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TEST BANK FOR ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES
IN CANADIAN NURSING 4TH EDITION LATEST
AND COMPLETE UPDATE 2025-2026 GRADED A+
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1. Four patients in labor all request epidural analgesia to manage their pain at the same time.
Which ethical principle is compromised when only one nurse anesthetist is on call?
a.Justice
b.Nonmaleficence
c.Beneficence
d.Fidelity: - ANSWER: A
Justice refers to fairness and is used frequently in discussion regarding access to health care
resources. Here the just distribution of resources, in this case pain management, cannot be justly
apportioned. Nonmaleficence means do no harm, beneficence means to do good, and fidelity
means to be true to, or honest. Each of these principles is partially expressed in the question;
however, justice is most comprised because not all laboring patients have equal access to pain
management owing to lack of personnel resources.
2. The patient tells the nurse that she is afraid to speak up regarding her desire to end care
for fear of upsetting her husband and children. Which principle in the nursing code of ethics
ensures that the nurse will promote the patients cause?
a.Responsibility
b.Advocacy
c.Confidentiality
d.Accountability: - ANSWER: B
Nurses advocate for patients when they support the patients cause. A nurses ability to adequate
advocate for a patient is based on the unique relationship that develops and the opportunity to
better understand the patients point of view. Responsibility refers to respecting ones professional
obligations and following through on promises. Confidentiality deals with privacy issues, and
accountability refers to owning ones actions.
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3. The patients son requests to view the documentation in his mothers medical record. What
is the nurses best response to this request?
a. Ill be happy to get that for you.
b. You will have to talk to the physician about that.
c. You will need your mothers permission.
d. You are not allowed to see it.: - ANSWER: C
The nurse understands that sharing health information is governed by HIPAA legislation, which
defines rights and privileges of patients for protection of privacy. Private health information
cannot be shared without the patients specific permission. The other three responses either are
outright false and/or use poor communication techniques.
4. When people work together to solve ethical dilemmas, individuals must examine their
own values. This step is crucial to ensure that
a. The group identifies the one correct solution.
b. Fact is separated from opinion.
c. Judgmental attitudes are not provoked.
d. Different perspectives are respected.: - ANSWER: D
Values are personal beliefs that influence opinions. To be able to negotiate differences in
opinions, the nurse must first be clear about personal values, which will influence behaviors,
decisions, and actions. Ethical dilemmas are a problem in that no one right solution exists.
5. Ethical dilemmas are common occurrences when caring for patients.
The nurse understands that dilemmas are a result of
a. Presence of conflicting values. b. Hierarchical systems.
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c. judgmental perceptions of patients.
d. Poor communication with the patient.: - ANSWER: A
Poor communication and the hierarchical systems that exist in health care, such as reporting
structures within the hospital or the historically unequal relationship between physicians and
nurses, may complicate dilemmas. The primary, underlying reason that ethical dilemmas occur is
that there are no clear cut, universally accepted solutions to a problem when participating
individuals do not share the same values. Without clarification of values, the nurse may not be
able to distinguish fact from opinion or value, and this can lead to judgmental attitudes.
6. The nurse questions a physicians order to administer a placebo to the patient. The nurses
action is based on which ethical principle?
a. Autonomy
b. Beneficence
c. Justice
d. Fidelity: - ANSWER: A
Autonomy refers to the freedom to make decisions free of external control. In this case, the nurse
questions the physicians order for a placebo because it supports the patients autonomy. Although
beneficence, taking a positive action for others, has implications here, it is not the primary
operating principle. Justice refers to fairness and is most often used in discussions about access
to health care resources. Fidelity refers to the agreement to keep promises.
7. The nurse finds it difficult to care for a patient whose advance directive states that no
extraordinary resuscitation measures should be taken. Which step may help the nurse to find
resolution in this assignment?
a. Call for an ethical committee consult.
TEST BANK FOR ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES
IN CANADIAN NURSING 4TH EDITION LATEST
AND COMPLETE UPDATE 2025-2026 GRADED A+
,2|Page
1. Four patients in labor all request epidural analgesia to manage their pain at the same time.
Which ethical principle is compromised when only one nurse anesthetist is on call?
a.Justice
b.Nonmaleficence
c.Beneficence
d.Fidelity: - ANSWER: A
Justice refers to fairness and is used frequently in discussion regarding access to health care
resources. Here the just distribution of resources, in this case pain management, cannot be justly
apportioned. Nonmaleficence means do no harm, beneficence means to do good, and fidelity
means to be true to, or honest. Each of these principles is partially expressed in the question;
however, justice is most comprised because not all laboring patients have equal access to pain
management owing to lack of personnel resources.
2. The patient tells the nurse that she is afraid to speak up regarding her desire to end care
for fear of upsetting her husband and children. Which principle in the nursing code of ethics
ensures that the nurse will promote the patients cause?
a.Responsibility
b.Advocacy
c.Confidentiality
d.Accountability: - ANSWER: B
Nurses advocate for patients when they support the patients cause. A nurses ability to adequate
advocate for a patient is based on the unique relationship that develops and the opportunity to
better understand the patients point of view. Responsibility refers to respecting ones professional
obligations and following through on promises. Confidentiality deals with privacy issues, and
accountability refers to owning ones actions.
,3|Page
3. The patients son requests to view the documentation in his mothers medical record. What
is the nurses best response to this request?
a. Ill be happy to get that for you.
b. You will have to talk to the physician about that.
c. You will need your mothers permission.
d. You are not allowed to see it.: - ANSWER: C
The nurse understands that sharing health information is governed by HIPAA legislation, which
defines rights and privileges of patients for protection of privacy. Private health information
cannot be shared without the patients specific permission. The other three responses either are
outright false and/or use poor communication techniques.
4. When people work together to solve ethical dilemmas, individuals must examine their
own values. This step is crucial to ensure that
a. The group identifies the one correct solution.
b. Fact is separated from opinion.
c. Judgmental attitudes are not provoked.
d. Different perspectives are respected.: - ANSWER: D
Values are personal beliefs that influence opinions. To be able to negotiate differences in
opinions, the nurse must first be clear about personal values, which will influence behaviors,
decisions, and actions. Ethical dilemmas are a problem in that no one right solution exists.
5. Ethical dilemmas are common occurrences when caring for patients.
The nurse understands that dilemmas are a result of
a. Presence of conflicting values. b. Hierarchical systems.
, 4|Page
c. judgmental perceptions of patients.
d. Poor communication with the patient.: - ANSWER: A
Poor communication and the hierarchical systems that exist in health care, such as reporting
structures within the hospital or the historically unequal relationship between physicians and
nurses, may complicate dilemmas. The primary, underlying reason that ethical dilemmas occur is
that there are no clear cut, universally accepted solutions to a problem when participating
individuals do not share the same values. Without clarification of values, the nurse may not be
able to distinguish fact from opinion or value, and this can lead to judgmental attitudes.
6. The nurse questions a physicians order to administer a placebo to the patient. The nurses
action is based on which ethical principle?
a. Autonomy
b. Beneficence
c. Justice
d. Fidelity: - ANSWER: A
Autonomy refers to the freedom to make decisions free of external control. In this case, the nurse
questions the physicians order for a placebo because it supports the patients autonomy. Although
beneficence, taking a positive action for others, has implications here, it is not the primary
operating principle. Justice refers to fairness and is most often used in discussions about access
to health care resources. Fidelity refers to the agreement to keep promises.
7. The nurse finds it difficult to care for a patient whose advance directive states that no
extraordinary resuscitation measures should be taken. Which step may help the nurse to find
resolution in this assignment?
a. Call for an ethical committee consult.
