UT Austin NUR 5100 Exam 2 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Current Issues in
Prof Nursing Q&A | Nursing
1. Which of the following is a primary function of healthcare policy?
A) To maximize profits for healthcare organizations
B) To establish regulations and standards that govern the healthcare system
C) To eliminate the need for nursing advocacy
D) To reduce the role of nurses in patient care
Correct Answer: To establish regulations and standards that govern the
healthcare system
Rationale: Healthcare policy refers to the decisions, goals, and actions that
shape the delivery of healthcare. It includes laws, regulations, and guidelines
that influence how healthcare is provided, financed, and accessed.
2. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) had a significant
impact on nursing by:
A) Decreasing the demand for primary care providers
B) Expanding access to healthcare and emphasizing preventive care
C) Eliminating the need for nurse practitioners
D) Decreasing the focus on population health
Correct Answer: Expanding access to healthcare and emphasizing preventive
care
Rationale: The ACA expanded health insurance coverage to millions of
Americans and emphasized primary and preventive care, which has
increased the demand for nurses in these areas.
3. The rising cost of healthcare in America is a challenge for the nursing
profession because it:
A) Increases the funding available for nursing research
B) Creates pressure to reduce costs, which can impact staffing and patient
care
,C) Has no effect on nursing practice
D) Leads to higher salaries for nurses
Correct Answer: Creates pressure to reduce costs, which can impact staffing
and patient care
Rationale: The high cost of healthcare places pressure on healthcare systems
to reduce expenses, which can lead to staffing shortages, increased
workloads, and potential compromises in patient care.
4. Which of the following is a major source of healthcare funding in the
United States?
A) Private health insurance
B) Medicare and Medicaid
C) Out-of-pocket payments
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: Healthcare in the U.S. is funded through a combination of private
insurance, government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and out-of-
pocket payments.
5. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal
law that primarily protects:
A) The right to health insurance
B) The privacy and security of patient health information
C) The scope of practice for nurses
D) The funding for nursing education
Correct Answer: The privacy and security of patient health information
Rationale: HIPAA establishes national standards to protect individuals'
medical records and other personal health information, ensuring
confidentiality and security.
,6. A nurse is reviewing a patient's medical record. The nurse notices that the
patient's health information has been accessed by someone not involved in
the patient's care. This is a violation of:
A) The Code of Ethics
B) HIPAA
C) The Nurse Practice Act
D) The hospital's visiting policy
Correct Answer: HIPAA
Rationale: HIPAA protects the privacy and security of patient health
information. Unauthorized access to a patient's medical record is a violation
of HIPAA.
7. The primary purpose of a state's Nurse Practice Act is to:
A) Define the legal scope of practice for nurses
B) Set the salaries for nurses
C) Regulate the number of nurses in a state
D) Establish national standards for nursing education
Correct Answer: Define the legal scope of practice for nurses
Rationale: Each state's Nurse Practice Act defines the legal scope of practice
for nurses, outlining what they are permitted to do in their role.
8. Which of the following is a key element of informed consent?
A) The patient's agreement to any treatment without understanding the risks
B) Disclosure of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure
C) A signed document without any explanation
D) The patient's agreement to follow the physician's orders without question
Correct Answer: Disclosure of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a
procedure
, Rationale: Informed consent requires that the patient be provided with
adequate information about the procedure, including its risks, benefits, and
alternatives, so they can make a voluntary decision.
9. A nurse's responsibility to advocate for a patient's rights is grounded in
which of the following?
A) The hospital's financial policies
B) The ethical and legal obligations of the profession
C) The patient's insurance coverage
D) The physician's orders
Correct Answer: The ethical and legal obligations of the profession
Rationale: Advocacy is a core ethical and legal responsibility of the
professional nurse, as defined by the ANA's Code of Ethics.
10. The ethical principle of "autonomy" in healthcare refers to:
A) The duty to do good
B) The duty to avoid harm
C) The patient's right to self-determination and to make their own decisions
D) The duty to be fair
Correct Answer: The patient's right to self-determination and to make their
own decisions
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that respects a patient's right to
self-determination and to make their own decisions about their healthcare,
even if those decisions are not in their best medical interest.
11. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion based on their religious
beliefs. The nurse respects this decision. This action is based on which
ethical principle?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
Prof Nursing Q&A | Nursing
1. Which of the following is a primary function of healthcare policy?
A) To maximize profits for healthcare organizations
B) To establish regulations and standards that govern the healthcare system
C) To eliminate the need for nursing advocacy
D) To reduce the role of nurses in patient care
Correct Answer: To establish regulations and standards that govern the
healthcare system
Rationale: Healthcare policy refers to the decisions, goals, and actions that
shape the delivery of healthcare. It includes laws, regulations, and guidelines
that influence how healthcare is provided, financed, and accessed.
2. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) had a significant
impact on nursing by:
A) Decreasing the demand for primary care providers
B) Expanding access to healthcare and emphasizing preventive care
C) Eliminating the need for nurse practitioners
D) Decreasing the focus on population health
Correct Answer: Expanding access to healthcare and emphasizing preventive
care
Rationale: The ACA expanded health insurance coverage to millions of
Americans and emphasized primary and preventive care, which has
increased the demand for nurses in these areas.
3. The rising cost of healthcare in America is a challenge for the nursing
profession because it:
A) Increases the funding available for nursing research
B) Creates pressure to reduce costs, which can impact staffing and patient
care
,C) Has no effect on nursing practice
D) Leads to higher salaries for nurses
Correct Answer: Creates pressure to reduce costs, which can impact staffing
and patient care
Rationale: The high cost of healthcare places pressure on healthcare systems
to reduce expenses, which can lead to staffing shortages, increased
workloads, and potential compromises in patient care.
4. Which of the following is a major source of healthcare funding in the
United States?
A) Private health insurance
B) Medicare and Medicaid
C) Out-of-pocket payments
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: Healthcare in the U.S. is funded through a combination of private
insurance, government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and out-of-
pocket payments.
5. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal
law that primarily protects:
A) The right to health insurance
B) The privacy and security of patient health information
C) The scope of practice for nurses
D) The funding for nursing education
Correct Answer: The privacy and security of patient health information
Rationale: HIPAA establishes national standards to protect individuals'
medical records and other personal health information, ensuring
confidentiality and security.
,6. A nurse is reviewing a patient's medical record. The nurse notices that the
patient's health information has been accessed by someone not involved in
the patient's care. This is a violation of:
A) The Code of Ethics
B) HIPAA
C) The Nurse Practice Act
D) The hospital's visiting policy
Correct Answer: HIPAA
Rationale: HIPAA protects the privacy and security of patient health
information. Unauthorized access to a patient's medical record is a violation
of HIPAA.
7. The primary purpose of a state's Nurse Practice Act is to:
A) Define the legal scope of practice for nurses
B) Set the salaries for nurses
C) Regulate the number of nurses in a state
D) Establish national standards for nursing education
Correct Answer: Define the legal scope of practice for nurses
Rationale: Each state's Nurse Practice Act defines the legal scope of practice
for nurses, outlining what they are permitted to do in their role.
8. Which of the following is a key element of informed consent?
A) The patient's agreement to any treatment without understanding the risks
B) Disclosure of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure
C) A signed document without any explanation
D) The patient's agreement to follow the physician's orders without question
Correct Answer: Disclosure of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a
procedure
, Rationale: Informed consent requires that the patient be provided with
adequate information about the procedure, including its risks, benefits, and
alternatives, so they can make a voluntary decision.
9. A nurse's responsibility to advocate for a patient's rights is grounded in
which of the following?
A) The hospital's financial policies
B) The ethical and legal obligations of the profession
C) The patient's insurance coverage
D) The physician's orders
Correct Answer: The ethical and legal obligations of the profession
Rationale: Advocacy is a core ethical and legal responsibility of the
professional nurse, as defined by the ANA's Code of Ethics.
10. The ethical principle of "autonomy" in healthcare refers to:
A) The duty to do good
B) The duty to avoid harm
C) The patient's right to self-determination and to make their own decisions
D) The duty to be fair
Correct Answer: The patient's right to self-determination and to make their
own decisions
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that respects a patient's right to
self-determination and to make their own decisions about their healthcare,
even if those decisions are not in their best medical interest.
11. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion based on their religious
beliefs. The nurse respects this decision. This action is based on which
ethical principle?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
