ATI Leadership | Week 6 Study Guide (Legal & Ethical Practice)
2026/2027 Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is witnessing a client’s signature on an informed consent form for
surgery. Which of the following is the nurse’s primary responsibility?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Confirming that the provider provided alternative treatments
C. Ensuring the client understands the steps of the surgery
D. Verifying that the client appears competent to provide consent
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse’s role in informed consent is to witness the signature, ensure the
client is competent, and verify the signature is authentic. The provider is responsible for
explaining risks, benefits, and alternatives.
2. Which ethical principle is a nurse practicing when they ensure that all clients
on a unit receive the same level of care regardless of their socioeconomic
status?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Beneficence
D. Fidelity
Answer: B
Rationale: Justice refers to fairness in care delivery and the use of resources, ensuring that
all clients are treated equally.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who decides to stop chemotherapy despite the
provider’s recommendation. Which ethical principle is the nurse supporting by
respecting this decision?
A. Autonomy
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Beneficence
D. Veracity
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of the client to make their own personal decisions, even
when those decisions might not be in their own best health interest.
4. A nurse tells a client that if they do not sit still for a procedure, they will be
tied down with restraints. This is an example of which tort?
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. Negligence
D. False Imprisonment
Answer: B
Rationale: Assault is an action that makes a person fear that they will be touched in an
offensive, insulting, or physically injurious manner.
5. A nurse administers a medication to a client who has expressed refusal to
take it. This action constitutes which of the following?
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. Malpractice
D. False Imprisonment
Answer: A
, Rationale: Battery is intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person that entails
an injury or offensive touching.
6. A nurse is unsure about the legal scope of practice regarding a specific task.
Which of the following resources should the nurse consult?
A. State Nurse Practice Act
B. The facility’s policy manual
C. The American Nurses Association code of ethics
D. The client’s provider
Answer: A
Rationale: The State Nurse Practice Act defines the legal scope of practice for nurses
within that specific state.
7. Which of the following describes the ethical principle of fidelity?
A. Keeping promises and being faithful to commitments
B. Telling the truth to clients and families
C. Doing good and acting in the best interest of the client
D. Doing no harm to the client
Answer: A
Rationale: Fidelity involves keeping promises and fulfilling commitments made to clients
and others.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client tells the
nurse, ‘I don’t really understand why I need this operation.’ Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Explain the procedure to the client in simple terms
B. Ask the client’s next of kin to sign the consent form
C. Notify the provider that the client needs further clarification
D. Proceed with the surgery as the consent is already signed
Answer: C
2026/2027 Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is witnessing a client’s signature on an informed consent form for
surgery. Which of the following is the nurse’s primary responsibility?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Confirming that the provider provided alternative treatments
C. Ensuring the client understands the steps of the surgery
D. Verifying that the client appears competent to provide consent
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse’s role in informed consent is to witness the signature, ensure the
client is competent, and verify the signature is authentic. The provider is responsible for
explaining risks, benefits, and alternatives.
2. Which ethical principle is a nurse practicing when they ensure that all clients
on a unit receive the same level of care regardless of their socioeconomic
status?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Beneficence
D. Fidelity
Answer: B
Rationale: Justice refers to fairness in care delivery and the use of resources, ensuring that
all clients are treated equally.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who decides to stop chemotherapy despite the
provider’s recommendation. Which ethical principle is the nurse supporting by
respecting this decision?
A. Autonomy
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Beneficence
D. Veracity
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of the client to make their own personal decisions, even
when those decisions might not be in their own best health interest.
4. A nurse tells a client that if they do not sit still for a procedure, they will be
tied down with restraints. This is an example of which tort?
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. Negligence
D. False Imprisonment
Answer: B
Rationale: Assault is an action that makes a person fear that they will be touched in an
offensive, insulting, or physically injurious manner.
5. A nurse administers a medication to a client who has expressed refusal to
take it. This action constitutes which of the following?
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. Malpractice
D. False Imprisonment
Answer: A
, Rationale: Battery is intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person that entails
an injury or offensive touching.
6. A nurse is unsure about the legal scope of practice regarding a specific task.
Which of the following resources should the nurse consult?
A. State Nurse Practice Act
B. The facility’s policy manual
C. The American Nurses Association code of ethics
D. The client’s provider
Answer: A
Rationale: The State Nurse Practice Act defines the legal scope of practice for nurses
within that specific state.
7. Which of the following describes the ethical principle of fidelity?
A. Keeping promises and being faithful to commitments
B. Telling the truth to clients and families
C. Doing good and acting in the best interest of the client
D. Doing no harm to the client
Answer: A
Rationale: Fidelity involves keeping promises and fulfilling commitments made to clients
and others.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client tells the
nurse, ‘I don’t really understand why I need this operation.’ Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Explain the procedure to the client in simple terms
B. Ask the client’s next of kin to sign the consent form
C. Notify the provider that the client needs further clarification
D. Proceed with the surgery as the consent is already signed
Answer: C
