when
documenting patient care?
- A. Using only electronic health records
- B. Ensuring accuracy and completeness
- C. Including personal opinions
- D. Using abbreviations and jargon
- ANS: B. Ensuring accuracy and completeness
©2024/2025
, - Rationale: Nurses are legally required to ensure accuracy
and completeness when documenting patient care to maintain the
integrity of medical records.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
6. The principle of ________ requires nurses to act in the best
interest of their patients.
- ANS: beneficence
- Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle that requires
nurses to act in the best interest of their patients, promoting their
well-being.
7. ________ is the ethical principle that emphasizes the
importance of honesty and truthfulness in nursing practice.
- ANS: Veracity
- Rationale: Veracity is the ethical principle that emphasizes
honesty and truthfulness in nursing practice, ensuring that patients
receive accurate information.
8. The ________ Act protects healthcare workers who report
unsafe or unethical practices from retaliation.
- ANS: Whistleblower Protection
©2024/2025
Legal & Ethical Issues in Nursing
Midterms (Qns & Ans)
2025
1. Which of the following is a key principle of nursing ethics?
- A. Autonomy
- B. Profit maximization
- C. Marketing strategies
- D. Financial management
- ANS: A. Autonomy
©2024/2025
, - Rationale: Autonomy is a key principle of nursing ethics,
emphasizing the patient's right to make informed decisions about
their own care.
2. What is the primary purpose of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
- A. To regulate healthcare marketing
- B. To protect patient privacy and confidentiality
- C. To increase healthcare profits
- D. To manage hospital finances
- ANS: B. To protect patient privacy and confidentiality
- Rationale: HIPAA aims to protect patient privacy and
confidentiality by setting standards for the secure handling of
health information.
3. Which of the following is an example of a breach of patient
confidentiality?
- A. Sharing patient information with unauthorized individuals
- B. Documenting patient care accurately
- C. Discussing patient care with the healthcare team
- D. Providing patient education
- ANS: A. Sharing patient information with unauthorized
individuals
©2024/2025
, - Rationale: Sharing patient information with unauthorized
individuals is a breach of patient confidentiality and violates
ethical and legal standards.
4. What is the main goal of informed consent in healthcare?
- A. To ensure patients are aware of financial costs
- B. To provide patients with information about their treatment
options
- C. To promote healthcare marketing
- D. To increase hospital revenue
- ANS: B. To provide patients with information about their
treatment options
- Rationale: The main goal of informed consent is to provide
patients with information about their treatment options, allowing
them to make informed decisions about their care.
5. Which of the following is a legal requirement for nurses when
documenting patient care?
- A. Using only electronic health records
- B. Ensuring accuracy and completeness
- C. Including personal opinions
- D. Using abbreviations and jargon
- ANS: B. Ensuring accuracy and completeness
©2024/2025
, - Rationale: Nurses are legally required to ensure accuracy
and completeness when documenting patient care to maintain the
integrity of medical records.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
6. The principle of ________ requires nurses to act in the best
interest of their patients.
- ANS: beneficence
- Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle that requires
nurses to act in the best interest of their patients, promoting their
well-being.
7. ________ is the ethical principle that emphasizes the
importance of honesty and truthfulness in nursing practice.
- ANS: Veracity
- Rationale: Veracity is the ethical principle that emphasizes
honesty and truthfulness in nursing practice, ensuring that patients
receive accurate information.
8. The ________ Act protects healthcare workers who report
unsafe or unethical practices from retaliation.
- ANS: Whistleblower Protection
©2024/2025
