Introduction to Nursing Ethics and Professionalism exam with verified answers

Introduction to Nursing Ethics and Professionalism Question 1: A nurse is caring for a client who has expressed a desire to refuse treatment. What is the nurse’s ethical responsibility in this situation? A. The nurse should respect the client’s autonomy and right to refuse treatment. B. The nurse should convince the client to accept the treatment. C. The nurse should administer the treatment against the client’s wishes. D. The nurse should ignore the client’s wishes and follow the physician’s orders. Explanation The nurse should respect the client’s autonomy and right to refuse treatment. Explanation: Autonomy is a fundamental principle of nursing ethics, which means that clients have the right to make decisions about their own care, including refusing treatment. The nurse’s ethical responsibility is to respect the client’s autonomy and support their right to make informed decisions about their care. Incorrect answers: b. Convincing the client to accept treatment against their wishes would violate their autonomy and right to make decisions about their own care. c. Administering treatment against the client’s wishes would violate their autonomy and right to refuse treatment. d. Ignoring the client’s wishes and following the physician’s orders would violate their autonomy and right to make decisions about their own care. Question 2: A nurse is caring for a terminally ill client who is experiencing severe pain. The client’s physician has prescribed a dose of pain medication that the nurse believes is inadequate. What should the nurse do? A. Administer the prescribed dose and document the client’s response. B. Administer a higher dose than prescribed without consulting the physician. C. Refuse to administer the medication and leave the client in pain. D. Consult with the physician and advocate for an increased dose.