PNVN 1111 – Module 11 Quiz 3 Study Guide, 2026 – Review and
practice material
what is the description and scope of ethics? - correct answer ✔✔ Ethics is a system of standards
or moral principles that direct actions as being right or wrong. For example:
- what actions are right or wrong
- moral and immoral
- good and bad
- if one ought to ought not to do something
- if one has the right to do something
- if one has the duty to do something
In nursing it refers to the expected behavior
Differentiate between law and ethics. - correct answer ✔✔ law is ethics that are written,
observed and enforced
ethics is a system of standards or moral principles that direct actions as being right or wrong
How did the roots of nursing ethics change? - correct answer ✔✔ nurses used to be doers and
not thinkers, only answering to physicians
as the nursing process and evidenced based practiced emerged, pts were encouraged to be an
active oar iu the nursing care plan promoting autonomy (rights of the individual)
Define each principle of ethics and provide an example of nursing actions obeying the principle
vs not obeying - correct answer ✔✔ Nonmaleficence (Do No Harm) - SBAR, Six rights to give
, medication, protecting those who cannot protect themselves: such as the mentally challenged,
unconscious, weak, or debilitated pts
EX: When a student goes to the clinical site the day before clinical to prepare for pt care.
Beneficence (DO GOOD) - put the pts interests first, place the good of pts before your needs
EX: providing emotional support, placing the bed in low position before leaving the room,
placing the medication that the pt brought from home at the nurse station to prevent
medication error.
Autonomy (free to choose) - thinking through ALL the facts, deciding on the basis of an
independent thinking process, Acting based on personal decision, Undertaking a decision
voluntarily7 without pressure, direct or subtle, from anyone else.
EX: pts rights to choose in medical setting
Fidelity (Be true) - Be faithful to the charge of acting in the pt's best interest when the capacity
to make free choice is no longer available to the pt.
EX: Documentation of the pt's expression of feelings w/o subjective interpretation from the
nurse. such as FLACC scale, Wong-Baker's scale
Justice (fair to ALL) - deliver fair and equal tx to all pts, recognizing and avoiding personal bias
EX: each pt with same dx should recieve same level of care, treat all the same with dignity and
respect, does not always mean giving every pt the same things.
Beneficent Paternalism - is a disrespectful attitude toward the pt and what the pt has to
contribute to personal care and recovery.
EX: "I know what's best for you", Assisting w/developing the care plan w/o pt input will reflect
the nurse's needs, not the pt's
therefore, if pthas agreed to the pt care plan, then encouraging the pt to do what has been
agreed upon is beneficence.
practice material
what is the description and scope of ethics? - correct answer ✔✔ Ethics is a system of standards
or moral principles that direct actions as being right or wrong. For example:
- what actions are right or wrong
- moral and immoral
- good and bad
- if one ought to ought not to do something
- if one has the right to do something
- if one has the duty to do something
In nursing it refers to the expected behavior
Differentiate between law and ethics. - correct answer ✔✔ law is ethics that are written,
observed and enforced
ethics is a system of standards or moral principles that direct actions as being right or wrong
How did the roots of nursing ethics change? - correct answer ✔✔ nurses used to be doers and
not thinkers, only answering to physicians
as the nursing process and evidenced based practiced emerged, pts were encouraged to be an
active oar iu the nursing care plan promoting autonomy (rights of the individual)
Define each principle of ethics and provide an example of nursing actions obeying the principle
vs not obeying - correct answer ✔✔ Nonmaleficence (Do No Harm) - SBAR, Six rights to give
, medication, protecting those who cannot protect themselves: such as the mentally challenged,
unconscious, weak, or debilitated pts
EX: When a student goes to the clinical site the day before clinical to prepare for pt care.
Beneficence (DO GOOD) - put the pts interests first, place the good of pts before your needs
EX: providing emotional support, placing the bed in low position before leaving the room,
placing the medication that the pt brought from home at the nurse station to prevent
medication error.
Autonomy (free to choose) - thinking through ALL the facts, deciding on the basis of an
independent thinking process, Acting based on personal decision, Undertaking a decision
voluntarily7 without pressure, direct or subtle, from anyone else.
EX: pts rights to choose in medical setting
Fidelity (Be true) - Be faithful to the charge of acting in the pt's best interest when the capacity
to make free choice is no longer available to the pt.
EX: Documentation of the pt's expression of feelings w/o subjective interpretation from the
nurse. such as FLACC scale, Wong-Baker's scale
Justice (fair to ALL) - deliver fair and equal tx to all pts, recognizing and avoiding personal bias
EX: each pt with same dx should recieve same level of care, treat all the same with dignity and
respect, does not always mean giving every pt the same things.
Beneficent Paternalism - is a disrespectful attitude toward the pt and what the pt has to
contribute to personal care and recovery.
EX: "I know what's best for you", Assisting w/developing the care plan w/o pt input will reflect
the nurse's needs, not the pt's
therefore, if pthas agreed to the pt care plan, then encouraging the pt to do what has been
agreed upon is beneficence.
