Fundamentals of Nursing-Chapter 22-
Ethics and Values
A patient is hospitalized for the treatment of tuberculosis. The patient's friend asked the nurse
about the patient's personal health information. However, the nurse refused to give the
information. Which principle of the code of ethics has the nurse followed?
1
Advocacy
2
Accountability
3
Responsibility
4
Confidentiality - Correct Answers-4
Confidentiality
The nurse has followed the principle of confidentiality. Confidentiality refers to keeping the
patient's personal health information private. The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 requires the protection of the patient's personal health
information. Advocacy refers to the support of a particular cause. Accountability is used while
answering about one's actions. Responsibility means a willingness to respect one's professional
obligations and follow through on promises.
The night shift nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient who appears to be confused. The
family asks to see the patient's medical record. What is the first nursing action to take?
1
,Give the family the record.
2
Give the patient the record.
3
Allow the family to express concerns.
4
Call the nursing supervisor. - Correct Answers-3
Allow the family to express concerns.
Family members do not have the right to private personal health information without the
consent of the patient. Establishing a therapeutic relationship with the family and exploring
their concerns gives you the information you need to determine how best to address their
concerns.
A patient suffering from cardiac arrest is brought to the hospital. The patient previously
underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and angioplasty, and the patient has been
chronically ill since then. The patient has requested in writing that not to be resuscitated in case
of emergency. What is the term for this request?
1
Living will
2
Implied consent
3
Informed consent
4
Power of attorney - Correct Answers-1
Living will
, Living wills are written documents that direct treatment in accordance with a patient's wishes in
the event of a terminal illness or condition. Implied and informed consents are types of consent
that are given by a patient (or guardian) in case of surgery or treatment. A power of attorney is
a legal document that designates a person of the patient's choice to make health care decisions
on behalf of the patient when the patient is no longer able to do so.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) code of nursing ethics articulates that the nurse
"promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient."
This includes protecting patient privacy. On the basis of this principle, if a nurse participates in a
public online social network such as Facebook, could the nurse post images of a patient's x-ray
film if all patient identifiers have been deleted?
1
Yes; patient privacy would not be violated as long as the patient identifiers were removed.
2
Yes; respect for autonomy implies that the nurse has the autonomy to decide what constitutes
privacy.
3
No; even though patient identifiers are removed, someone could identify the patient based on
other comments about the patient's condition and the nurse's place of work.
4
No; the principal of accountability requires the nurse to keep the identifiers on the image. -
Correct Answers-3
No; even though patient identifiers are removed, someone could identify the patient based on
other comments about the patient's condition and the nurse's place of work.
Respect for patient privacy includes making the most conservative decisions possible regarding
disclosure of personal health information. This means that under no circumstance could the
nurse post a photo online of a private medical record, including x-rays. The nurse should not
share the image online, though the reason is not because the nurse is accountable for keeping
the record intact.
Ethics and Values
A patient is hospitalized for the treatment of tuberculosis. The patient's friend asked the nurse
about the patient's personal health information. However, the nurse refused to give the
information. Which principle of the code of ethics has the nurse followed?
1
Advocacy
2
Accountability
3
Responsibility
4
Confidentiality - Correct Answers-4
Confidentiality
The nurse has followed the principle of confidentiality. Confidentiality refers to keeping the
patient's personal health information private. The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 requires the protection of the patient's personal health
information. Advocacy refers to the support of a particular cause. Accountability is used while
answering about one's actions. Responsibility means a willingness to respect one's professional
obligations and follow through on promises.
The night shift nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient who appears to be confused. The
family asks to see the patient's medical record. What is the first nursing action to take?
1
,Give the family the record.
2
Give the patient the record.
3
Allow the family to express concerns.
4
Call the nursing supervisor. - Correct Answers-3
Allow the family to express concerns.
Family members do not have the right to private personal health information without the
consent of the patient. Establishing a therapeutic relationship with the family and exploring
their concerns gives you the information you need to determine how best to address their
concerns.
A patient suffering from cardiac arrest is brought to the hospital. The patient previously
underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and angioplasty, and the patient has been
chronically ill since then. The patient has requested in writing that not to be resuscitated in case
of emergency. What is the term for this request?
1
Living will
2
Implied consent
3
Informed consent
4
Power of attorney - Correct Answers-1
Living will
, Living wills are written documents that direct treatment in accordance with a patient's wishes in
the event of a terminal illness or condition. Implied and informed consents are types of consent
that are given by a patient (or guardian) in case of surgery or treatment. A power of attorney is
a legal document that designates a person of the patient's choice to make health care decisions
on behalf of the patient when the patient is no longer able to do so.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) code of nursing ethics articulates that the nurse
"promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient."
This includes protecting patient privacy. On the basis of this principle, if a nurse participates in a
public online social network such as Facebook, could the nurse post images of a patient's x-ray
film if all patient identifiers have been deleted?
1
Yes; patient privacy would not be violated as long as the patient identifiers were removed.
2
Yes; respect for autonomy implies that the nurse has the autonomy to decide what constitutes
privacy.
3
No; even though patient identifiers are removed, someone could identify the patient based on
other comments about the patient's condition and the nurse's place of work.
4
No; the principal of accountability requires the nurse to keep the identifiers on the image. -
Correct Answers-3
No; even though patient identifiers are removed, someone could identify the patient based on
other comments about the patient's condition and the nurse's place of work.
Respect for patient privacy includes making the most conservative decisions possible regarding
disclosure of personal health information. This means that under no circumstance could the
nurse post a photo online of a private medical record, including x-rays. The nurse should not
share the image online, though the reason is not because the nurse is accountable for keeping
the record intact.
