Nursing Ethics TEST BANK
A 77-year-old woman with an inoperable brain tumor has been hospitalized for the past 5 days.
Her daughter comes to visit her. The patient has asked that her daughter not be told her
diagnosis. After visiting with her mother, the daughter asks to speak to the nurse. She says, My
mother claims she has pneumonia, but I know she is not telling me the truth. The daughter asks
the nurse to tell her what is truly wrong with her mother. The nurse should tell her that:
1) Her mother has an inoperable brain tumor, but does not wish anyone to know.
2) She needs to speak to the physician in charge of her mothers care.
3) Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even family.
4) Her mother is very sick with a serious case of pneumonia that could lead to death. - Correct
Answers-3) Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even
family.
The nurses first allegiance is to the patient and her desire for confidentiality. Telling the
daughter to speak to the physician would place the physician in the same position as the nurse.
Telling her that her mother has pneumonia would be a lie. The nurse, of course, should inform
the physician of the patients wishes so that he will be prepared if the daughter questions him
about her mothers health condition.
Which of the following terms refers to the ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice?
1) Nursing ethics
2) Bioethics
3) Ethical dilemma
4) Moral distress - Correct Answers-1) Nursing ethics
, Nursing ethics refers to ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice. Bioethics is a
broader field that refers to the application of ethics to healthcare. An ethical dilemma occurs
when a choice must be made between two equally undesirable actions, and there is no clearly
right or wrong option. Moral distress occurs when someone is unable to carry out his or her
moral decision.
A belief about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that influences
decision making is called which of the following?
1) Morals
2) Attitudes
3) Beliefs
4) Values - Correct Answers-4) Values
A value is a belief you have about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a
standard that influences decision making. Morals are private, personal, or group standards of
right and wrong. Attitudes are mental dispositions or feelings toward a person, object, or idea. A
belief is something that one accepts as true.
A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is conscious
and competent and has decided that he wants to be removed from the ventilator. His family and
the multidisciplinary team agree. The nurse believes the patient intends suicide and would
prefer he choose differently but says nothing. The nurse remains at the bedside holding the
patients hand. In this instance the nurse is displaying which of the following?
1) Value set
2) Value system
3) Value neutrality
4) Value awareness - Correct Answers-3) Value neutrality
A 77-year-old woman with an inoperable brain tumor has been hospitalized for the past 5 days.
Her daughter comes to visit her. The patient has asked that her daughter not be told her
diagnosis. After visiting with her mother, the daughter asks to speak to the nurse. She says, My
mother claims she has pneumonia, but I know she is not telling me the truth. The daughter asks
the nurse to tell her what is truly wrong with her mother. The nurse should tell her that:
1) Her mother has an inoperable brain tumor, but does not wish anyone to know.
2) She needs to speak to the physician in charge of her mothers care.
3) Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even family.
4) Her mother is very sick with a serious case of pneumonia that could lead to death. - Correct
Answers-3) Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even
family.
The nurses first allegiance is to the patient and her desire for confidentiality. Telling the
daughter to speak to the physician would place the physician in the same position as the nurse.
Telling her that her mother has pneumonia would be a lie. The nurse, of course, should inform
the physician of the patients wishes so that he will be prepared if the daughter questions him
about her mothers health condition.
Which of the following terms refers to the ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice?
1) Nursing ethics
2) Bioethics
3) Ethical dilemma
4) Moral distress - Correct Answers-1) Nursing ethics
, Nursing ethics refers to ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice. Bioethics is a
broader field that refers to the application of ethics to healthcare. An ethical dilemma occurs
when a choice must be made between two equally undesirable actions, and there is no clearly
right or wrong option. Moral distress occurs when someone is unable to carry out his or her
moral decision.
A belief about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that influences
decision making is called which of the following?
1) Morals
2) Attitudes
3) Beliefs
4) Values - Correct Answers-4) Values
A value is a belief you have about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a
standard that influences decision making. Morals are private, personal, or group standards of
right and wrong. Attitudes are mental dispositions or feelings toward a person, object, or idea. A
belief is something that one accepts as true.
A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is conscious
and competent and has decided that he wants to be removed from the ventilator. His family and
the multidisciplinary team agree. The nurse believes the patient intends suicide and would
prefer he choose differently but says nothing. The nurse remains at the bedside holding the
patients hand. In this instance the nurse is displaying which of the following?
1) Value set
2) Value system
3) Value neutrality
4) Value awareness - Correct Answers-3) Value neutrality
