TEST BANK
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical
Nursing, 15th Edition
Hinkle, Cheever & Overbaugh
ISBN: 9781975161033
Chapters 1-68
Complete ANSWER>.>s with Rationales
CHAPTER 1: PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE
1. A nurse has been offered a position on an obstetric unit and has learned that the unit offers
therapeutic abortions, a procedure that contradicts the nurse's personal beliefs. What is the nurse's
ethical obligation to these clients?
A. The nurse should adhere to professional standards of practice and offer service to these clients.
B. The nurse should make the choice to decline this position and pursue a different nursing role.
C. The nurse should decline to care for the clients considering abortion.
D. The nurse should express alternatives to women considering terminating their pregnancy.
ANSWER>.>: B
,Rationale: To avoid facing the ethical dilemma of providing care that contradicts the nurse's personal
beliefs, the nurse should consider working in an area of nursing that would not pose this dilemma. The
nurse should not provide care to the client because it is a conflict of personal values. The nurse should
not deny care to these clients as this would be a breach in the Code of Ethics for nurses. If the client is
not requesting information for alternatives to abortions, then the nurse should not be providing this
information.
2. An 80-year-old client is admitted with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia. During
admission the client states, "I have a living will." What implication of this should the nurse recognize?
A. This document is always honored, regardless of circumstances.
B. This document specifies the client's wishes before hospitalization.
C. This document is binding for the duration of the client's life.
D. This document has been drawn up by the client's family to determine DNR status.
ANSWER>.>: B
Rationale: A living will is one type of advance directive. In most situations, living wills are limited to
situations in which the client's medical condition is deemed terminal. The other ANSWER>.>s are
incorrect because living wills are not always honored in every circumstance, they are not binding for the
duration of the client's life, and they are not drawn up by the client's family.
3. A nurse has been providing ethical care for many years and is aware of the need to maintain the
ethical principle of nonmaleficence. Which of the following actions would be considered a violation of
this principle?
A. Discussing a DNR order with a terminally ill client
B. Assisting a semi-independent client with ADLs
,C. Refusing to administer pain medication as prescribed
D. Providing emotional support to a grieving family member
ANSWER>.>: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means to do no harm. Refusing to administer prescribed pain medication
causes harm to the client by allowing unnecessary suffering. Discussing DNR orders is appropriate and
respects client autonomy. Assisting with ADLs promotes independence and well-being. Providing
emotional support is beneficial and does not cause harm.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The client's
family members are present and insist the client should receive the transfusion. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Administer the blood transfusion as ordered to save the client's life.
B. Respect the client's decision and document the refusal.
C. Contact the hospital ethics committee immediately.
D. Ask the family to leave the room so the client can make a decision.
ANSWER>.>: B
Rationale: The nurse must respect the client's autonomous decision regarding healthcare treatments,
even if the family disagrees. Clients have the right to refuse treatment based on their personal beliefs
and values. Administering the transfusion against the client's wishes would be battery and a violation of
ethical principles. The ethics committee would only be consulted if there is a conflict or uncertainty
about the client's capacity to make decisions. Asking family to leave is not appropriate as it disregards
their presence and support.
, 5. A new graduate nurse is confused about the difference between legal and ethical obligations in
nursing practice. Which statement best describes the relationship between law and ethics?
A. Legal obligations and ethical obligations are always identical.
B. Ethical obligations are legally enforceable in all situations.
C. Legal obligations are minimum standards of conduct, while ethics involve higher standards of
behavior.
D. Ethics only applies when there is no legal guidance available.
ANSWER>.>: C
Rationale: Laws establish minimum standards of conduct that are legally enforceable, while ethics
involve broader principles of right and wrong that guide professional behavior. Ethical standards may
exceed legal requirements. Legal and ethical obligations are not always identical. Not all ethical
obligations are legally enforceable. Ethics guides behavior even when legal guidance exists.
6. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. What is the nurse's
responsibility regarding this order?
A. Question the order to ensure it is appropriate for the client.
B. Follow the DNR order as written by the healthcare provider.
C. Discuss the DNR order with the client's family members.
D. Ignore the DNR order and provide full resuscitation efforts.
ANSWER>.>: B
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical
Nursing, 15th Edition
Hinkle, Cheever & Overbaugh
ISBN: 9781975161033
Chapters 1-68
Complete ANSWER>.>s with Rationales
CHAPTER 1: PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE
1. A nurse has been offered a position on an obstetric unit and has learned that the unit offers
therapeutic abortions, a procedure that contradicts the nurse's personal beliefs. What is the nurse's
ethical obligation to these clients?
A. The nurse should adhere to professional standards of practice and offer service to these clients.
B. The nurse should make the choice to decline this position and pursue a different nursing role.
C. The nurse should decline to care for the clients considering abortion.
D. The nurse should express alternatives to women considering terminating their pregnancy.
ANSWER>.>: B
,Rationale: To avoid facing the ethical dilemma of providing care that contradicts the nurse's personal
beliefs, the nurse should consider working in an area of nursing that would not pose this dilemma. The
nurse should not provide care to the client because it is a conflict of personal values. The nurse should
not deny care to these clients as this would be a breach in the Code of Ethics for nurses. If the client is
not requesting information for alternatives to abortions, then the nurse should not be providing this
information.
2. An 80-year-old client is admitted with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia. During
admission the client states, "I have a living will." What implication of this should the nurse recognize?
A. This document is always honored, regardless of circumstances.
B. This document specifies the client's wishes before hospitalization.
C. This document is binding for the duration of the client's life.
D. This document has been drawn up by the client's family to determine DNR status.
ANSWER>.>: B
Rationale: A living will is one type of advance directive. In most situations, living wills are limited to
situations in which the client's medical condition is deemed terminal. The other ANSWER>.>s are
incorrect because living wills are not always honored in every circumstance, they are not binding for the
duration of the client's life, and they are not drawn up by the client's family.
3. A nurse has been providing ethical care for many years and is aware of the need to maintain the
ethical principle of nonmaleficence. Which of the following actions would be considered a violation of
this principle?
A. Discussing a DNR order with a terminally ill client
B. Assisting a semi-independent client with ADLs
,C. Refusing to administer pain medication as prescribed
D. Providing emotional support to a grieving family member
ANSWER>.>: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means to do no harm. Refusing to administer prescribed pain medication
causes harm to the client by allowing unnecessary suffering. Discussing DNR orders is appropriate and
respects client autonomy. Assisting with ADLs promotes independence and well-being. Providing
emotional support is beneficial and does not cause harm.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The client's
family members are present and insist the client should receive the transfusion. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Administer the blood transfusion as ordered to save the client's life.
B. Respect the client's decision and document the refusal.
C. Contact the hospital ethics committee immediately.
D. Ask the family to leave the room so the client can make a decision.
ANSWER>.>: B
Rationale: The nurse must respect the client's autonomous decision regarding healthcare treatments,
even if the family disagrees. Clients have the right to refuse treatment based on their personal beliefs
and values. Administering the transfusion against the client's wishes would be battery and a violation of
ethical principles. The ethics committee would only be consulted if there is a conflict or uncertainty
about the client's capacity to make decisions. Asking family to leave is not appropriate as it disregards
their presence and support.
, 5. A new graduate nurse is confused about the difference between legal and ethical obligations in
nursing practice. Which statement best describes the relationship between law and ethics?
A. Legal obligations and ethical obligations are always identical.
B. Ethical obligations are legally enforceable in all situations.
C. Legal obligations are minimum standards of conduct, while ethics involve higher standards of
behavior.
D. Ethics only applies when there is no legal guidance available.
ANSWER>.>: C
Rationale: Laws establish minimum standards of conduct that are legally enforceable, while ethics
involve broader principles of right and wrong that guide professional behavior. Ethical standards may
exceed legal requirements. Legal and ethical obligations are not always identical. Not all ethical
obligations are legally enforceable. Ethics guides behavior even when legal guidance exists.
6. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. What is the nurse's
responsibility regarding this order?
A. Question the order to ensure it is appropriate for the client.
B. Follow the DNR order as written by the healthcare provider.
C. Discuss the DNR order with the client's family members.
D. Ignore the DNR order and provide full resuscitation efforts.
ANSWER>.>: B
