Final Exam Review
2025
1. The nurse is caring for a patient who has a health-care practitioner’s order to ambulate three
times a day. The last two times the nurse has requested the patient ambulate, the patient has
refused. After explaining both the benefits of ambulating and the consequences of not
ambulating, the patient still refuses to get out of bed. The nurse documents that patient’s
refusal and notifies the health-care provider. What core professional value is the nurse
upholding with this patient?
a. Integrity
b. Human dignity
c. Autonomy
d. Altruism
2. The nurse is caring for four patients. In which patient situation is the nurse utilizing the core
professional value of social justice?
a. The nurse notifies a social worker after talking to a patient who is unable to keep his
blood glucose within a normal range and discovers that the patient is unable to shop for
himself and depends on family members to bring him food, much of which is fast food.
b. The nurse is caring for a patient who is hearing impaired and ensures that a sign
language interpreter is present when the health-care provider explains the patient’s lung
cancer treatment plan.
c. The nurse is caring for a patient who is waiting for the results of a lung biopsy. When the
patient asks the nurse if the biopsy is back and what does it show, the nurse responses,
“Yes, the biopsy is back and your health-care provider will be here within 3- minutes to
discuss the results with you.”
d. The nurse is caring for a patient who refuses to receive any blood products even though
the patient’s hemoglobin is 5.7 mg/dL. The nurse discusses the benefits of receiving the
transfusion, but the patient still refuses so the nurse notifies the health-care practitioner
of the patient’s decision.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient who has limited vision. Which ethical principle is the nurse
upholding by ensuring that there are no obstacles present between the patient’s bed and the
bathroom?
a. Veracity
b. Confidentiality
c. Fidelity
d. Beneficence
,4. The nurse is caring for a teenage girl who just gave birth to a baby girl. The patient tells the
nurse that she is planning to breastfeed, but the nurse responds, “I’m just going to bring you
formula for your baby. You are very young and breastfeeding requires a lot of patience and is
difficult for women who are much more mature than you are.” What nonethical principle is the
nurse demonstrating in this statement and action to the patient?
a. Paternalism
b. Malpractice
c. Negligence
d. Deception
5. The nurse is sharing information received during a patient interview with different health-care
providers. In which of these interactions does the nurse breach the patient’s confidentiality?
a. The nurse shares with the patient’s health-care provider that the patient has been
drinking four to six beers per day.
b. The nurse documents in the patient’s health-care record that the patient is unable to
adequately see an insulin syringe.
c. The nurse discusses the patient’s marital difficulties with nurses from another unit.
d. The nurse calls the social worker because the patient states he is unable to afford the
prescribed medication.
6. The nurse is aware that in which situation is there a potential for a violation of a patient’s right to
confidentiality?
a. The patient’s medical record was read by an unauthorized person.
b. The patient’s conversation with a family member was overhead by someone in the hall.
c. The patient’s interview with the nurse was shared with the patient’s sister.
d. The patient’s social security number is copied by an unauthorized person.
7. The nurse leader of an acute care facility has set up a policy for the nursing staff concerning
using vacation time. This policy states that nursing staff may use only 40 hours of vacation at any
one time to prevent staffing deficiencies. A nurse requests to use 80 hours of vacation to be able
to take a cruise. The decision is that 40 hours of vacation time is the maximum allowed. What
ethical theory is the nurse leader using in this situation?
a. Utilitarianism
b. Deontology
c. Principlism
d. International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics
, 8. Upon admission, a patient is given a copy of the rights of all patients and that health-care
facility’s policy and procedures to protect these rights. When asked by the patient the reason for
this paperwork, the nurse replies that it is required by what governmental legislation?
a. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
b. Good Samaritan Law
c. Safe Medical Devices Act
d. Patient Self-Determination Act
9. A nurse in the emergency department treated a 6 week old infant who had sustained fractures
of the right femur and right humerus, and the nurse files a report with the state agency that
oversees possible child abuse cases. After 6 months it was determined the infant had a
congenital condition that caused the fractures. Today the nurse received work that a lawsuit had
been filed against the nurse. This nurse recognizes that protection from the lawsuit is available
because of what legislation?
a. Good Samaritan Law
b. State disclosure statute
c. State employment laws
d. State Nurse Practice Act
10. A nurse makes an entry on social media concerning a patient situation that occurred during a
recent shift at an acute care facility. The patient was notified by an acquaintance who recognized
the patient from the description in the entry. Did the nurse who posted the entry commit
malpractice?
a. No, because the nurse did not foresee that this would bring harm to the patient.
b. Yes, because the nurse had a duty to the patient and breached that duty through the
posted entry
c. No, because not all five elements of malpractice were present.
d. Yes, because all five elements of malpractice are present.
11. The nurse is responsible for administering medications to a patient with hypertension. The
health-care provider decreased the patient’s dose of antihypertension medication at 7p.m. The
next morning, the nurse administered the original dose of antihypertension medication to the
patient. The nurse notes the error immediately upon documentation and notifies the health-
care provider. The nurse checks the patient’s blood pressure frequently, and no significant drop
in blood pressure is noted. What essential element of malpractice is lacking in this medication
error?
a. Breach of duty owed the patient
b. Foreseeability of harm
c. Duty owed the patient
d. Injury or Harm
12. The nurse is caring for a patient who suffered a broken hip after attempting to go to the
bathroom. The nurse had assigned a nursing assistance to assist this patient to the bathroom. It
is determined that the nurse is not guilty of malpractice. Which element was not present for
malpractice be charged.
a. The injury was not very severe.
b. The nursing assistant had assisted many patients to the bathroom.