HSAD 210 HEALTH CARE ETHICS EXAM Q & A WITH RATIONALES 2024, Exams of Nursing

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HSAD 210

Health Care Ethics

Q & A w/ Rationales

1. You are a nurse working in a palliative care unit. One of your patients, Mr. Lee, is terminally ill with lung cancer and has expressed his wish to end his life with medical assistance. He has met the legal criteria for this option and has signed the consent form. However, his family is strongly opposed to his decision and has threatened to sue you and the physician if you proceed. What is the most ethical course of action in this situation? a) Respect Mr. Lee's autonomy and follow his request. b) Inform Mr. Lee that you cannot help him because of his family's objection. c) Try to persuade Mr. Lee to change his mind and accept palliative care. d) Refer the case to an ethics committee or a mediator for resolution. Answer: a) Respect Mr. Lee's autonomy and follow his request. Rationale: According to the principle of respect for autonomy, patients have the right to make their own decisions about their health care, even if they are contrary to the preferences of others. As a nurse, you have a duty to respect and support Mr. Lee's choice, as long as he is competent and informed. His family's opposition does not override his consent.
2. You are a nurse working in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). One of your patients, Baby A, is a premature infant born at 23 weeks of gestation. She has multiple organ failure and severe brain damage. The neonatologist

after attempting suicide. She refuses to take her medication and participate in any therapy sessions. She also expresses delusional thoughts and paranoid beliefs about the staff and other patients. You suspect that she may harm herself or others if left untreated. What is the most ethical course of action in this situation? a) Respect Ms. Smith's autonomy and do not force her to take medication or therapy. b) Use coercive measures, such as restraints or seclusion, to ensure Ms. Smith's safety and compliance. c) Administer medication or therapy to Ms. Smith without her consent, based on the principle of paternalism. d) Obtain a court order or an emergency certificate to authorize involuntary treatment for Ms. Smith. Answer: d) Obtain a court order or an emergency certificate to authorize involuntary treatment for Ms. Smith. Rationale: According to the principle of respect for autonomy, patients have the right to refuse treatment, even if it is beneficial for them. However, this right may be overridden in certain circumstances, such as when patients pose a serious threat to themselves or others due to mental illness. In such cases, involuntary treatment may be justified by the principle of beneficence or the principle of justice. However, involuntary treatment should only be administered after obtaining legal authorization from a court or an emergency certificate from a physician, in accordance with the relevant laws and policies.

B:

When faced with a conflict between the patient's wishes and the family's wishes, which approach should the nurse take? a) Follow the family's wishes b) Respect the patient's autonomy c) Seek guidance from the healthcare institution d) Consider the ethical principle of beneficence Answer: b) Respect the patient's autonomy Rationale: Respecting the patient's autonomy is crucial in upholding the patient's right to make decisions about their own care, even when there is a conflict with the family's wishes. A nurse encounters a situation where a patient's family requests to withhold information about the patient's diagnosis from the patient. What ethical principle should guide the nurse's actions? a) Veracity b) Fidelity c) Nonmaleficence d) Justice Answer: a) Veracity Rationale: The principle of veracity emphasizes the importance of truthfulness and honesty in the nurse-patient relationship, even when faced with challenging situations. When considering resource allocation in a healthcare

Rationale: Reporting an impaired colleague is essential for patient safety and upholding professional ethical standards in healthcare. What ethical principle should guide the nurse when obtaining informed consent from a patient for a medical procedure? a) Beneficence b) Nonmaleficence c) Autonomy d) Fidelity Answer: c) Autonomy Rationale: Respecting the patient's autonomy involves obtaining informed consent, ensuring the patient has the necessary information to make a decision about their care. In a situation where a patient's cultural beliefs conflict with the standard medical treatment, what should the nurse prioritize? a) Cultural competence b) Following institutional protocols c) Explaining the superiority of medical treatments d) Seeking advice from the patient's family Answer: a) Cultural competence Rationale: Cultural competence involves understanding and respecting the patient's cultural beliefs and practices while providing culturally sensitive care. When faced with a patient's request for confidentiality regarding a sensitive issue, what should the nurse

prioritize? a) Reporting the issue to the healthcare institution b) Respecting the patient's right to confidentiality c) Consulting with the patient's family d) Discussing the issue with colleagues Answer: b) Respecting the patient's right to confidentiality Rationale: Respecting the patient's confidentiality is essential for maintaining trust and promoting open communication in the nurse-patient relationship. What ethical principle should guide the nurse's actions when considering the use of physical restraints on a patient? a) Autonomy b) Nonmaleficence c) Beneficence d) Fidelity Answer: b) Nonmaleficence Rationale: Nonmaleficence emphasizes the nurse's duty to do no harm, which includes minimizing the use of physical restraints and considering alternative approaches to ensure patient safety. In a scenario where a patient expresses dissatisfaction with their care, what should the nurse prioritize? a) Explaining the reasons for the care provided b) Apologizing for the dissatisfaction c) Seeking input from the healthcare institution d) Addressing the patient's concerns and seeking

What ethical principle should guide the nurse's response to a patient's expression of gratitude for their care? a) Fidelity b) Veracity c) Nonmaleficence d) Beneficence Answer: a) Fidelity Rationale: Fidelity emphasizes the nurse's duty to be faithful and keep promises, including providing consistent and reliable care, which can contribute to the patient's expression of gratitude. When faced with a situation involving cultural, racial, or gender-based discrimination, what should the nurse prioritize? a) Reporting the discrimination to the healthcare institution b) Addressing the discriminatory behavior directly c) Seeking support from colleagues d) Ignoring the discriminatory behavior to avoid conflict Answer: a) Reporting the discrimination to the healthcare institution Rationale: Reporting discrimination is essential for promoting a safe and inclusive healthcare environment and upholding ethical standards related to respect and non- discrimination.

C:

1. What is the primary ethical principle that guides healthcare professionals in respecting patient autonomy and self-determination? a) Veracity b) Non-maleficence c) Autonomy d) Beneficence Answer: c) Autonomy Rationale: Autonomy refers to respecting patients' right to make decisions about their own healthcare. It recognizes individuals as capable of making informed choices and promotes a patient-centered approach to care.
2. A nurse discovers that a colleague is involved in a serious medication error which harmed a patient. What should the nurse do first in this situation? a) Report the incident to the nurse manager immediately b) Offer support to the colleague and suggest ways to prevent similar errors c) Document the incident in the patient's medical record d) Ignore the situation as it is not the nurse's responsibility Answer: a) Report the incident to the nurse manager immediately Rationale: Reporting a medication error promptly ensures patient safety and transparency. It is important to follow appropriate procedures, which may vary depending on the healthcare facility, to address and resolve the situation.

5. A nurse is caring for an elderly patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The patient expresses a desire to participate in a clinical trial for a new drug, despite knowing the risks involved. What ethical principle is relevant in this situation? a) Fidelity b) Autonomy c) Beneficence d) Non-maleficence Answer: b) Autonomy Rationale: Autonomy acknowledges the patient's right to make informed choices, even when the decision might not align with the healthcare provider's opinion. The nurse should respect the patient's autonomy and provide necessary information to aid in decision-making.
6. In a community health clinic, a nurse is assigned to provide care to a patient who has limited English proficiency. What ethical principle should guide the nurse's actions in this situation? a) Autonomy b) Fidelity c) Veracity d) Beneficence Answer: d) Beneficence Rationale: Beneficence refers to acting in the best interest of the patient and promoting their well-being. In this situation, the nurse should ensure effective communication, possibly by using an interpreter or certified translator, to promote understanding and provide safe, quality care.

7. A nurse is faced with a dilemma where respecting one ethical principle may conflict with another. This is known as: a) An ethical dilemma b) An ethical principle conflict c) An ethical challenge d) An ethical complexity Answer: a) An ethical dilemma Rationale: An ethical dilemma occurs when a healthcare professional is faced with a situation where primary ethical principles may be in conflict. It requires careful analysis and consideration of the best course of action.
8. A nurse overhears two colleagues discussing patient information in a public area, breaching patient confidentiality. What should the nurse do in this situation? a) Confront the colleagues and ask them to stop discussing patient information publicly b) Report the incident to the clinic or hospital's privacy officer or supervisor c) Ignore the situation and continue with their own duties d) Reprimand the colleagues for their behavior Answer: b) Report the incident to the clinic or hospital's privacy officer or supervisor Rationale: Confidentiality is an essential ethical principle in healthcare. Breaching patient confidentiality jeopardizes patient trust and violates their privacy rights. The nurse should follow appropriate procedures and report the incident to the designated personnel to ensure

medication on behalf of another healthcare professional can compromise patient safety and violate ethical standards. The incident should be reported to appropriate authority figures.

11. A nurse suspects that a colleague is impaired while on duty due to substance abuse. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take? a) Ignore the suspicion and continue with their own responsibilities b) Confront the colleague and express concerns about their behavior c) Report the suspicion to the nurse manager or supervisor d) Provide the colleague with resources for addiction treatment Answer: c) Report the suspicion to the nurse manager or supervisor Rationale: Suspecting a colleague's impairment due to substance abuse is a serious concern that can impact patient safety. The nurse should report their suspicions to the appropriate authority to ensure patient safety and follow organizational policies.
12. When faced with an ethical dilemma, what should healthcare professionals consider as essential before making a decision? a) The patient's financial situation b) The healthcare provider's personal beliefs c) The relevant ethical principles and codes of conduct d) The potential outcome with the least risk

Answer: c) The relevant ethical principles and codes of conduct Rationale: When faced with an ethical dilemma, healthcare professionals should consider the relevant ethical principles and codes of conduct. These guidelines provide a framework for decision-making that upholds the well-being of patients and encourages ethical practice.

13. A nurse identifies a medication error made by a physician. What should the nurse do first in this situation? a) Correct the error without reporting it b) Report the error to the nurse manager or supervisor c) Confront the physician about the error d) Document the error in the patient's medical record Answer: b) Report the error to the nurse manager or supervisor Rationale: Reporting a medication error promptly is important to ensure patient safety and address any potential harm caused. The nurse should follow appropriate procedures and report the error to the designated authority figures within the healthcare facility.
14. A patient refuses a blood transfusion based on personal beliefs but is at risk of severe anemia. What should the nurse do in this situation? a) Respect the patient's decision and explore alternative treatment options b) Convince the patient that a blood transfusion is necessary for their well-being c) Override the patient's decision and proceed with the