1
NURSING ETHICS ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS
1. A nurse has just received an order from a physician to administer a medication
to a patient. The nurse knows that this medication is contraindicated for the
patient based on their medical history. What should the nurse do?
a. Administer the medication as ordered.
b. Hold the medication and notify the physician of the contraindication.
c. Administer the medication at a lower dose.
d. Consult with another physician to confirm the order.
ANSWER ( B)
2. Which of the following is an ethical principle that guides nursing practice?
a. Autonomy
b. Utilitarianism
c. Virtue
d. Care
ANSWER ( A)
3. What is the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses?
a. A set of legal rules that nurses must follow
,2
b. A set of moral values that nurses must uphold
c. A set of professional standards that nurses must adhere to
ANSWER( C)
d. A set of ethical frameworks that nurses must apply
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is refusing treatment for their condition. The
patient’s family is pressuring the nurse to persuade the patient to accept
treatment. What should the nurse do?
a. Persuade the patient to accept treatment to satisfy the family’s wishes.
b. Respect the patient’s autonomy and allow them to refuse treatment.
c. Seek a court order to force the patient to accept treatment.
d. Consult with another nurse to determine the best course of action.
ANSWER (B)
5. Which of the following is an example of an ethical dilemma in nursing?
a. A nurse has to decide whether to report a colleague who made a medication
error
b. A nurse has to decide whether to follow a patient’s advance directive or a
family’s request
c. A nurse has to decide whether to accept a gift from a grateful patient
d. A nurse has to decide whether to join a union or not
ANSWER (B)
,3
6. What is moral distress in nursing?
a. The feeling of being unable to act according to one’s moral values
b. The feeling of being uncertain about what is morally right
c. The feeling of being conflicted between two or more moral values
d. The feeling of being harmed by someone else’s immoral actions
ANSWER (A)
7. Which of the following is an example of applying the principle of justice in
nursing practice?
a. Providing equal access to health care for all patients regardless of their social
status
b. Providing individualized care for each patient according to their needs and
preferences
c. Providing compassionate care for all patients regardless of their diagnosis or
prognosis
d. Providing truthful information to all patients regardless of their ability to
understand
ANSWER (A)
8. Which ethical framework is based on the idea that the right action is the one
that produces the best or least harm for the greatest number?
a. Deontology
, 4
b. Utilitarianism
c. Virtue ethics
d. Care ethics
ANSWER (B)
Nursing Ethics MCQ 2023
9. What is informed consent in nursing practice?
a. The process of obtaining permission from a patient to perform a specific
procedure or treatment
b. The process of providing information to a patient about the risks and benefits
of a specific procedure or treatment
c. The process of ensuring that a patient understands and agrees to a specific
procedure or treatment
d. The process of respecting a patient’s right to refuse or withdraw from a specific
procedure or treatment
ANSWER(C)
10. Which of the following is an example of an ethical issue related to
confidentiality in nursing practice?
a. A nurse shares a patient’s medical record with another nurse who is not
involved in the patient’s care
b. A nurse discusses a patient’s condition with the patient’s family without the
patient’s consent
c. A nurse reports a suspected case of child abuse to the appropriate authorities
without the parent’s consent
NURSING ETHICS ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS
1. A nurse has just received an order from a physician to administer a medication
to a patient. The nurse knows that this medication is contraindicated for the
patient based on their medical history. What should the nurse do?
a. Administer the medication as ordered.
b. Hold the medication and notify the physician of the contraindication.
c. Administer the medication at a lower dose.
d. Consult with another physician to confirm the order.
ANSWER ( B)
2. Which of the following is an ethical principle that guides nursing practice?
a. Autonomy
b. Utilitarianism
c. Virtue
d. Care
ANSWER ( A)
3. What is the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses?
a. A set of legal rules that nurses must follow
,2
b. A set of moral values that nurses must uphold
c. A set of professional standards that nurses must adhere to
ANSWER( C)
d. A set of ethical frameworks that nurses must apply
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is refusing treatment for their condition. The
patient’s family is pressuring the nurse to persuade the patient to accept
treatment. What should the nurse do?
a. Persuade the patient to accept treatment to satisfy the family’s wishes.
b. Respect the patient’s autonomy and allow them to refuse treatment.
c. Seek a court order to force the patient to accept treatment.
d. Consult with another nurse to determine the best course of action.
ANSWER (B)
5. Which of the following is an example of an ethical dilemma in nursing?
a. A nurse has to decide whether to report a colleague who made a medication
error
b. A nurse has to decide whether to follow a patient’s advance directive or a
family’s request
c. A nurse has to decide whether to accept a gift from a grateful patient
d. A nurse has to decide whether to join a union or not
ANSWER (B)
,3
6. What is moral distress in nursing?
a. The feeling of being unable to act according to one’s moral values
b. The feeling of being uncertain about what is morally right
c. The feeling of being conflicted between two or more moral values
d. The feeling of being harmed by someone else’s immoral actions
ANSWER (A)
7. Which of the following is an example of applying the principle of justice in
nursing practice?
a. Providing equal access to health care for all patients regardless of their social
status
b. Providing individualized care for each patient according to their needs and
preferences
c. Providing compassionate care for all patients regardless of their diagnosis or
prognosis
d. Providing truthful information to all patients regardless of their ability to
understand
ANSWER (A)
8. Which ethical framework is based on the idea that the right action is the one
that produces the best or least harm for the greatest number?
a. Deontology
, 4
b. Utilitarianism
c. Virtue ethics
d. Care ethics
ANSWER (B)
Nursing Ethics MCQ 2023
9. What is informed consent in nursing practice?
a. The process of obtaining permission from a patient to perform a specific
procedure or treatment
b. The process of providing information to a patient about the risks and benefits
of a specific procedure or treatment
c. The process of ensuring that a patient understands and agrees to a specific
procedure or treatment
d. The process of respecting a patient’s right to refuse or withdraw from a specific
procedure or treatment
ANSWER(C)
10. Which of the following is an example of an ethical issue related to
confidentiality in nursing practice?
a. A nurse shares a patient’s medical record with another nurse who is not
involved in the patient’s care
b. A nurse discusses a patient’s condition with the patient’s family without the
patient’s consent
c. A nurse reports a suspected case of child abuse to the appropriate authorities
without the parent’s consent
