NURSING ETHICS CE EXAM PRACTICE TEST 2026 |
VERIFIED QUESTIONS & RATIONALES STUDY
GUIDE FOR RN/LPN LICENSURE & CONTINUING
EDUCATION
NURSING ETHICS CE EXAM PRACTICE TEST 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS & EXPERT RATIONALE | RN/LPN LICENSURE &
CONTINUING EDUCATION
• This practice test contains 200 verified multiple-choice questions covering all core
nursing ethics domains tested in RN/LPN licensure and continuing education exams
— each question includes a highlighted correct answer and a detailed EXPERT
RATIONALE to reinforce understanding.
• To maximize results, attempt each question independently before checking the
correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE; use repeated review of missed questions
to identify weak areas and strengthen ethical reasoning for clinical practice.
1. A nurse discovers that a colleague has been falsifying patient medication
records. What is the nurse's primary ethical obligation?
A. Ignore the situation to maintain workplace harmony
B. Confront the colleague privately and warn them
C. Document personal observations and report to the appropriate authority
D. Discuss the matter with other colleagues first
E. Wait to see if the behavior continues before acting
C. Document personal observations and report to the appropriate
authority
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nurses have a professional and ethical duty under the ANA Code of
Ethics to report unsafe or unethical practices that endanger patient safety. Remaining
silent makes the nurse complicit in harm.
,2. A patient refuses a blood transfusion based on religious beliefs despite a
life-threatening condition. The nurse's best action is to:
A. Administer the transfusion because it is life-saving
B. Convince the patient to change their mind by emphasizing the risk of death
C. Respect the patient's decision and document the refusal appropriately
D. Contact family members to override the patient's decision
E. Ignore the refusal and follow the physician's orders
C. Respect the patient's decision and document the refusal appropriately
EXPERT RATIONALE: Patient autonomy is a foundational ethical principle. A competent
adult has the legal and ethical right to refuse any treatment, including life-saving
interventions, regardless of the nurse's personal beliefs.
3. Which ethical principle obligates the nurse to "do no harm" to the patient?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Beneficence
D. Nonmaleficence
E. Fidelity
D. Nonmaleficence
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nonmaleficence means avoiding actions that cause harm. It is one
of the four core bioethical principles and is foundational in clinical nursing practice.
4. A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who asks, "Am I going to die?"
The most ethical response is:
,A. "You need to ask your doctor that question."
B. "Everyone dies eventually, don't worry."
C. "Let me find out what information has been shared with you and how I can
support you."
D. "Yes, and there is nothing more we can do."
E. "You are going to be fine."
C. "Let me find out what information has been shared with you and how I
can support you."
EXPERT RATIONALE: This response reflects honesty, compassion, and respect for the
patient's right to information while ensuring the nurse acts within their scope and
supports therapeutic communication.
5. Which document best guides a nurse's ethical conduct in professional
practice?
A. The hospital policy manual
B. The state nurse practice act only
C. The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses
D. The nurse's personal moral beliefs
E. The physician's standing orders
C. The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses
EXPERT RATIONALE: The ANA Code of Ethics is the foundational professional document
outlining the ethical obligations and duties of nurses in all practice settings.
6. A nurse feels morally distressed after being asked to participate in a
procedure they believe is unethical. The appropriate first step is:
A. Refuse to come to work that day
, B. Comply silently to avoid conflict
C. Express concerns through the appropriate professional channels
D. Tell the patient the procedure is wrong
E. Discuss the issue publicly on social media
C. Express concerns through the appropriate professional channels
EXPERT RATIONALE: Moral distress is a recognized phenomenon in nursing. Nurses
should use institutional channels such as ethics committees, nurse managers, or formal
objection processes to address ethical concerns.
7. Informed consent in nursing is best described as:
A. A signed form that protects the hospital from liability
B. The physician explaining a procedure to the patient
C. An ongoing process ensuring the patient understands and voluntarily agrees to
treatment
D. A legal document that replaces the patient's right to refuse
E. A requirement only for surgical procedures
C. An ongoing process ensuring the patient understands and voluntarily
agrees to treatment
EXPERT RATIONALE: Informed consent is an ethical and legal process requiring
disclosure, comprehension, voluntariness, and decision-making capacity. It is ongoing
and not limited to signing a form.
8. A nurse notices a disparity in pain management — patients of a certain
ethnicity consistently receive less pain medication. This is an ethical concern
related to:
A. Beneficence
VERIFIED QUESTIONS & RATIONALES STUDY
GUIDE FOR RN/LPN LICENSURE & CONTINUING
EDUCATION
NURSING ETHICS CE EXAM PRACTICE TEST 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS & EXPERT RATIONALE | RN/LPN LICENSURE &
CONTINUING EDUCATION
• This practice test contains 200 verified multiple-choice questions covering all core
nursing ethics domains tested in RN/LPN licensure and continuing education exams
— each question includes a highlighted correct answer and a detailed EXPERT
RATIONALE to reinforce understanding.
• To maximize results, attempt each question independently before checking the
correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE; use repeated review of missed questions
to identify weak areas and strengthen ethical reasoning for clinical practice.
1. A nurse discovers that a colleague has been falsifying patient medication
records. What is the nurse's primary ethical obligation?
A. Ignore the situation to maintain workplace harmony
B. Confront the colleague privately and warn them
C. Document personal observations and report to the appropriate authority
D. Discuss the matter with other colleagues first
E. Wait to see if the behavior continues before acting
C. Document personal observations and report to the appropriate
authority
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nurses have a professional and ethical duty under the ANA Code of
Ethics to report unsafe or unethical practices that endanger patient safety. Remaining
silent makes the nurse complicit in harm.
,2. A patient refuses a blood transfusion based on religious beliefs despite a
life-threatening condition. The nurse's best action is to:
A. Administer the transfusion because it is life-saving
B. Convince the patient to change their mind by emphasizing the risk of death
C. Respect the patient's decision and document the refusal appropriately
D. Contact family members to override the patient's decision
E. Ignore the refusal and follow the physician's orders
C. Respect the patient's decision and document the refusal appropriately
EXPERT RATIONALE: Patient autonomy is a foundational ethical principle. A competent
adult has the legal and ethical right to refuse any treatment, including life-saving
interventions, regardless of the nurse's personal beliefs.
3. Which ethical principle obligates the nurse to "do no harm" to the patient?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Beneficence
D. Nonmaleficence
E. Fidelity
D. Nonmaleficence
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nonmaleficence means avoiding actions that cause harm. It is one
of the four core bioethical principles and is foundational in clinical nursing practice.
4. A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who asks, "Am I going to die?"
The most ethical response is:
,A. "You need to ask your doctor that question."
B. "Everyone dies eventually, don't worry."
C. "Let me find out what information has been shared with you and how I can
support you."
D. "Yes, and there is nothing more we can do."
E. "You are going to be fine."
C. "Let me find out what information has been shared with you and how I
can support you."
EXPERT RATIONALE: This response reflects honesty, compassion, and respect for the
patient's right to information while ensuring the nurse acts within their scope and
supports therapeutic communication.
5. Which document best guides a nurse's ethical conduct in professional
practice?
A. The hospital policy manual
B. The state nurse practice act only
C. The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses
D. The nurse's personal moral beliefs
E. The physician's standing orders
C. The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses
EXPERT RATIONALE: The ANA Code of Ethics is the foundational professional document
outlining the ethical obligations and duties of nurses in all practice settings.
6. A nurse feels morally distressed after being asked to participate in a
procedure they believe is unethical. The appropriate first step is:
A. Refuse to come to work that day
, B. Comply silently to avoid conflict
C. Express concerns through the appropriate professional channels
D. Tell the patient the procedure is wrong
E. Discuss the issue publicly on social media
C. Express concerns through the appropriate professional channels
EXPERT RATIONALE: Moral distress is a recognized phenomenon in nursing. Nurses
should use institutional channels such as ethics committees, nurse managers, or formal
objection processes to address ethical concerns.
7. Informed consent in nursing is best described as:
A. A signed form that protects the hospital from liability
B. The physician explaining a procedure to the patient
C. An ongoing process ensuring the patient understands and voluntarily agrees to
treatment
D. A legal document that replaces the patient's right to refuse
E. A requirement only for surgical procedures
C. An ongoing process ensuring the patient understands and voluntarily
agrees to treatment
EXPERT RATIONALE: Informed consent is an ethical and legal process requiring
disclosure, comprehension, voluntariness, and decision-making capacity. It is ongoing
and not limited to signing a form.
8. A nurse notices a disparity in pain management — patients of a certain
ethnicity consistently receive less pain medication. This is an ethical concern
related to:
A. Beneficence
