Healthcare Ethics & Law Exam
Questions (Verified Answers)
Comprehensive Practice Examination –
150 Questions
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF HEALTHCARE ETHICS (Questions 1-35)
Question 1:
The nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious
beliefs. The nurse respects the patient's decision. This demonstrates which ethical principle?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C) Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy refers to respect for the patient's right to make their own healthcare
decisions. Respecting the patient's refusal of treatment honors their autonomy, even when the
nurse disagrees with the decision. Beneficence is doing good, nonmaleficence is avoiding harm,
and justice is fairness in healthcare distribution.
Question 2:
A nurse is caring for a patient who is considering euthanasia. The nurse advocates for the
patient's right to information and support but does not assist in the act. Which ethical principle
is the nurse upholding?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: B) Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the principle of "do no harm." By not assisting in euthanasia, the
,nurse avoids causing harm to the patient. The nurse still respects the patient's autonomy by
providing information and support. Beneficence is doing good, and justice is fairness.
Question 3:
A nurse is prioritizing care for multiple patients. One patient is in cardiac arrest, another has a
fractured leg, and a third has a fever. The nurse attends to the cardiac arrest patient FIRST. This
prioritization reflects which ethical principle?
A) Autonomy
B) Justice
C) Beneficence
D) Fidelity
Answer: C) Beneficence
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and act in the patient's best interest. Attending to
the cardiac arrest patient first maximizes the potential to save a life. This is an example of
beneficence. Autonomy is respect for patient choice. Justice is fairness. Fidelity is keeping
promises.
Question 4:
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving treatment that the nurse believes is futile. The
nurse continues to provide care as ordered. This situation primarily involves which ethical
concept?
A) Autonomy
B) Futility of care
C) Justice
D) Nonmaleficence
Answer: B) Futility of care
Rationale: Futility of care refers to interventions that are unlikely to achieve the desired
outcome. The nurse continues to provide care, balancing beneficence and nonmaleficence.
Futility should be discussed with the healthcare team. Autonomy, justice, and nonmaleficence
are also relevant but the scenario primarily addresses futility.
Question 5:
The nurse is caring for a patient who requests information about alternative treatments. The
nurse provides the information and supports the patient's decision. This demonstrates which
ethical principle?
,A) Nonmaleficence
B) Autonomy
C) Beneficence
D) Justice
Answer: B) Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy is respect for the patient's right to make informed decisions. Providing
information and supporting the patient's decision honors autonomy. Beneficence is doing good.
Nonmaleficence is avoiding harm. Justice is fairness. Informed consent is a key aspect of
autonomy.
Question 6:
A nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is verbally abusive. The nurse maintains
professional composure and continues to provide care. Which ethical principle is the nurse
demonstrating?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Fidelity
D) Justice
Answer: C) Fidelity
Rationale: Fidelity is faithfulness to professional obligations and keeping promises. The nurse
demonstrates fidelity by continuing to provide care despite the difficult patient. Autonomy is
respect for patient choice. Beneficence is doing good. Justice is fairness. The nurse's
commitment to the patient is an example of fidelity.
Question 7:
The nurse is caring for a patient who is uninsured and cannot afford medications. The nurse
advocates for the patient to receive financial assistance. Which ethical principle is the nurse
applying?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: D) Justice
Rationale: Justice is the fair distribution of healthcare resources. Advocating for a patient who
cannot afford medications is an example of justice. Beneficence is doing good. Nonmaleficence
, is avoiding harm. Autonomy is respect for patient choice. The nurse addresses social
determinants of health.
Question 8:
A patient with a terminal illness requests to discontinue life-sustaining treatment. The nurse
supports the patient's decision and facilitates the process. Which ethical principle is the nurse
upholding?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C) Autonomy
Rationale: Supporting a patient's decision to discontinue life-sustaining treatment honors
autonomy. The patient has the right to make decisions about their own body and healthcare.
Beneficence is doing good. Nonmaleficence is avoiding harm. Justice is fairness.
Question 9:
The nurse is caring for a patient who is confused and cannot make decisions. The nurse consults
the patient's healthcare proxy. This action respects which ethical principle?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Justice
Answer: A) Autonomy
Rationale: Consulting the healthcare proxy respects the patient's autonomy by following their
previously expressed wishes. The proxy acts as the patient's decision-maker. Beneficence is
doing good. Nonmaleficence is avoiding harm. Justice is fairness. Autonomy extends to
surrogates when the patient cannot decide.
Question 10:
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving experimental treatment. The nurse ensures
the patient has given informed consent. This is primarily an example of:
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
Questions (Verified Answers)
Comprehensive Practice Examination –
150 Questions
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF HEALTHCARE ETHICS (Questions 1-35)
Question 1:
The nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious
beliefs. The nurse respects the patient's decision. This demonstrates which ethical principle?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C) Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy refers to respect for the patient's right to make their own healthcare
decisions. Respecting the patient's refusal of treatment honors their autonomy, even when the
nurse disagrees with the decision. Beneficence is doing good, nonmaleficence is avoiding harm,
and justice is fairness in healthcare distribution.
Question 2:
A nurse is caring for a patient who is considering euthanasia. The nurse advocates for the
patient's right to information and support but does not assist in the act. Which ethical principle
is the nurse upholding?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: B) Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the principle of "do no harm." By not assisting in euthanasia, the
,nurse avoids causing harm to the patient. The nurse still respects the patient's autonomy by
providing information and support. Beneficence is doing good, and justice is fairness.
Question 3:
A nurse is prioritizing care for multiple patients. One patient is in cardiac arrest, another has a
fractured leg, and a third has a fever. The nurse attends to the cardiac arrest patient FIRST. This
prioritization reflects which ethical principle?
A) Autonomy
B) Justice
C) Beneficence
D) Fidelity
Answer: C) Beneficence
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and act in the patient's best interest. Attending to
the cardiac arrest patient first maximizes the potential to save a life. This is an example of
beneficence. Autonomy is respect for patient choice. Justice is fairness. Fidelity is keeping
promises.
Question 4:
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving treatment that the nurse believes is futile. The
nurse continues to provide care as ordered. This situation primarily involves which ethical
concept?
A) Autonomy
B) Futility of care
C) Justice
D) Nonmaleficence
Answer: B) Futility of care
Rationale: Futility of care refers to interventions that are unlikely to achieve the desired
outcome. The nurse continues to provide care, balancing beneficence and nonmaleficence.
Futility should be discussed with the healthcare team. Autonomy, justice, and nonmaleficence
are also relevant but the scenario primarily addresses futility.
Question 5:
The nurse is caring for a patient who requests information about alternative treatments. The
nurse provides the information and supports the patient's decision. This demonstrates which
ethical principle?
,A) Nonmaleficence
B) Autonomy
C) Beneficence
D) Justice
Answer: B) Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy is respect for the patient's right to make informed decisions. Providing
information and supporting the patient's decision honors autonomy. Beneficence is doing good.
Nonmaleficence is avoiding harm. Justice is fairness. Informed consent is a key aspect of
autonomy.
Question 6:
A nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is verbally abusive. The nurse maintains
professional composure and continues to provide care. Which ethical principle is the nurse
demonstrating?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Fidelity
D) Justice
Answer: C) Fidelity
Rationale: Fidelity is faithfulness to professional obligations and keeping promises. The nurse
demonstrates fidelity by continuing to provide care despite the difficult patient. Autonomy is
respect for patient choice. Beneficence is doing good. Justice is fairness. The nurse's
commitment to the patient is an example of fidelity.
Question 7:
The nurse is caring for a patient who is uninsured and cannot afford medications. The nurse
advocates for the patient to receive financial assistance. Which ethical principle is the nurse
applying?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: D) Justice
Rationale: Justice is the fair distribution of healthcare resources. Advocating for a patient who
cannot afford medications is an example of justice. Beneficence is doing good. Nonmaleficence
, is avoiding harm. Autonomy is respect for patient choice. The nurse addresses social
determinants of health.
Question 8:
A patient with a terminal illness requests to discontinue life-sustaining treatment. The nurse
supports the patient's decision and facilitates the process. Which ethical principle is the nurse
upholding?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C) Autonomy
Rationale: Supporting a patient's decision to discontinue life-sustaining treatment honors
autonomy. The patient has the right to make decisions about their own body and healthcare.
Beneficence is doing good. Nonmaleficence is avoiding harm. Justice is fairness.
Question 9:
The nurse is caring for a patient who is confused and cannot make decisions. The nurse consults
the patient's healthcare proxy. This action respects which ethical principle?
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Justice
Answer: A) Autonomy
Rationale: Consulting the healthcare proxy respects the patient's autonomy by following their
previously expressed wishes. The proxy acts as the patient's decision-maker. Beneficence is
doing good. Nonmaleficence is avoiding harm. Justice is fairness. Autonomy extends to
surrogates when the patient cannot decide.
Question 10:
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving experimental treatment. The nurse ensures
the patient has given informed consent. This is primarily an example of:
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
