NCLEX RN Practice Questions WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
A client is referred to a surgeon by the general practitioner. After meeting the surgeon,
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the client decides to find a different surgeon to continue treatment. The nurse supports
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the client's action, utilizing which ethical principle?
v v v v v v v v
1. Beneficence
v
2. Veracity
v
3. Autonomy
v
4. Privacy - answer-Answer: 3
v v v v
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of individuals to take action for themselves.
v v v v v v v v v v v
vBeneficence is an ethical principle to do good and applies when the nurse has a city to
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vhelp others by doing what is best for them. Veracity refers to truthfulness. Privacy is the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vnondisclosure of information by the health care team. v v v v v v v
Cognitive Level: Applying v v
Client Need: Management of Care
v v v v
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation
v v v v
Content Area: Fundamentals
v v
Strategy: The core issue of the question is the ability to interpret which ethical principle is
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
voperating in a specific situation. Eliminate beneficence and veracity next because they
v v v v v v v v v v v
vfocus on the obligation of the nurse rather than on a right of the client.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A nurse forgets to administer a client's diuretic and the client experiences an episode of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
pulmonary edema. The charge nurse would consider the medication error to constitute
v v v v v v v v v v v v
negligence because the situation contains which element?
v v v v v v v
1. Purposeful failure to perform a health care procedure
v v v v v v v v
2. Unintentional failure to perform a health care procedure
v v v v v v v v
3. Act of substituting a different medication for the one ordered
v v v v v v v v v v
4. Failure to follow a direct order by a physician - answer-Answer: 2
v v v v v v v v v v v v
Rationale: Negligence is the unintentional failure of an individual to perform or not
v v v v v v v v v v v v
perform an act that a reasonable person would or would not do in the same or similar
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
circumstances. A purposeful failure to perform a procedure would be the opposite of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
negligence, which is unintentional. Substituting a different medication does not fit the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
description of the situation in the question. Failure to follow a direct order does not fit the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
description in the situation in the question.
v v v v v v v v
, Cognitive Level: Applying v v
Client Need: Management of Care
v v v v
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment v v v v
Content Area: Fundamentals v v
Strategy: Two options are opposites, which is a clue that one of them may be correct.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vChoose unintentional failure to carry out a procedure over purposeful failure because it
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vmatches the definition of negligence. v v v v
A client asks why a diagnostic test has been ordered and the nurse replies, "I'm unsure
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
but will find out for you." When the nurse later returns and provides an explanation, the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
nurse is acting under which principle?
v v v v v v
1. Nonmaleficence
v
2. Veracity
v
3. Beneficence
v
4. Fidelity - answer-Answer: 4
v v v v v
Rationale: Fidelity means being faithful to agreements and promises. This nurse is
v v v v v v v v v v v
vacting on the client's behalf to obtain needed information and report it back to the client.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vNonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm. Veracity refers to telling the truth for v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vexample, not lying to a client about a serious prognosis. Beneficence means doing
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vgood, such as by implementing actions (e.g. keeping a salt shaker out of sight) that
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbenefit a client (heart condition requiring sodium-restricted diet).
v v v v v v v
Cognitive Level: Understanding v v
Client Need: Management of Care
v v v v
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation v v v v
Content Area: Fundamentals v v
Strategy: Use the process of elimination. The correct answer is the one that matches the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vdescription in the stem; that is, the nurse made a promise to a client and kept it, which
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vconstitutes fidelity. v
An individual has a seizure while walking down the street. During the seizure, a nurse
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
from a physician's office is noticed driving past without stopping to assist. The individual
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
sues the nurse for negligence but fails to win a judgement for which reason?
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
1. The nurse had no duty to the individual.
v v v v v v v v
2. The nurse did what most nurses would do in the same circumstance.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
3. The nurse did not cause the client's injuries.
v v v v v v v v
4. The nurse was off-duty at the time. - answer-Answer: 1
v v v v v v v v v v v
Rationale: To be guilty of negligence, the nurse must have a relationship with the client
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
that involves a duty to provide care. The relationship is usually a component of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
employment. The nurse did not necessarily do what others would do in this situation.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Although the nurse did not cause the client's injuries, it does not prevent the nurse from
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
assisting in this situation. Although the nurse was off-duty, the nurse could have
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
assisted if motivated to do so.
v v v v v v
Cognitive Level: Understanding v v
Client Need: Management of Care
v v v v
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
A client is referred to a surgeon by the general practitioner. After meeting the surgeon,
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the client decides to find a different surgeon to continue treatment. The nurse supports
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the client's action, utilizing which ethical principle?
v v v v v v v v
1. Beneficence
v
2. Veracity
v
3. Autonomy
v
4. Privacy - answer-Answer: 3
v v v v
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of individuals to take action for themselves.
v v v v v v v v v v v
vBeneficence is an ethical principle to do good and applies when the nurse has a city to
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vhelp others by doing what is best for them. Veracity refers to truthfulness. Privacy is the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vnondisclosure of information by the health care team. v v v v v v v
Cognitive Level: Applying v v
Client Need: Management of Care
v v v v
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation
v v v v
Content Area: Fundamentals
v v
Strategy: The core issue of the question is the ability to interpret which ethical principle is
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
voperating in a specific situation. Eliminate beneficence and veracity next because they
v v v v v v v v v v v
vfocus on the obligation of the nurse rather than on a right of the client.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A nurse forgets to administer a client's diuretic and the client experiences an episode of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
pulmonary edema. The charge nurse would consider the medication error to constitute
v v v v v v v v v v v v
negligence because the situation contains which element?
v v v v v v v
1. Purposeful failure to perform a health care procedure
v v v v v v v v
2. Unintentional failure to perform a health care procedure
v v v v v v v v
3. Act of substituting a different medication for the one ordered
v v v v v v v v v v
4. Failure to follow a direct order by a physician - answer-Answer: 2
v v v v v v v v v v v v
Rationale: Negligence is the unintentional failure of an individual to perform or not
v v v v v v v v v v v v
perform an act that a reasonable person would or would not do in the same or similar
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
circumstances. A purposeful failure to perform a procedure would be the opposite of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
negligence, which is unintentional. Substituting a different medication does not fit the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
description of the situation in the question. Failure to follow a direct order does not fit the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
description in the situation in the question.
v v v v v v v v
, Cognitive Level: Applying v v
Client Need: Management of Care
v v v v
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment v v v v
Content Area: Fundamentals v v
Strategy: Two options are opposites, which is a clue that one of them may be correct.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vChoose unintentional failure to carry out a procedure over purposeful failure because it
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vmatches the definition of negligence. v v v v
A client asks why a diagnostic test has been ordered and the nurse replies, "I'm unsure
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
but will find out for you." When the nurse later returns and provides an explanation, the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
nurse is acting under which principle?
v v v v v v
1. Nonmaleficence
v
2. Veracity
v
3. Beneficence
v
4. Fidelity - answer-Answer: 4
v v v v v
Rationale: Fidelity means being faithful to agreements and promises. This nurse is
v v v v v v v v v v v
vacting on the client's behalf to obtain needed information and report it back to the client.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vNonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm. Veracity refers to telling the truth for v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vexample, not lying to a client about a serious prognosis. Beneficence means doing
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vgood, such as by implementing actions (e.g. keeping a salt shaker out of sight) that
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbenefit a client (heart condition requiring sodium-restricted diet).
v v v v v v v
Cognitive Level: Understanding v v
Client Need: Management of Care
v v v v
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation v v v v
Content Area: Fundamentals v v
Strategy: Use the process of elimination. The correct answer is the one that matches the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vdescription in the stem; that is, the nurse made a promise to a client and kept it, which
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vconstitutes fidelity. v
An individual has a seizure while walking down the street. During the seizure, a nurse
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
from a physician's office is noticed driving past without stopping to assist. The individual
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
sues the nurse for negligence but fails to win a judgement for which reason?
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
1. The nurse had no duty to the individual.
v v v v v v v v
2. The nurse did what most nurses would do in the same circumstance.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
3. The nurse did not cause the client's injuries.
v v v v v v v v
4. The nurse was off-duty at the time. - answer-Answer: 1
v v v v v v v v v v v
Rationale: To be guilty of negligence, the nurse must have a relationship with the client
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
that involves a duty to provide care. The relationship is usually a component of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
employment. The nurse did not necessarily do what others would do in this situation.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Although the nurse did not cause the client's injuries, it does not prevent the nurse from
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
assisting in this situation. Although the nurse was off-duty, the nurse could have
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
assisted if motivated to do so.
v v v v v v
Cognitive Level: Understanding v v
Client Need: Management of Care
v v v v
