Ethics & Advocacy - 2026 Professional Nursing Standards:
Practice Test 1 (Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. A nurse who refuses to lie to a patient because lying is always wrong is applying:
A. Utilitarian reasoning
B. Relativism
C. Egoism
D. Deontological reasoning
Correct Answer: D. Deontological reasoning
Rationale: Duties guide the action. Consequences are not the primary consideration.
2. Everyday ethics in nursing includes:
A. Only end-of-life decisions
B. Only research
C. Only court cases
D. Respecting privacy, honesty in communication and fair allocation of time among patients
Correct Answer: D. Respecting privacy, honesty in communication and fair allocation of time
among patients
Rationale: Ordinary actions have ethical significance. Awareness improves practice.
3. Ethics in nursing is relevant:
A. Only at end of life
B. In every aspect of practice, from bedside care to policy
C. Only in research
D. Only for managers
Correct Answer: B. In every aspect of practice, from bedside care to policy
Rationale: Ethical issues are pervasive. Recognizing them improves care.
,4. Social justice as a nursing value refers to:
A. Fair treatment and equitable access to health care regardless of background
B. Treating only some fairly
C. Charity only
D. Market-based allocation only
Correct Answer: A. Fair treatment and equitable access to health care regardless of
background
Rationale: Nurses advocate for equity. Social justice extends beyond individual care.
5. Casuistry is an ethical approach that:
A. Applies one principle to all cases
B. Ignores past experience
C. Reasons from similar past cases (paradigm cases) to resolve new situations
D. Relies only on law
Correct Answer: C. Reasons from similar past cases (paradigm cases) to resolve new situations
Rationale: It resembles case law. It is useful in clinical ethics consultation.
6. The term "moral community" in nursing refers to:
A. A religious group
B. A legal jurisdiction
C. A union
D. Workplaces where ethical concerns can be raised and discussed openly and respectfully
Correct Answer: D. Workplaces where ethical concerns can be raised and discussed openly
and respectfully
Rationale: Moral communities support ethical practice. Leaders help create them.
,7. Moral reasoning based on rules alone may fail when:
A. Rules conflict or do not anticipate unique situations
B. Rules are always clear
C. Situations are routine
D. Everyone agrees
Correct Answer: A. Rules conflict or do not anticipate unique situations
Rationale: Judgment fills gaps. Principles guide interpretation.
8. Respect for human dignity in ethics means:
A. Respecting only cooperative patients
B. Recognizing the inherent worth of every person regardless of circumstances
C. Respecting only those with insurance
D. Ranking patients by status
Correct Answer: B. Recognizing the inherent worth of every person regardless of
circumstances
Rationale: Dignity is foundational in nursing codes. It applies to all persons.
9. Rights-based ethics emphasizes:
A. Only community benefit
B. Individuals' entitlements, such as the right to refuse treatment, that others must respect
C. Only duties of patients
D. Only professional authority
Correct Answer: B. Individuals' entitlements, such as the right to refuse treatment, that
others must respect
Rationale: Rights create corresponding duties. Patient rights statements reflect this approach.
, 10. Rest's model of moral behavior includes:
A. Assessment, diagnosis, planning and evaluation
B. Perception, reaction and avoidance
C. Moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation and moral character
D. Rules, laws and policies
Correct Answer: C. Moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation and moral character
Rationale: Each component is needed for ethical action. Knowing the right thing is not enough.
11. Professional values in nursing, as described by AACN, include:
A. Profit, speed and efficiency
B. Obedience and silence
C. Altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice
D. Status and power
Correct Answer: C. Altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice
Rationale: These values guide professional behavior. They are taught in nursing education.
12. Altruism in nursing refers to:
A. Self-promotion
B. Indifference
C. Competition
D. Concern for the welfare of others
Correct Answer: D. Concern for the welfare of others
Rationale: Altruism is a core professional value. It must be balanced with self-care.
13. A nurse who supports a policy because it benefits the most patients is applying:
A. Deontology
B. Virtue ethics
C. Care ethics
D. Utilitarian reasoning
Correct Answer: D. Utilitarian reasoning
Rationale: Outcomes drive the reasoning. Justice concerns may still arise.
Practice Test 1 (Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. A nurse who refuses to lie to a patient because lying is always wrong is applying:
A. Utilitarian reasoning
B. Relativism
C. Egoism
D. Deontological reasoning
Correct Answer: D. Deontological reasoning
Rationale: Duties guide the action. Consequences are not the primary consideration.
2. Everyday ethics in nursing includes:
A. Only end-of-life decisions
B. Only research
C. Only court cases
D. Respecting privacy, honesty in communication and fair allocation of time among patients
Correct Answer: D. Respecting privacy, honesty in communication and fair allocation of time
among patients
Rationale: Ordinary actions have ethical significance. Awareness improves practice.
3. Ethics in nursing is relevant:
A. Only at end of life
B. In every aspect of practice, from bedside care to policy
C. Only in research
D. Only for managers
Correct Answer: B. In every aspect of practice, from bedside care to policy
Rationale: Ethical issues are pervasive. Recognizing them improves care.
,4. Social justice as a nursing value refers to:
A. Fair treatment and equitable access to health care regardless of background
B. Treating only some fairly
C. Charity only
D. Market-based allocation only
Correct Answer: A. Fair treatment and equitable access to health care regardless of
background
Rationale: Nurses advocate for equity. Social justice extends beyond individual care.
5. Casuistry is an ethical approach that:
A. Applies one principle to all cases
B. Ignores past experience
C. Reasons from similar past cases (paradigm cases) to resolve new situations
D. Relies only on law
Correct Answer: C. Reasons from similar past cases (paradigm cases) to resolve new situations
Rationale: It resembles case law. It is useful in clinical ethics consultation.
6. The term "moral community" in nursing refers to:
A. A religious group
B. A legal jurisdiction
C. A union
D. Workplaces where ethical concerns can be raised and discussed openly and respectfully
Correct Answer: D. Workplaces where ethical concerns can be raised and discussed openly
and respectfully
Rationale: Moral communities support ethical practice. Leaders help create them.
,7. Moral reasoning based on rules alone may fail when:
A. Rules conflict or do not anticipate unique situations
B. Rules are always clear
C. Situations are routine
D. Everyone agrees
Correct Answer: A. Rules conflict or do not anticipate unique situations
Rationale: Judgment fills gaps. Principles guide interpretation.
8. Respect for human dignity in ethics means:
A. Respecting only cooperative patients
B. Recognizing the inherent worth of every person regardless of circumstances
C. Respecting only those with insurance
D. Ranking patients by status
Correct Answer: B. Recognizing the inherent worth of every person regardless of
circumstances
Rationale: Dignity is foundational in nursing codes. It applies to all persons.
9. Rights-based ethics emphasizes:
A. Only community benefit
B. Individuals' entitlements, such as the right to refuse treatment, that others must respect
C. Only duties of patients
D. Only professional authority
Correct Answer: B. Individuals' entitlements, such as the right to refuse treatment, that
others must respect
Rationale: Rights create corresponding duties. Patient rights statements reflect this approach.
, 10. Rest's model of moral behavior includes:
A. Assessment, diagnosis, planning and evaluation
B. Perception, reaction and avoidance
C. Moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation and moral character
D. Rules, laws and policies
Correct Answer: C. Moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation and moral character
Rationale: Each component is needed for ethical action. Knowing the right thing is not enough.
11. Professional values in nursing, as described by AACN, include:
A. Profit, speed and efficiency
B. Obedience and silence
C. Altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice
D. Status and power
Correct Answer: C. Altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice
Rationale: These values guide professional behavior. They are taught in nursing education.
12. Altruism in nursing refers to:
A. Self-promotion
B. Indifference
C. Competition
D. Concern for the welfare of others
Correct Answer: D. Concern for the welfare of others
Rationale: Altruism is a core professional value. It must be balanced with self-care.
13. A nurse who supports a policy because it benefits the most patients is applying:
A. Deontology
B. Virtue ethics
C. Care ethics
D. Utilitarian reasoning
Correct Answer: D. Utilitarian reasoning
Rationale: Outcomes drive the reasoning. Justice concerns may still arise.
