BSN3A Nursing Ethics and Legal Issues – Exam Practice Questions & Verified Answers with Explained
Rationales (2026 Latest Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. A patient refuses to take a prescribed medication. The nurse respects the patient's decision. This
demonstrates which ethical principle?
A) Beneficence
B) Non-maleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer C: Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions.
2. The nurse administers a medication without checking the patient's identification. The patient
suffers an adverse reaction. This is an example of:
A) Assault
B) Negligence
C) Battery
D) Defamation
Answer B: Negligence
Rationale: Negligence is failure to act as a reasonably prudent nurse would, causing harm.
3. A nurse threatens to restrain a patient who refuses to take medication. This is an example of:
A) Battery
B) Assault
C) False imprisonment
D) Defamation
Answer B: Assault
Rationale: Assault is threatening or attempting to touch another person without consent.
,4. A nurse physically restrains a patient without an order or consent. This is an example of:
A) Assault
B) Battery
C) False imprisonment
D) Defamation
Answer B: Battery
Rationale: Battery is the actual physical contact or harm without consent.
5. The nurse tells a patient, "If you don't take this medication, I'll call security." The patient takes the
medication. This is an example of:
A) Battery
B) Assault
C) Defamation
D) Negligence
Answer B: Assault
Rationale: Assault involves the threat of harm that causes fear.
6. A patient is involuntarily confined to a room without legal justification. This is an example of:
A) Assault
B) Battery
C) False imprisonment
D) Defamation
Answer C: False imprisonment
Rationale: False imprisonment is the unjustified confinement of a patient against their will.
7. Which of the following is a required element for a malpractice claim?
A) Intent to harm
B) Breach of duty that causes injury
C) Verbal threat
D) Lack of consent
Answer B: Breach of duty that causes injury
Rationale: Malpractice requires duty, breach, causation, and damages.
,8. A nurse fails to assess a patient's vital signs before administering a medication, and the patient
suffers an adverse reaction. This is an example of:
A) Assault
B) Battery
C) Malpractice
D) Defamation
Answer C: Malpractice
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence that results in harm.
9. Which of the following is a component of informed consent?
A) Only the patient's signature
B) Disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives
C) Completion by the nurse
D) Verbal agreement only
Answer B: Disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives
Rationale: Informed consent requires explanation of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to refuse.
10. A patient is unable to give informed consent due to altered mental status. The nurse should:
A) Proceed with the procedure
B) Obtain consent from the patient's legal surrogate or next of kin
C) Wait until the patient is alert
D) Have another patient consent
Answer B: Obtain consent from the patient's legal surrogate or next of kin
Rationale: Surrogate decision-makers provide consent when the patient lacks capacity.
11. The nurse provides confidential patient information to a patient's family member without
consent. This is a violation of:
A) HIPAA
B) EMTALA
C) PSDA
D) ADA
, Answer A: HIPAA j0 j0
Rationale: HIPAA protects patient privacy; information may only be shared with authorized individuals.
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12. A nurse discusses a patient's diagnosis in the hospital elevator. This is a violation of:
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A) HIPAA
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B) EMTALA
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C) PSDA
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D) ADAj0
Answer A: HIPAA j0 j0
Rationale: HIPAA requires protection of patient information; inappropriate discussions violate privacy.
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13. A patient asks to see their medical records. The nurse should:
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A) Refuse the request
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B) Facilitate access per hospital policy
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C) Ask the patient's family for permission
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D) Destroy the records
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Answer B: Facilitate access per hospital policy
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Rationale: Patients have the right to access their medical records.
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14. Which law ensures that patients are informed of their rights to make healthcare decisions,
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A) HIPAA
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B) Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)
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C) EMTALA
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D) ADAj0
Answer B: Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)
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Rationale: PSDA requires healthcare facilities to inform patients of their rights to advance directives.
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15. A patient with a terminal illness has a living will stating no CPR. The family requests CPR. The
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A) Follow the family's request
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B) Follow the patient's advance directive
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Rationales (2026 Latest Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. A patient refuses to take a prescribed medication. The nurse respects the patient's decision. This
demonstrates which ethical principle?
A) Beneficence
B) Non-maleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer C: Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions.
2. The nurse administers a medication without checking the patient's identification. The patient
suffers an adverse reaction. This is an example of:
A) Assault
B) Negligence
C) Battery
D) Defamation
Answer B: Negligence
Rationale: Negligence is failure to act as a reasonably prudent nurse would, causing harm.
3. A nurse threatens to restrain a patient who refuses to take medication. This is an example of:
A) Battery
B) Assault
C) False imprisonment
D) Defamation
Answer B: Assault
Rationale: Assault is threatening or attempting to touch another person without consent.
,4. A nurse physically restrains a patient without an order or consent. This is an example of:
A) Assault
B) Battery
C) False imprisonment
D) Defamation
Answer B: Battery
Rationale: Battery is the actual physical contact or harm without consent.
5. The nurse tells a patient, "If you don't take this medication, I'll call security." The patient takes the
medication. This is an example of:
A) Battery
B) Assault
C) Defamation
D) Negligence
Answer B: Assault
Rationale: Assault involves the threat of harm that causes fear.
6. A patient is involuntarily confined to a room without legal justification. This is an example of:
A) Assault
B) Battery
C) False imprisonment
D) Defamation
Answer C: False imprisonment
Rationale: False imprisonment is the unjustified confinement of a patient against their will.
7. Which of the following is a required element for a malpractice claim?
A) Intent to harm
B) Breach of duty that causes injury
C) Verbal threat
D) Lack of consent
Answer B: Breach of duty that causes injury
Rationale: Malpractice requires duty, breach, causation, and damages.
,8. A nurse fails to assess a patient's vital signs before administering a medication, and the patient
suffers an adverse reaction. This is an example of:
A) Assault
B) Battery
C) Malpractice
D) Defamation
Answer C: Malpractice
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence that results in harm.
9. Which of the following is a component of informed consent?
A) Only the patient's signature
B) Disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives
C) Completion by the nurse
D) Verbal agreement only
Answer B: Disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives
Rationale: Informed consent requires explanation of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to refuse.
10. A patient is unable to give informed consent due to altered mental status. The nurse should:
A) Proceed with the procedure
B) Obtain consent from the patient's legal surrogate or next of kin
C) Wait until the patient is alert
D) Have another patient consent
Answer B: Obtain consent from the patient's legal surrogate or next of kin
Rationale: Surrogate decision-makers provide consent when the patient lacks capacity.
11. The nurse provides confidential patient information to a patient's family member without
consent. This is a violation of:
A) HIPAA
B) EMTALA
C) PSDA
D) ADA
, Answer A: HIPAA j0 j0
Rationale: HIPAA protects patient privacy; information may only be shared with authorized individuals.
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12. A nurse discusses a patient's diagnosis in the hospital elevator. This is a violation of:
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A) HIPAA
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B) EMTALA
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C) PSDA
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D) ADAj0
Answer A: HIPAA j0 j0
Rationale: HIPAA requires protection of patient information; inappropriate discussions violate privacy.
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13. A patient asks to see their medical records. The nurse should:
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A) Refuse the request
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B) Facilitate access per hospital policy
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C) Ask the patient's family for permission
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D) Destroy the records
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Answer B: Facilitate access per hospital policy
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Rationale: Patients have the right to access their medical records.
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14. Which law ensures that patients are informed of their rights to make healthcare decisions,
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A) HIPAA
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B) Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)
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C) EMTALA
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D) ADAj0
Answer B: Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)
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Rationale: PSDA requires healthcare facilities to inform patients of their rights to advance directives.
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15. A patient with a terminal illness has a living will stating no CPR. The family requests CPR. The
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A) Follow the family's request
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B) Follow the patient's advance directive
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