ATI PN FUNDAMENTALS 2025
Autonomy - >>>>> ANSWER client's right to make own personal decisions, even when those
decisions might not be in the client's own best interest
Beneficence - >>>>> ANSWER positive actions to help others
Fidelity - >>>>> ANSWER agreement to keep promises
Justice - >>>>> ANSWER fairness in care delivery and use of resources
Nonmaleficence - >>>>> ANSWER avoidance of harm or injury
Paternalism - >>>>> ANSWER assumption that one person can assume responsibility for making
the decisions of another person
Advocacy - >>>>> ANSWER support of clients' health, safety, and personal rights
Responsibility - >>>>> ANSWER willingness to respect obligations and follow through on
promises
Accountability - >>>>> ANSWER ability to ANSWER for one's own actions
Confidentiality - >>>>> ANSWER protection of privacy without diminishing access to high-quality
care
When is a problem an ethical dilemma? - >>>>> ANSWER When:
- A review of scientific data is not enough to solve it.
,- It involves a conflict between two moral imperatives.
- The ANSWER will have a profound effect on the situation and the client.
Ethical decision making - >>>>> ANSWER Process that requires striking a balance between
science and morality
A nurse is caring for a client who decides not to have surgery despite significant blockages in his
coronary arteries. The nurse understands that this client's choice is an example of which of the
following
ethical principles?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence - >>>>> ANSWER B. Autonomy
In this situation, the client is exercising his right to make his own personal decision about
surgery, regardless of others' opinions of what is "best" for him. This is an example of autonomy.
A nurse offers pain medication to a client who is postoperative prior to ambulation. The nurse
understands that this aspect of care delivery is an example of which of the following ethical
principles?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Beneficence - >>>>> ANSWER D. Beneficence
Beneficence is taking positive actions to help others. By administering pain medication
,before the client attempts a potentially painful exercise like ambulation, the nurse is taking a
specific and positive action to help the client.
A nurse is instructing a group of nursing students about the responsibilities involved with organ
donation and procurement. When the nurse explains that all clients waiting for a kidney
transplant have
to meet the same qualifications, the students should understand that this aspect of care
delivery is an
example of which of the following ethical principles?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence - >>>>> ANSWER C. Justice
Justice is fairness in care delivery and in the use of resources. By applying the same
qualifications to all potential kidney transplant recipients, organ procurement organizations
demonstrate this ethical principle in determining the allocation of these scarce resources.
A nurse questions a medication prescription as too extreme in light of the client's advanced age
and unstable status. The nurse understands that this action is an example of which of the
following
ethical principles?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence - >>>>> ANSWER D. Nonmaleficence
, Nonmaleficence is the avoidance of harm or injury. In this situation, administering the
medication could harm the client. By questioning it, the nurse is demonstrating this ethical
principle.
A nurse is instructing a group of nursing students about how to know and what to expect when
ethical
dilemmas arise. Which of the following situations should the students identify as an ethical
dilemma?
A. A nurse on a medical-surgical unit demonstrates signs of chemical impairment.
B. A nurse overhears another nurse telling an older adult client that if he doesn't stay in bed,
she
will have to apply restraints.
C. A family has conflicting feelings about the initiation of enteral tube feedings for their father,
who
is terminally ill.
D. A client who is terminally ill hesitates to name her spouse on her durable power of
attorney form. - >>>>> ANSWER C. A family has conflicting feelings about the initiation of
enteral tube feedings for their father, who
is terminally ill.
Making the decision about initiating enteral tube feedings is an example of an ethical
dilemma. *A review of scientific data cannot resolve the issue, and it is not easy to resolve. The
decision will have a profound effect on the situation and on the client.*
*Medical* asepsis
[AKA: "Clean Technique"] - >>>>> ANSWER - practices* to reduce* the number, growth, and
spread of micro-organisms;
- Used for: admin oral meds, managing NG tubes, providing personal hygiene, etc.
Autonomy - >>>>> ANSWER client's right to make own personal decisions, even when those
decisions might not be in the client's own best interest
Beneficence - >>>>> ANSWER positive actions to help others
Fidelity - >>>>> ANSWER agreement to keep promises
Justice - >>>>> ANSWER fairness in care delivery and use of resources
Nonmaleficence - >>>>> ANSWER avoidance of harm or injury
Paternalism - >>>>> ANSWER assumption that one person can assume responsibility for making
the decisions of another person
Advocacy - >>>>> ANSWER support of clients' health, safety, and personal rights
Responsibility - >>>>> ANSWER willingness to respect obligations and follow through on
promises
Accountability - >>>>> ANSWER ability to ANSWER for one's own actions
Confidentiality - >>>>> ANSWER protection of privacy without diminishing access to high-quality
care
When is a problem an ethical dilemma? - >>>>> ANSWER When:
- A review of scientific data is not enough to solve it.
,- It involves a conflict between two moral imperatives.
- The ANSWER will have a profound effect on the situation and the client.
Ethical decision making - >>>>> ANSWER Process that requires striking a balance between
science and morality
A nurse is caring for a client who decides not to have surgery despite significant blockages in his
coronary arteries. The nurse understands that this client's choice is an example of which of the
following
ethical principles?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence - >>>>> ANSWER B. Autonomy
In this situation, the client is exercising his right to make his own personal decision about
surgery, regardless of others' opinions of what is "best" for him. This is an example of autonomy.
A nurse offers pain medication to a client who is postoperative prior to ambulation. The nurse
understands that this aspect of care delivery is an example of which of the following ethical
principles?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Beneficence - >>>>> ANSWER D. Beneficence
Beneficence is taking positive actions to help others. By administering pain medication
,before the client attempts a potentially painful exercise like ambulation, the nurse is taking a
specific and positive action to help the client.
A nurse is instructing a group of nursing students about the responsibilities involved with organ
donation and procurement. When the nurse explains that all clients waiting for a kidney
transplant have
to meet the same qualifications, the students should understand that this aspect of care
delivery is an
example of which of the following ethical principles?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence - >>>>> ANSWER C. Justice
Justice is fairness in care delivery and in the use of resources. By applying the same
qualifications to all potential kidney transplant recipients, organ procurement organizations
demonstrate this ethical principle in determining the allocation of these scarce resources.
A nurse questions a medication prescription as too extreme in light of the client's advanced age
and unstable status. The nurse understands that this action is an example of which of the
following
ethical principles?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence - >>>>> ANSWER D. Nonmaleficence
, Nonmaleficence is the avoidance of harm or injury. In this situation, administering the
medication could harm the client. By questioning it, the nurse is demonstrating this ethical
principle.
A nurse is instructing a group of nursing students about how to know and what to expect when
ethical
dilemmas arise. Which of the following situations should the students identify as an ethical
dilemma?
A. A nurse on a medical-surgical unit demonstrates signs of chemical impairment.
B. A nurse overhears another nurse telling an older adult client that if he doesn't stay in bed,
she
will have to apply restraints.
C. A family has conflicting feelings about the initiation of enteral tube feedings for their father,
who
is terminally ill.
D. A client who is terminally ill hesitates to name her spouse on her durable power of
attorney form. - >>>>> ANSWER C. A family has conflicting feelings about the initiation of
enteral tube feedings for their father, who
is terminally ill.
Making the decision about initiating enteral tube feedings is an example of an ethical
dilemma. *A review of scientific data cannot resolve the issue, and it is not easy to resolve. The
decision will have a profound effect on the situation and on the client.*
*Medical* asepsis
[AKA: "Clean Technique"] - >>>>> ANSWER - practices* to reduce* the number, growth, and
spread of micro-organisms;
- Used for: admin oral meds, managing NG tubes, providing personal hygiene, etc.
