Ethics & Advocacy - 2026 Professional Nursing Standards:
Final Exam (Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses was most recently revised in:
A. 1953 only
B. 2015
C. 2021
D. 2025
Correct Answer: C. 2021
Rationale: The revision reflected lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. ICN first adopted a code
in 1953.
2. The ICN Code states that nurses share responsibility for:
A. Hospital finances only
B. Physician schedules
C. Insurance coverage
D. Sustaining safe, supportive working environments
Correct Answer: D. Sustaining safe, supportive working environments
Rationale: Safe workplaces support ethical care. Collective action is encouraged.
3. Ethical decisions in emergencies may need to be made:
A. Quickly, guided by policies, prior preferences and principles, with later review
B. Without any principles
C. Only after weeks of deliberation
D. Never
Correct Answer: A. Quickly, guided by policies, prior preferences and principles, with later
review
Rationale: Time pressure requires preparation. Debriefing follows.
,4. The first step in most ethical decision-making models is to:
A. Make a decision quickly
B. Implement a solution
C. Gather the facts and identify the ethical problem
D. Evaluate outcomes
Correct Answer: C. Gather the facts and identify the ethical problem
Rationale: Clear facts prevent misunderstanding. Many apparent dilemmas are communication
problems.
5. The legislative process typically begins with:
A. A court ruling
B. An executive order only
C. A hospital policy
D. A bill being introduced by a legislator
Correct Answer: D. A bill being introduced by a legislator
Rationale: Bills go through committees and votes. Advocacy can occur at each stage.
6. The Nurses on Boards Coalition aims to:
A. Reduce nurse involvement
B. Place nurses on corporate, health-related and community boards to improve health
C. Lobby against nursing
D. Certify nurses
Correct Answer: B. Place nurses on corporate, health-related and community boards to
improve health
Rationale: Nurses bring valuable perspectives to governance. The coalition tracks progress.
,7. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows nurses to:
A. Practice in any country
B. Hold one multistate license and practice in other compact states, physically or electronically
C. Avoid licensure
D. Practice without a board
Correct Answer: B. Hold one multistate license and practice in other compact states,
physically or electronically
Rationale: More than 40 jurisdictions participate. Nurses must follow the practice law of the
state where the patient is located.
8. Tasks that registered nurses generally cannot delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel
include:
A. Initial assessment, care planning, evaluation and patient teaching requiring nursing judgment
B. Bathing
C. Ambulation
D. Measuring stable vital signs
Correct Answer: A. Initial assessment, care planning, evaluation and patient teaching
requiring nursing judgment
Rationale: Judgment-based activities remain with the RN. State rules vary.
9. Many states allow minors to consent without parental involvement for:
A. All surgery
B. Cosmetic procedures
C. Organ donation
D. Certain services such as sexually transmitted infection treatment, contraception or substance
use treatment
Correct Answer: D. Certain services such as sexually transmitted infection treatment,
contraception or substance use treatment
Rationale: Laws aim to remove barriers to care. Confidentiality protections vary.
, 10. A privacy officer in a health care organization:
A. Oversees HIPAA compliance, investigates breaches and educates staff
B. Provides patient care
C. Writes orders
D. Manages billing only
Correct Answer: A. Oversees HIPAA compliance, investigates breaches and educates staff
Rationale: Nurses can consult privacy officers with questions. Reporting concerns is
encouraged.
11. Using de-identified patient stories in education or presentations requires:
A. Using names for realism
B. Including photos
C. Removing identifiers and ensuring the patient cannot be recognized, following policy
D. No precautions
Correct Answer: C. Removing identifiers and ensuring the patient cannot be recognized,
following policy
Rationale: Unique details may identify patients. Consent may be required.
12. Under the 21st Century Cures Act, patients generally have:
A. No access to notes
B. Access only after 1 year
C. Access only by mail
D. Prompt electronic access to their clinical notes and test results
Correct Answer: D. Prompt electronic access to their clinical notes and test results
Rationale: Information blocking is prohibited with limited exceptions. Clinicians write notes
knowing patients may read them.
Final Exam (Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses was most recently revised in:
A. 1953 only
B. 2015
C. 2021
D. 2025
Correct Answer: C. 2021
Rationale: The revision reflected lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. ICN first adopted a code
in 1953.
2. The ICN Code states that nurses share responsibility for:
A. Hospital finances only
B. Physician schedules
C. Insurance coverage
D. Sustaining safe, supportive working environments
Correct Answer: D. Sustaining safe, supportive working environments
Rationale: Safe workplaces support ethical care. Collective action is encouraged.
3. Ethical decisions in emergencies may need to be made:
A. Quickly, guided by policies, prior preferences and principles, with later review
B. Without any principles
C. Only after weeks of deliberation
D. Never
Correct Answer: A. Quickly, guided by policies, prior preferences and principles, with later
review
Rationale: Time pressure requires preparation. Debriefing follows.
,4. The first step in most ethical decision-making models is to:
A. Make a decision quickly
B. Implement a solution
C. Gather the facts and identify the ethical problem
D. Evaluate outcomes
Correct Answer: C. Gather the facts and identify the ethical problem
Rationale: Clear facts prevent misunderstanding. Many apparent dilemmas are communication
problems.
5. The legislative process typically begins with:
A. A court ruling
B. An executive order only
C. A hospital policy
D. A bill being introduced by a legislator
Correct Answer: D. A bill being introduced by a legislator
Rationale: Bills go through committees and votes. Advocacy can occur at each stage.
6. The Nurses on Boards Coalition aims to:
A. Reduce nurse involvement
B. Place nurses on corporate, health-related and community boards to improve health
C. Lobby against nursing
D. Certify nurses
Correct Answer: B. Place nurses on corporate, health-related and community boards to
improve health
Rationale: Nurses bring valuable perspectives to governance. The coalition tracks progress.
,7. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows nurses to:
A. Practice in any country
B. Hold one multistate license and practice in other compact states, physically or electronically
C. Avoid licensure
D. Practice without a board
Correct Answer: B. Hold one multistate license and practice in other compact states,
physically or electronically
Rationale: More than 40 jurisdictions participate. Nurses must follow the practice law of the
state where the patient is located.
8. Tasks that registered nurses generally cannot delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel
include:
A. Initial assessment, care planning, evaluation and patient teaching requiring nursing judgment
B. Bathing
C. Ambulation
D. Measuring stable vital signs
Correct Answer: A. Initial assessment, care planning, evaluation and patient teaching
requiring nursing judgment
Rationale: Judgment-based activities remain with the RN. State rules vary.
9. Many states allow minors to consent without parental involvement for:
A. All surgery
B. Cosmetic procedures
C. Organ donation
D. Certain services such as sexually transmitted infection treatment, contraception or substance
use treatment
Correct Answer: D. Certain services such as sexually transmitted infection treatment,
contraception or substance use treatment
Rationale: Laws aim to remove barriers to care. Confidentiality protections vary.
, 10. A privacy officer in a health care organization:
A. Oversees HIPAA compliance, investigates breaches and educates staff
B. Provides patient care
C. Writes orders
D. Manages billing only
Correct Answer: A. Oversees HIPAA compliance, investigates breaches and educates staff
Rationale: Nurses can consult privacy officers with questions. Reporting concerns is
encouraged.
11. Using de-identified patient stories in education or presentations requires:
A. Using names for realism
B. Including photos
C. Removing identifiers and ensuring the patient cannot be recognized, following policy
D. No precautions
Correct Answer: C. Removing identifiers and ensuring the patient cannot be recognized,
following policy
Rationale: Unique details may identify patients. Consent may be required.
12. Under the 21st Century Cures Act, patients generally have:
A. No access to notes
B. Access only after 1 year
C. Access only by mail
D. Prompt electronic access to their clinical notes and test results
Correct Answer: D. Prompt electronic access to their clinical notes and test results
Rationale: Information blocking is prohibited with limited exceptions. Clinicians write notes
knowing patients may read them.
