NURSING ETHICS TEST BANK
QUESTIONS & 100% VERIFIED AND
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS; UPDATED
VERSION
A 77-year-old woman with an inoperable brain tumor has been hospitalized for the past 5 days. Her
daughter comes to visit her. The patient has asked that her daughter not be told her diagnosis. After
visiting with her mother, the daughter asks to speak to the nurse. She says, My mother claims she has
pneumonia, but I know she is not telling me the truth. The daughter asks the nurse to tell her what is
truly wrong with her mother. The nurse should tell her that:
1) Her mother has an inoperable brain tumor, but does not wish anyone to know.
2) She needs to speak to the physician in charge of her mothers care.
3) Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even family.
4) Her mother is very sick with a serious case of pneumonia that could lead to death. - ANS-3) Her
mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even family.
The nurses first allegiance is to the patient and her desire for confidentiality. Telling the daughter to
speak to the physician would place the physician in the same position as the nurse. Telling her that her
mother has pneumonia would be a lie. The nurse, of course, should inform the physician of the patients
wishes so that he will be prepared if the daughter questions him about her mothers health condition.
Which of the following terms refers to the ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice?
1) Nursing ethics
2) Bioethics
3) Ethical dilemma
4) Moral distress - ANS-1) Nursing ethics
Nursing ethics refers to ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice. Bioethics is a broader field
that refers to the application of ethics to healthcare. An ethical dilemma occurs when a choice must be
made between two equally undesirable actions, and there is no clearly right or wrong option. Moral
distress occurs when someone is unable to carry out his or her moral decision.
A belief about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that influences decision
making is called which of the following?
1) Morals
, 2) Attitudes
3) Beliefs
4) Values - ANS-4) Values
A value is a belief you have about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that
influences decision making. Morals are private, personal, or group standards of right and wrong.
Attitudes are mental dispositions or feelings toward a person, object, or idea. A belief is something that
one accepts as true.
A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is conscious and
competent and has decided that he wants to be removed from the ventilator. His family and the
multidisciplinary team agree. The nurse believes the patient intends suicide and would prefer he choose
differently but says nothing. The nurse remains at the bedside holding the patients hand. In this instance
the nurse is displaying which of the following?
1) Value set
2) Value system
3) Value neutrality
4) Value awareness - ANS-3) Value neutrality
Value neutrality occurs when we put aside our own values regarding an issue in order to provide
nonjudgmental care to clients. A value set is your list of values. A value system is your value set with the
values ranked on a continuum from most important to least important.
A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is alert and oriented
and, after giving it much thought, has decided that he wants to be removed from the ventilator. The
nurse believes the patient intends suicide but supports his final decision. When the ventilator is
removed, the nurse remains with the patient to support him. The nurses action demonstrates respect
for what moral principle?
1) Nonmaleficence
2) Autonomy
3) Beneficence
4) Fidelity - ANS-2) Autonomy
Autonomy refers to a persons right to choose and his ability to act on that choice. In this case, the nurse
respects the patients right to choose to die. Nonmaleficence is the twofold principle of doing no harm
and preventing harm. Beneficence is the duty to do or promote good. Fidelity is the obligation to keep
promises.
Which of the following consequentialist theories takes the position that the value of an action is
determined by its usefulness?
1) Ethics of care
2) Utilitarianism
3) Deontology
4) Categorical imperative - ANS-2) Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that takes the position that the value of an action is
determined by its usefulness. An ethics of care is a nursing philosophy that directs attention to the
QUESTIONS & 100% VERIFIED AND
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS; UPDATED
VERSION
A 77-year-old woman with an inoperable brain tumor has been hospitalized for the past 5 days. Her
daughter comes to visit her. The patient has asked that her daughter not be told her diagnosis. After
visiting with her mother, the daughter asks to speak to the nurse. She says, My mother claims she has
pneumonia, but I know she is not telling me the truth. The daughter asks the nurse to tell her what is
truly wrong with her mother. The nurse should tell her that:
1) Her mother has an inoperable brain tumor, but does not wish anyone to know.
2) She needs to speak to the physician in charge of her mothers care.
3) Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even family.
4) Her mother is very sick with a serious case of pneumonia that could lead to death. - ANS-3) Her
mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even family.
The nurses first allegiance is to the patient and her desire for confidentiality. Telling the daughter to
speak to the physician would place the physician in the same position as the nurse. Telling her that her
mother has pneumonia would be a lie. The nurse, of course, should inform the physician of the patients
wishes so that he will be prepared if the daughter questions him about her mothers health condition.
Which of the following terms refers to the ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice?
1) Nursing ethics
2) Bioethics
3) Ethical dilemma
4) Moral distress - ANS-1) Nursing ethics
Nursing ethics refers to ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice. Bioethics is a broader field
that refers to the application of ethics to healthcare. An ethical dilemma occurs when a choice must be
made between two equally undesirable actions, and there is no clearly right or wrong option. Moral
distress occurs when someone is unable to carry out his or her moral decision.
A belief about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that influences decision
making is called which of the following?
1) Morals
, 2) Attitudes
3) Beliefs
4) Values - ANS-4) Values
A value is a belief you have about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that
influences decision making. Morals are private, personal, or group standards of right and wrong.
Attitudes are mental dispositions or feelings toward a person, object, or idea. A belief is something that
one accepts as true.
A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is conscious and
competent and has decided that he wants to be removed from the ventilator. His family and the
multidisciplinary team agree. The nurse believes the patient intends suicide and would prefer he choose
differently but says nothing. The nurse remains at the bedside holding the patients hand. In this instance
the nurse is displaying which of the following?
1) Value set
2) Value system
3) Value neutrality
4) Value awareness - ANS-3) Value neutrality
Value neutrality occurs when we put aside our own values regarding an issue in order to provide
nonjudgmental care to clients. A value set is your list of values. A value system is your value set with the
values ranked on a continuum from most important to least important.
A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is alert and oriented
and, after giving it much thought, has decided that he wants to be removed from the ventilator. The
nurse believes the patient intends suicide but supports his final decision. When the ventilator is
removed, the nurse remains with the patient to support him. The nurses action demonstrates respect
for what moral principle?
1) Nonmaleficence
2) Autonomy
3) Beneficence
4) Fidelity - ANS-2) Autonomy
Autonomy refers to a persons right to choose and his ability to act on that choice. In this case, the nurse
respects the patients right to choose to die. Nonmaleficence is the twofold principle of doing no harm
and preventing harm. Beneficence is the duty to do or promote good. Fidelity is the obligation to keep
promises.
Which of the following consequentialist theories takes the position that the value of an action is
determined by its usefulness?
1) Ethics of care
2) Utilitarianism
3) Deontology
4) Categorical imperative - ANS-2) Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that takes the position that the value of an action is
determined by its usefulness. An ethics of care is a nursing philosophy that directs attention to the
