EXAM 2: NU131 / NU 131 (LATEST 2026 /
2027) NURSING AND HEALTHCARE I |
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | 100 % CORRECT
| GRADE A - GALEN
AT GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING
The exam for the 2026/2027 cycle typically covers the following
three pillars:
1. Ethics and Legal Principles in Nursing
2. Communication and Therapeutic Interaction
3. Cultural Competence and Patient Diversity
NU131 Exam 2 – Nursing and Healthcare I (2026/2027) Q&A
Section 1: Ethics and Legal Principles in Nursing
1. Question: What are ethics, and how do they guide a nurse in practice?
Answer: Ethics are the principles of right and wrong that guide individuals in
making decisions and actions. In nursing, ethics help professionals determine the
most appropriate way to care for patients while respecting their rights and dignity.
Ethics provide a framework for handling complex situations where there may not be
a clear right or wrong answer. Nurses rely on ethical guidelines to promote patient
safety and professional integrity.
2. Question: How do morals influence nursing practice?
Answer: Morals are personal beliefs about what is right or wrong, shaping an
individual’s behavior and choices. In nursing, a practitioner’s morals influence how
they interact with patients and make decisions regarding patient care. Morals can
sometimes conflict with professional ethical standards, so nurses must balance
personal beliefs with established ethical guidelines. Understanding personal morals
helps nurses recognize biases that could affect patient care.
,3. Question: What is meant by personal ethics, and why is it important for nurses?
Answer: Personal ethics are the standards an individual uses to guide their daily
decisions and actions. For nurses, personal ethics influence how they treat patients,
handle confidential information, and respond to ethical dilemmas. Having a clear
set of personal ethics allows nurses to act consistently and with integrity. Nurses
must align personal ethics with professional codes to maintain safe and ethical
care.
4. Question: How are values defined, and what role do they play in nursing?
Answer: Values are the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes that an individual considers
important in life. In nursing, values shape decisions, priorities, and behaviors when
providing care to patients. Understanding one’s values helps nurses respect
patients’ perspectives, preferences, and cultural backgrounds. Values also guide
nurses in maintaining professionalism and advocating for patient well-being.
5. Question: What is nursing ethics, and how does it apply to professional practice?
Answer: Nursing ethics refers to the values and ethical principles that govern
nursing practice, professional conduct, and relationships with patients and
colleagues. These ethics guide nurses in making decisions that respect patient
autonomy, promote beneficence, and prevent harm. Nursing ethics ensures
accountability, patient advocacy, and fairness in all interactions. It also provides a
standard for resolving conflicts and dilemmas in healthcare.
6. Question: What are the ethical responsibilities of nurses in patient care?
Answer: Nurses have ethical responsibilities such as patient advocacy,
accountability, and peer reporting. Advocacy involves protecting patients’ rights
and ensuring their voices are heard. Accountability means taking responsibility for
actions and decisions, including mistakes. Peer reporting ensures safety and quality
care by addressing unprofessional or unsafe practices. Ethical responsibilities
maintain trust and integrity in nursing practice.
7. Question: What are the “Big Four” ethical principles in nursing, and why are they
important?
Answer: The “Big Four” ethical principles are Autonomy, Beneficence,
Nonmaleficence, and Justice. Autonomy respects the patient’s right to make their
own healthcare decisions. Beneficence involves acting in the patient’s best interest
and promoting good. Nonmaleficence requires nurses to avoid causing harm.
Justice ensures fair treatment and distribution of healthcare resources. These
principles provide a foundation for ethical decision-making in nursing.
,8. Question: How does the Nurse Practice Act guide nursing practice?
Answer: The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is the legal framework that defines the
scope of nursing practice in a state. It outlines what nurses are authorized to do,
sets standards for licensure, and provides disciplinary measures for misconduct.
Nurses rely on the NPA to ensure their actions comply with legal and professional
standards. Understanding the NPA protects patients and maintains public trust in
nursing.
9. Question: What is autonomy in nursing ethics, and how does it influence patient
care?
Answer: Autonomy is the patient’s right to make their own healthcare decisions
based on personal values and preferences. Nurses must respect autonomy by
providing information, supporting informed consent, and honoring patient choices
even if they differ from the nurse’s personal beliefs. It encourages patient participation
and promotes dignity. Understanding autonomy helps nurses avoid coercion and
supports ethical decision-making in care planning.
10. Question: How does beneficence guide nursing practice?
Answer: Beneficence involves acting in the best interest of the patient and promoting
good outcomes. Nurses apply beneficence by providing safe, effective, and
compassionate care while anticipating patient needs. This principle also requires
actively preventing harm and supporting recovery. Beneficence balances patient well-
being with ethical and professional standards in healthcare delivery.
11. Question: What does nonmaleficence mean in nursing, and why is it essential?
Answer: Nonmaleficence is the principle of “do no harm” in patient care. Nurses must
avoid actions or omissions that could cause physical, emotional, or psychological
harm. This principle guides clinical decision-making, risk assessment, and safe
practice. Nonmaleficence is essential because it protects patients and maintains trust
in the healthcare system.
12. Question: How does justice apply to nursing ethics?
Answer: Justice in nursing refers to fairness in providing care and distributing
healthcare resources equitably. Nurses must ensure that all patients receive
appropriate care regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or personal beliefs. This
principle also applies to allocating time, attention, and interventions fairly. Justice
promotes equality and integrity in healthcare delivery.
13. Question: What is the difference between ethics and morals in nursing?
Answer: Ethics are external principles or social standards that guide professional
, conduct, whereas morals are personal beliefs about right and wrong. In nursing, ethics
are codified in professional codes like the ANA Code of Ethics, while morals influence
how a nurse personally approaches patient care. Nurses must integrate both to make
informed, ethical decisions. Understanding this difference helps resolve conflicts
between personal beliefs and professional obligations.
14. Question: What is professional negligence, and how is it related to malpractice?
Answer: Professional negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the
standard of care, resulting in patient harm. Malpractice is the legal term for
professional negligence that leads to lawsuits. Nurses must follow established
procedures, maintain competency, and document care to prevent negligence.
Understanding malpractice encourages accountability and protects both patients and
providers.
15. Question: What constitutes assault and battery in a healthcare setting?
Answer: Assault is the threat or attempt to cause harm, whereas battery is the actual
physical contact or injury inflicted without consent. In nursing, examples include
threatening a patient with an injection (assault) or performing a procedure without
consent (battery). Awareness of these distinctions protects patient rights and
minimizes legal liability. Nurses must always obtain informed consent to avoid legal
issues.
16. Question: What is false imprisonment in nursing, and how can it be prevented?
Answer: False imprisonment occurs when a patient is restrained or confined against
their will without legal justification. Nurses prevent false imprisonment by using
restraints only when necessary for safety, following institutional policies, and obtaining
proper authorization. Communication with the patient about the need for restraint is
essential. Understanding false imprisonment protects patient autonomy and legal
compliance.
17. Question: What is libel and slander, and how do they affect healthcare
professionals?
Answer: Libel is written defamation, and slander is verbal defamation. Both involve
false statements that damage a person’s reputation. In nursing, posting inaccurate
information about a colleague or patient can lead to legal consequences. Nurses must
communicate professionally and document accurately to avoid defamation.
Maintaining confidentiality and integrity is critical.
18. Question: How does informed consent relate to patient autonomy?
Answer: Informed consent ensures that patients understand the nature, risks,
2027) NURSING AND HEALTHCARE I |
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | 100 % CORRECT
| GRADE A - GALEN
AT GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING
The exam for the 2026/2027 cycle typically covers the following
three pillars:
1. Ethics and Legal Principles in Nursing
2. Communication and Therapeutic Interaction
3. Cultural Competence and Patient Diversity
NU131 Exam 2 – Nursing and Healthcare I (2026/2027) Q&A
Section 1: Ethics and Legal Principles in Nursing
1. Question: What are ethics, and how do they guide a nurse in practice?
Answer: Ethics are the principles of right and wrong that guide individuals in
making decisions and actions. In nursing, ethics help professionals determine the
most appropriate way to care for patients while respecting their rights and dignity.
Ethics provide a framework for handling complex situations where there may not be
a clear right or wrong answer. Nurses rely on ethical guidelines to promote patient
safety and professional integrity.
2. Question: How do morals influence nursing practice?
Answer: Morals are personal beliefs about what is right or wrong, shaping an
individual’s behavior and choices. In nursing, a practitioner’s morals influence how
they interact with patients and make decisions regarding patient care. Morals can
sometimes conflict with professional ethical standards, so nurses must balance
personal beliefs with established ethical guidelines. Understanding personal morals
helps nurses recognize biases that could affect patient care.
,3. Question: What is meant by personal ethics, and why is it important for nurses?
Answer: Personal ethics are the standards an individual uses to guide their daily
decisions and actions. For nurses, personal ethics influence how they treat patients,
handle confidential information, and respond to ethical dilemmas. Having a clear
set of personal ethics allows nurses to act consistently and with integrity. Nurses
must align personal ethics with professional codes to maintain safe and ethical
care.
4. Question: How are values defined, and what role do they play in nursing?
Answer: Values are the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes that an individual considers
important in life. In nursing, values shape decisions, priorities, and behaviors when
providing care to patients. Understanding one’s values helps nurses respect
patients’ perspectives, preferences, and cultural backgrounds. Values also guide
nurses in maintaining professionalism and advocating for patient well-being.
5. Question: What is nursing ethics, and how does it apply to professional practice?
Answer: Nursing ethics refers to the values and ethical principles that govern
nursing practice, professional conduct, and relationships with patients and
colleagues. These ethics guide nurses in making decisions that respect patient
autonomy, promote beneficence, and prevent harm. Nursing ethics ensures
accountability, patient advocacy, and fairness in all interactions. It also provides a
standard for resolving conflicts and dilemmas in healthcare.
6. Question: What are the ethical responsibilities of nurses in patient care?
Answer: Nurses have ethical responsibilities such as patient advocacy,
accountability, and peer reporting. Advocacy involves protecting patients’ rights
and ensuring their voices are heard. Accountability means taking responsibility for
actions and decisions, including mistakes. Peer reporting ensures safety and quality
care by addressing unprofessional or unsafe practices. Ethical responsibilities
maintain trust and integrity in nursing practice.
7. Question: What are the “Big Four” ethical principles in nursing, and why are they
important?
Answer: The “Big Four” ethical principles are Autonomy, Beneficence,
Nonmaleficence, and Justice. Autonomy respects the patient’s right to make their
own healthcare decisions. Beneficence involves acting in the patient’s best interest
and promoting good. Nonmaleficence requires nurses to avoid causing harm.
Justice ensures fair treatment and distribution of healthcare resources. These
principles provide a foundation for ethical decision-making in nursing.
,8. Question: How does the Nurse Practice Act guide nursing practice?
Answer: The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is the legal framework that defines the
scope of nursing practice in a state. It outlines what nurses are authorized to do,
sets standards for licensure, and provides disciplinary measures for misconduct.
Nurses rely on the NPA to ensure their actions comply with legal and professional
standards. Understanding the NPA protects patients and maintains public trust in
nursing.
9. Question: What is autonomy in nursing ethics, and how does it influence patient
care?
Answer: Autonomy is the patient’s right to make their own healthcare decisions
based on personal values and preferences. Nurses must respect autonomy by
providing information, supporting informed consent, and honoring patient choices
even if they differ from the nurse’s personal beliefs. It encourages patient participation
and promotes dignity. Understanding autonomy helps nurses avoid coercion and
supports ethical decision-making in care planning.
10. Question: How does beneficence guide nursing practice?
Answer: Beneficence involves acting in the best interest of the patient and promoting
good outcomes. Nurses apply beneficence by providing safe, effective, and
compassionate care while anticipating patient needs. This principle also requires
actively preventing harm and supporting recovery. Beneficence balances patient well-
being with ethical and professional standards in healthcare delivery.
11. Question: What does nonmaleficence mean in nursing, and why is it essential?
Answer: Nonmaleficence is the principle of “do no harm” in patient care. Nurses must
avoid actions or omissions that could cause physical, emotional, or psychological
harm. This principle guides clinical decision-making, risk assessment, and safe
practice. Nonmaleficence is essential because it protects patients and maintains trust
in the healthcare system.
12. Question: How does justice apply to nursing ethics?
Answer: Justice in nursing refers to fairness in providing care and distributing
healthcare resources equitably. Nurses must ensure that all patients receive
appropriate care regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or personal beliefs. This
principle also applies to allocating time, attention, and interventions fairly. Justice
promotes equality and integrity in healthcare delivery.
13. Question: What is the difference between ethics and morals in nursing?
Answer: Ethics are external principles or social standards that guide professional
, conduct, whereas morals are personal beliefs about right and wrong. In nursing, ethics
are codified in professional codes like the ANA Code of Ethics, while morals influence
how a nurse personally approaches patient care. Nurses must integrate both to make
informed, ethical decisions. Understanding this difference helps resolve conflicts
between personal beliefs and professional obligations.
14. Question: What is professional negligence, and how is it related to malpractice?
Answer: Professional negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the
standard of care, resulting in patient harm. Malpractice is the legal term for
professional negligence that leads to lawsuits. Nurses must follow established
procedures, maintain competency, and document care to prevent negligence.
Understanding malpractice encourages accountability and protects both patients and
providers.
15. Question: What constitutes assault and battery in a healthcare setting?
Answer: Assault is the threat or attempt to cause harm, whereas battery is the actual
physical contact or injury inflicted without consent. In nursing, examples include
threatening a patient with an injection (assault) or performing a procedure without
consent (battery). Awareness of these distinctions protects patient rights and
minimizes legal liability. Nurses must always obtain informed consent to avoid legal
issues.
16. Question: What is false imprisonment in nursing, and how can it be prevented?
Answer: False imprisonment occurs when a patient is restrained or confined against
their will without legal justification. Nurses prevent false imprisonment by using
restraints only when necessary for safety, following institutional policies, and obtaining
proper authorization. Communication with the patient about the need for restraint is
essential. Understanding false imprisonment protects patient autonomy and legal
compliance.
17. Question: What is libel and slander, and how do they affect healthcare
professionals?
Answer: Libel is written defamation, and slander is verbal defamation. Both involve
false statements that damage a person’s reputation. In nursing, posting inaccurate
information about a colleague or patient can lead to legal consequences. Nurses must
communicate professionally and document accurately to avoid defamation.
Maintaining confidentiality and integrity is critical.
18. Question: How does informed consent relate to patient autonomy?
Answer: Informed consent ensures that patients understand the nature, risks,
