NUR3632 Exam 3 Study Guide
Questions with Correct Answers 2025-
2026 Edition.
Chapter 6
1. A nurse caring for patients in the intensive care unit develops values from experience to form
a personal code of ethics. Which statements best describe a characteristic of the development
of a personal value system? Select all that apply.
People are born with values.
Values act as standards to guide behavior.
Values are ranked on a continuum of importance.
Values influence beliefs about health and illness.
Value systems are not related to personal codes of conduct.
Nurses should not let their values influence patient care. - Answer 1. b, c, d. A value is a
belief about the worth of something, about what matters, which acts as a standard to guide
one's behavior. A value system is an organization of values in which each is ranked along a
continuum of importance, often leading to a personal code of conduct. A person's values
influence beliefs about human needs, health, and illness; the practice of health behaviors; and
human responses to illness. Values guide the practice of nursing care. An individual is not born
with values; rather, values are formed during a lifetime from information from the environment,
family, and culture.
2. Five-year-old Bobby has dietary modifications related to his diabetes. His parents want him to
value good nutritional habits and they decide to deprive him of a favorite TV program when he
becomes angry after they deny him foods not on his diet. This is an example of what mode of
value transmission?
Modeling
Moralizing
Laissez-faire
Rewarding and punishing - Answer 2. d.When rewarding and punishing are used to transmit
values, children are rewarded for demonstrating values held by parents and punished for
demonstrating unacceptable values. Through modeling, children learn what is of high or low
value by observing parents, peers, and significant others. Children whose caregivers use the
moralizing mode of value transmission are taught a complete value system by parents or an
institution (e.g., church or school) that allows little opportunity for them to weigh different
values. Those who use the laissez-faire approach to value transmission leave children to explore
values on their own (no single set of values is presented as best for all) and to develop a
personal value system.
3. A nurse who is working in a hospital setting after graduation from a local college uses value
clarification to help understand the values that motivate patient behavior. Which examples
denote "prizing" in the process of values clarification? Select all that apply.
,A patient decides to quit smoking following a diagnosis of lung cancer.
A patient shows off a new outfit that she is wearing after losing 20 pounds.
A patient chooses to work fewer hours following a stress-related myocardial infarction.
A patient incorporates a new low-cholesterol diet into his daily routine.
A patient joins a gym and schedules classes throughout the year.
A patient proudly displays his certificate for completing a marathon. - Answer 3. b, f. Prizing
something one values involves pride, happiness, and public affirmation, such as losing weight or
running a marathon. When choosing, one chooses freely from alternatives after careful
consideration of the consequences of each alternative, such as quitting smoking and working
fewer hours. Finally, the person who values something acts by combining choice into one's
behavior with consistency and regularity on the value, such as joining a gym for the year and
following a low-cholesterol diet faithfully.
4. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing identified five values that epitomize the
caring professional nurse. Which of these is best described as acting in accordance with an
appropriate code of ethics and accepted standards of practice?
Altruism
Autonomy
Human dignity
Integrity - Answer 4. d. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing defines integrity as
acting in accordance with an appropriate code of ethics and accepted standards of practice.
Altruism is a concern for the welfare and well-being of others. Autonomy is the right to self-
determination, and human dignity is respect for the inherent worth and uniqueness of
individuals and populations.
5. A professional nurse with a commitment to social justice is most apt to:
Provide honest information to patients and the public
Promote universal access to health care
Plan care in partnership with patients
Document care accurately and honestly - Answer 5. b. The American Association of Colleges
of Nursing lists promoting universal access to health care as an example of social justice.
Providing honest information and documenting care accurately and honestly are examples of
integrity, and planning care in partnership with patients is an example of autonomy.
6. When an older nurse complains to a younger nurse that nurses just aren't ethical anymore,
which reply reflects the best understanding of moral development?
"Behaving ethically develops gradually from childhood; maybe my generation doesn't value this
enough to develop an ethical code."
"I don't agree that nurses were more ethical in the past. It's a new age and the ethics are new!"
"Ethics is genetically determined ... it's like having blue or brown eyes. Maybe we're evolving
out of the ethical sense your generation had."
,"I agree! It's impossible to be ethical when working in a practice setting like this!" - Answer
6. a. The ability to be ethical, to make decisions, and to act in an ethically justified manner
begins in childhood and develops gradually
7. A home health nurse who performs a careful safety assessment of the home of a frail elderly
patient to prevent harm to the patient is acting in accordance with which of the principles of
bioethics?
Autonomy
Beneficence
Justice
Fidelity
Nonmaleficence - Answer 7. e. Nonmaleficence is defined as the obligation to prevent harm.
Autonomy is respect for another's right to make decisions, beneficence obligates us to benefit
the patient, justice obligates us to act fairly, and fidelity obligates us to keep our promises.
8. A professional nurse committed to the principle of autonomy would be careful to:
Provide the information and support a patient needed to make decisions to advance one's own
interests
Treat each patient fairly, trying to give everyone his or her due
Keep any promises made to a patient or another professional caregiver
Avoid causing harm to a patient - Answer 8. a. The principle of autonomy obligates nurses to
provide the information and support patients and their surrogates need to make decisions that
advance their interests. Acting with justice means giving each person his or her due, acting with
fidelity involves keeping promises to patients, and acting with nonmaleficence means avoiding
doing harm to patients.
9. Janie wants to call an ethics consult to clarify treatment goals for a patient no longer able to
speak for himself. She believes his dying is being prolonged painfully. She is troubled when the
patient's doctor tells her that she'll be fired if she raises questions about his care or calls the
consult. This is a good example of:
Ethical uncertainty
Ethical distress
Ethical dilemma
Ethical residue - Answer 9. b. Ethical distress results from knowing the right thing to do but
finding it almost impossible to execute because of institutional or other constraints (in this case,
fear of losing her job). Ethical uncertainty results from feeling troubled by a situation but not
knowing if it is an ethical problem. Ethical dilemmas occur when the principles of bioethics
justify two or more conflicting courses of action. Ethical residue is what nurses experience when
they seriously compromise themselves or allow themselves to be compromised.
, 10. A student nurse begins a clinical rotation in a long-term care facility and quickly realizes that
certain residents have unmet needs. The student wants to advocate for these residents. Which
statements reflect a correct understanding of advocacy? Select all that apply.
Advocacy is the protection and support of another's rights.
Patient advocacy is primarily done by nurses.
Patients with special advocacy needs include the very young and the elderly, those who are
seriously ill, and those with disabilities.
Nurse advocates make good health care decisions for patients and residents.
Nurse advocates do whatever patients and residents want.
Effective advocacy may entail becoming politically active. - Answer 10. a, c, f. Advocacy is the
protection and support of another's rights. Among the patients with special advocacy needs are
the very young and the elderly, those who are seriously ill, and those with disabilities; this is not
a comprehensive list. Effective advocacy may entail becoming politically active. Patient advocacy
is the responsibility of every member of the professional caregiving team—not just nurses.
Nurse advocates do not make health care decisions for their patients and residents. Instead,
they facilitate their decision making. Advocacy does not entail supporting patients in all their
preferences.
Chapter 7
1. A state attorney decides to charge a nurse with manslaughter for allegedly administering a
lethal medication. This is an example of what type of law?
Public law
Private law
Civil law
Criminal law - Answer 1. d. Criminal law concerns state and federal criminal statutes, which
define criminal actions such as murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence, theft, and illegal
possession of drugs. Public law regulates relationships between people and the government.
Private or civil law includes laws relating to contracts, ownership of property, and the practice of
nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry.
2. Newly hired nurses in a busy suburban hospital are required to read the state Nurse Practice
Act as part of their training. Which topics are covered by this act? Select all that apply.
Violations that may result in disciplinary action
Clinical procedures
Medication administration
Scope of practice
Delegation policies
Medicare reimbursement - Answer 2. a, d. Each state has a Nurse Practice Act that protects
the public by broadly defining the legal scope of nursing practice. Practicing beyond those limits
makes nurses vulnerable to charges of violating the state Nurse Practice Act. Nurse Practice Acts
also list the violations that can result in disciplinary actions against nurses. Clinical procedures
Questions with Correct Answers 2025-
2026 Edition.
Chapter 6
1. A nurse caring for patients in the intensive care unit develops values from experience to form
a personal code of ethics. Which statements best describe a characteristic of the development
of a personal value system? Select all that apply.
People are born with values.
Values act as standards to guide behavior.
Values are ranked on a continuum of importance.
Values influence beliefs about health and illness.
Value systems are not related to personal codes of conduct.
Nurses should not let their values influence patient care. - Answer 1. b, c, d. A value is a
belief about the worth of something, about what matters, which acts as a standard to guide
one's behavior. A value system is an organization of values in which each is ranked along a
continuum of importance, often leading to a personal code of conduct. A person's values
influence beliefs about human needs, health, and illness; the practice of health behaviors; and
human responses to illness. Values guide the practice of nursing care. An individual is not born
with values; rather, values are formed during a lifetime from information from the environment,
family, and culture.
2. Five-year-old Bobby has dietary modifications related to his diabetes. His parents want him to
value good nutritional habits and they decide to deprive him of a favorite TV program when he
becomes angry after they deny him foods not on his diet. This is an example of what mode of
value transmission?
Modeling
Moralizing
Laissez-faire
Rewarding and punishing - Answer 2. d.When rewarding and punishing are used to transmit
values, children are rewarded for demonstrating values held by parents and punished for
demonstrating unacceptable values. Through modeling, children learn what is of high or low
value by observing parents, peers, and significant others. Children whose caregivers use the
moralizing mode of value transmission are taught a complete value system by parents or an
institution (e.g., church or school) that allows little opportunity for them to weigh different
values. Those who use the laissez-faire approach to value transmission leave children to explore
values on their own (no single set of values is presented as best for all) and to develop a
personal value system.
3. A nurse who is working in a hospital setting after graduation from a local college uses value
clarification to help understand the values that motivate patient behavior. Which examples
denote "prizing" in the process of values clarification? Select all that apply.
,A patient decides to quit smoking following a diagnosis of lung cancer.
A patient shows off a new outfit that she is wearing after losing 20 pounds.
A patient chooses to work fewer hours following a stress-related myocardial infarction.
A patient incorporates a new low-cholesterol diet into his daily routine.
A patient joins a gym and schedules classes throughout the year.
A patient proudly displays his certificate for completing a marathon. - Answer 3. b, f. Prizing
something one values involves pride, happiness, and public affirmation, such as losing weight or
running a marathon. When choosing, one chooses freely from alternatives after careful
consideration of the consequences of each alternative, such as quitting smoking and working
fewer hours. Finally, the person who values something acts by combining choice into one's
behavior with consistency and regularity on the value, such as joining a gym for the year and
following a low-cholesterol diet faithfully.
4. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing identified five values that epitomize the
caring professional nurse. Which of these is best described as acting in accordance with an
appropriate code of ethics and accepted standards of practice?
Altruism
Autonomy
Human dignity
Integrity - Answer 4. d. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing defines integrity as
acting in accordance with an appropriate code of ethics and accepted standards of practice.
Altruism is a concern for the welfare and well-being of others. Autonomy is the right to self-
determination, and human dignity is respect for the inherent worth and uniqueness of
individuals and populations.
5. A professional nurse with a commitment to social justice is most apt to:
Provide honest information to patients and the public
Promote universal access to health care
Plan care in partnership with patients
Document care accurately and honestly - Answer 5. b. The American Association of Colleges
of Nursing lists promoting universal access to health care as an example of social justice.
Providing honest information and documenting care accurately and honestly are examples of
integrity, and planning care in partnership with patients is an example of autonomy.
6. When an older nurse complains to a younger nurse that nurses just aren't ethical anymore,
which reply reflects the best understanding of moral development?
"Behaving ethically develops gradually from childhood; maybe my generation doesn't value this
enough to develop an ethical code."
"I don't agree that nurses were more ethical in the past. It's a new age and the ethics are new!"
"Ethics is genetically determined ... it's like having blue or brown eyes. Maybe we're evolving
out of the ethical sense your generation had."
,"I agree! It's impossible to be ethical when working in a practice setting like this!" - Answer
6. a. The ability to be ethical, to make decisions, and to act in an ethically justified manner
begins in childhood and develops gradually
7. A home health nurse who performs a careful safety assessment of the home of a frail elderly
patient to prevent harm to the patient is acting in accordance with which of the principles of
bioethics?
Autonomy
Beneficence
Justice
Fidelity
Nonmaleficence - Answer 7. e. Nonmaleficence is defined as the obligation to prevent harm.
Autonomy is respect for another's right to make decisions, beneficence obligates us to benefit
the patient, justice obligates us to act fairly, and fidelity obligates us to keep our promises.
8. A professional nurse committed to the principle of autonomy would be careful to:
Provide the information and support a patient needed to make decisions to advance one's own
interests
Treat each patient fairly, trying to give everyone his or her due
Keep any promises made to a patient or another professional caregiver
Avoid causing harm to a patient - Answer 8. a. The principle of autonomy obligates nurses to
provide the information and support patients and their surrogates need to make decisions that
advance their interests. Acting with justice means giving each person his or her due, acting with
fidelity involves keeping promises to patients, and acting with nonmaleficence means avoiding
doing harm to patients.
9. Janie wants to call an ethics consult to clarify treatment goals for a patient no longer able to
speak for himself. She believes his dying is being prolonged painfully. She is troubled when the
patient's doctor tells her that she'll be fired if she raises questions about his care or calls the
consult. This is a good example of:
Ethical uncertainty
Ethical distress
Ethical dilemma
Ethical residue - Answer 9. b. Ethical distress results from knowing the right thing to do but
finding it almost impossible to execute because of institutional or other constraints (in this case,
fear of losing her job). Ethical uncertainty results from feeling troubled by a situation but not
knowing if it is an ethical problem. Ethical dilemmas occur when the principles of bioethics
justify two or more conflicting courses of action. Ethical residue is what nurses experience when
they seriously compromise themselves or allow themselves to be compromised.
, 10. A student nurse begins a clinical rotation in a long-term care facility and quickly realizes that
certain residents have unmet needs. The student wants to advocate for these residents. Which
statements reflect a correct understanding of advocacy? Select all that apply.
Advocacy is the protection and support of another's rights.
Patient advocacy is primarily done by nurses.
Patients with special advocacy needs include the very young and the elderly, those who are
seriously ill, and those with disabilities.
Nurse advocates make good health care decisions for patients and residents.
Nurse advocates do whatever patients and residents want.
Effective advocacy may entail becoming politically active. - Answer 10. a, c, f. Advocacy is the
protection and support of another's rights. Among the patients with special advocacy needs are
the very young and the elderly, those who are seriously ill, and those with disabilities; this is not
a comprehensive list. Effective advocacy may entail becoming politically active. Patient advocacy
is the responsibility of every member of the professional caregiving team—not just nurses.
Nurse advocates do not make health care decisions for their patients and residents. Instead,
they facilitate their decision making. Advocacy does not entail supporting patients in all their
preferences.
Chapter 7
1. A state attorney decides to charge a nurse with manslaughter for allegedly administering a
lethal medication. This is an example of what type of law?
Public law
Private law
Civil law
Criminal law - Answer 1. d. Criminal law concerns state and federal criminal statutes, which
define criminal actions such as murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence, theft, and illegal
possession of drugs. Public law regulates relationships between people and the government.
Private or civil law includes laws relating to contracts, ownership of property, and the practice of
nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry.
2. Newly hired nurses in a busy suburban hospital are required to read the state Nurse Practice
Act as part of their training. Which topics are covered by this act? Select all that apply.
Violations that may result in disciplinary action
Clinical procedures
Medication administration
Scope of practice
Delegation policies
Medicare reimbursement - Answer 2. a, d. Each state has a Nurse Practice Act that protects
the public by broadly defining the legal scope of nursing practice. Practicing beyond those limits
makes nurses vulnerable to charges of violating the state Nurse Practice Act. Nurse Practice Acts
also list the violations that can result in disciplinary actions against nurses. Clinical procedures
