Chapter 4: Ethical Considerations - NCLEX-Style Questions
1. A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who expresses a wish to die. What is the
most appropriate nursing response?
A. "You shouldn't feel that way; there is still hope."
B. "It's normal to feel overwhelmed; let's talk about it."
C. "You need to focus on the positive aspects of your life."
D. "I can't help you with that; it's against my beliefs."
Answer: B. "It's normal to feel overwhelmed; let's talk about it."
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's feelings provides support and encourages open
communication.
2. A nurse is asked to assist a physician in a procedure the nurse feels is unnecessary. What
should the nurse do?
A. Comply with the physician's request.
B. Discuss the concerns with the physician.
C. Refuse to assist and leave the room.
D. Inform the patient of the procedure.
Answer: B. Discuss the concerns with the physician.
Rationale: Ethical practice requires nurses to advocate for patients and voice concerns about
unnecessary procedures.
3. A patient diagnosed with a severe mental illness refuses medication. What is the nurse's
best action?
A. Force the medication upon the patient.
B. Respect the patient's wishes and document it.
C. Call the psychiatrist to order medication.
D. Explain the benefits of the medication again.
Answer: D. Explain the benefits of the medication again.
Rationale: The nurse should provide education and support to help the patient understand the
importance of medication.
,4. The nurse is caring for a patient with a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. The patient
suddenly collapses. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Call a code.
B. Assess the patient's condition.
C. Follow the DNR order.
D. Notify the healthcare provider.
Answer: C. Follow the DNR order.
Rationale: The nurse must respect the patient's wishes outlined in the DNR order.
5. A nurse suspects that a colleague is abusing drugs. What is the nurse's ethical
obligation?
A. Confront the colleague directly.
B. Report the suspicion to a supervisor.
C. Ignore the situation; it’s not the nurse's concern.
D. Discuss the concern with other colleagues.
Answer: B. Report the suspicion to a supervisor.
Rationale: Nurses have an ethical obligation to report any suspected substance abuse that could
endanger patient safety.
6. A nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is a convicted felon. What is the nurse's
ethical responsibility?
A. Refuse to care for the patient.
B. Provide care without bias.
C. Inform other staff about the patient’s history.
D. Discuss the patient's past with the patient.
Answer: B. Provide care without bias.
Rationale: Nurses must provide care to all patients without prejudice or discrimination.
7. The nurse is educating a group of nursing students about informed consent. Which
statement indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "Informed consent is required for all medical procedures."
B. "Patients have the right to withdraw consent at any time."
, C. "Only the physician can obtain informed consent."
D. "Patients must be informed of risks and benefits before giving consent."
Answer: C. "Only the physician can obtain informed consent."
Rationale: While physicians often obtain consent, nurses can also participate in the informed
consent process.
8. A patient is being discharged and refuses to follow discharge instructions. What is the
nurse's best action?
A. Let the patient leave without the instructions.
B. Insist the patient follow the instructions.
C. Document the refusal and educate the patient.
D. Call the physician to inform them.
Answer: C. Document the refusal and educate the patient.
Rationale: The nurse should ensure that the patient understands the consequences of their
decision while documenting the refusal.
9. The nurse is caring for a patient who is a Jehovah’s Witness and refuses a blood
transfusion. What is the nurse's ethical responsibility?
A. Override the patient’s wishes in an emergency.
B. Respect the patient's religious beliefs.
C. Persuade the patient to accept the transfusion.
D. Notify the family to convince the patient.
Answer: B. Respect the patient's religious beliefs.
Rationale: Nurses must honor patients' rights to make decisions about their own medical care,
including religious beliefs.
10. A nurse is working with a patient diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The patient
expresses a desire to go home, but the family believes the patient should remain in a
facility. What should the nurse do?
A. Support the family's wishes.
B. Discuss the patient's desires with the family.
C. Call for a psychiatric evaluation.
D. Explain the patient's rights to the family.
1. A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who expresses a wish to die. What is the
most appropriate nursing response?
A. "You shouldn't feel that way; there is still hope."
B. "It's normal to feel overwhelmed; let's talk about it."
C. "You need to focus on the positive aspects of your life."
D. "I can't help you with that; it's against my beliefs."
Answer: B. "It's normal to feel overwhelmed; let's talk about it."
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's feelings provides support and encourages open
communication.
2. A nurse is asked to assist a physician in a procedure the nurse feels is unnecessary. What
should the nurse do?
A. Comply with the physician's request.
B. Discuss the concerns with the physician.
C. Refuse to assist and leave the room.
D. Inform the patient of the procedure.
Answer: B. Discuss the concerns with the physician.
Rationale: Ethical practice requires nurses to advocate for patients and voice concerns about
unnecessary procedures.
3. A patient diagnosed with a severe mental illness refuses medication. What is the nurse's
best action?
A. Force the medication upon the patient.
B. Respect the patient's wishes and document it.
C. Call the psychiatrist to order medication.
D. Explain the benefits of the medication again.
Answer: D. Explain the benefits of the medication again.
Rationale: The nurse should provide education and support to help the patient understand the
importance of medication.
,4. The nurse is caring for a patient with a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. The patient
suddenly collapses. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Call a code.
B. Assess the patient's condition.
C. Follow the DNR order.
D. Notify the healthcare provider.
Answer: C. Follow the DNR order.
Rationale: The nurse must respect the patient's wishes outlined in the DNR order.
5. A nurse suspects that a colleague is abusing drugs. What is the nurse's ethical
obligation?
A. Confront the colleague directly.
B. Report the suspicion to a supervisor.
C. Ignore the situation; it’s not the nurse's concern.
D. Discuss the concern with other colleagues.
Answer: B. Report the suspicion to a supervisor.
Rationale: Nurses have an ethical obligation to report any suspected substance abuse that could
endanger patient safety.
6. A nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is a convicted felon. What is the nurse's
ethical responsibility?
A. Refuse to care for the patient.
B. Provide care without bias.
C. Inform other staff about the patient’s history.
D. Discuss the patient's past with the patient.
Answer: B. Provide care without bias.
Rationale: Nurses must provide care to all patients without prejudice or discrimination.
7. The nurse is educating a group of nursing students about informed consent. Which
statement indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "Informed consent is required for all medical procedures."
B. "Patients have the right to withdraw consent at any time."
, C. "Only the physician can obtain informed consent."
D. "Patients must be informed of risks and benefits before giving consent."
Answer: C. "Only the physician can obtain informed consent."
Rationale: While physicians often obtain consent, nurses can also participate in the informed
consent process.
8. A patient is being discharged and refuses to follow discharge instructions. What is the
nurse's best action?
A. Let the patient leave without the instructions.
B. Insist the patient follow the instructions.
C. Document the refusal and educate the patient.
D. Call the physician to inform them.
Answer: C. Document the refusal and educate the patient.
Rationale: The nurse should ensure that the patient understands the consequences of their
decision while documenting the refusal.
9. The nurse is caring for a patient who is a Jehovah’s Witness and refuses a blood
transfusion. What is the nurse's ethical responsibility?
A. Override the patient’s wishes in an emergency.
B. Respect the patient's religious beliefs.
C. Persuade the patient to accept the transfusion.
D. Notify the family to convince the patient.
Answer: B. Respect the patient's religious beliefs.
Rationale: Nurses must honor patients' rights to make decisions about their own medical care,
including religious beliefs.
10. A nurse is working with a patient diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The patient
expresses a desire to go home, but the family believes the patient should remain in a
facility. What should the nurse do?
A. Support the family's wishes.
B. Discuss the patient's desires with the family.
C. Call for a psychiatric evaluation.
D. Explain the patient's rights to the family.
