NURSING ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUES LATEST 2026
UPDATE ACTUAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS MOST ASKED
200 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | A+ SUCCESS KIT
FROM PAST PAPERS EXAM COLLECTION
1. A nurse is caring for a competent adult who refuses a life-saving blood transfusion. What
is the nurse’s best action?
a. Administer the transfusion anyway
b. Notify security to restrain the patient
c. Respect the patient’s refusal
d. Ask the family to override the decision
Answer: C
Explanation: A competent patient has the legal right to refuse treatment even if it results
in death.
2. Which principle is being upheld when a nurse keeps a patient’s information private?
a. Autonomy
b. Justice
c. Fidelity
d. Confidentiality
Answer: D
Explanation: Confidentiality protects patient information from unauthorized disclosure.
3. A nurse mistakenly administers the wrong medication. What is the first action?
a. Document and continue care
b. Report the incident to the provider
c. Notify the patient immediately
d. Complete an incident report and leave it
Answer: B
Explanation: The provider must be informed immediately for patient safety.
4. Which action is an example of negligence?
a. Refusing to treat a patient
b. Failing to monitor a post-op patient leading to harm
c. Administering medication as prescribed
d. Obtaining informed consent
Answer: B
Explanation: Negligence is failure to meet standard care resulting in harm.
5. Informed consent is primarily the responsibility of:
a. Nurse
b. Physician
c. Pharmacist
d. Social worker
Answer: B
Explanation: The provider performing the procedure must obtain consent.
6. A nurse hears a coworker discussing a patient in the elevator. This is:
a. Defamation
b. Invasion of privacy
, c. Breach of confidentiality
d. Libel
Answer: C
Explanation: Discussing patient info in public violates confidentiality.
7. Which situation requires mandatory reporting by the nurse?
a. Patient refusal of treatment
b. Suspected child abuse
c. Medication side effects
d. Anxiety disorder
Answer: B
Explanation: Nurses are legally required to report suspected abuse.
8. A nurse threatens to restrain a patient who refuses care. This is:
a. Assault
b. Battery
c. Negligence
d. False imprisonment
Answer: A
Explanation: Assault is the threat of harm causing fear.
9. Physically restraining a patient without justification is:
a. Assault
b. Battery
c. Defamation
d. Malpractice
Answer: B
Explanation: Battery is unlawful physical contact.
10. A nurse documents false information in a chart. This is:
a. Negligence
b. Fraud
c. Libel
d. Assault
Answer: B
Explanation: Fraud involves intentional falsification of records.
11. The ethical principle of autonomy means:
a. Doing good for the patient
b. Allowing patient self-decision
c. Avoiding harm
d. Treating all patients equally
Answer: B
Explanation: Autonomy respects patient decision-making.
12. Which action violates HIPAA?
a. Discussing patient care in report room
b. Sharing patient info with authorized team
c. Leaving charts unattended in nurse station
d. Documenting care in EMR
Answer: C
Explanation: Unauthorized access to records breaches HIPAA.
,13. A nurse refuses to participate in abortion care due to beliefs. This is:
a. Negligence
b. Malpractice
c. Conscientious objection
d. Battery
Answer: C
Explanation: Nurses may refuse care based on moral beliefs if patient is not abandoned.
14. Malpractice requires:
a. Intent to harm
b. Breach of duty causing harm
c. Patient consent
d. Hospital approval
Answer: B
Explanation: Malpractice is professional negligence with harm.
15. A DNR order means:
a. No treatment at all
b. No resuscitation if breathing stops
c. No medications
d. No food or fluids
Answer: B
Explanation: DNR applies only to CPR/resuscitation.
16. Who can legally witness informed consent?
a. Nurse
b. Physician only
c. Any competent adult staff
d. Pharmacist
Answer: C
Explanation: Nurse can witness signature but not explain procedure.
17. A nurse documents care not performed. This is:
a. Negligence
b. Falsification
c. Battery
d. Assault
Answer: B
Explanation: False documentation is illegal and unethical.
18. Which is an example of advocacy?
a. Following orders blindly
b. Speaking for patient rights
c. Ignoring patient concerns
d. Sharing records publicly
Answer: B
Explanation: Advocacy supports patient rights and needs.
19. A patient leaves the hospital against medical advice. Nurse should:
a. Restrain patient
b. Inform provider and document
c. Call police immediately
, d. Refuse discharge papers
Answer: B
Explanation: Patients have the right to leave; nurse must document.
20. Delegation is appropriate when:
a. Nurse assigns assessment
b. Task is within UAP scope
c. Patient is unstable
d. Medication is IV push
Answer: B
Explanation: UAP can perform non-critical tasks.
21. Breach of confidentiality can result in:
a. Promotion
b. Legal penalties
c. No consequences
d. Immunity
Answer: B
Explanation: HIPAA violations carry legal consequences.
22. Which action best demonstrates beneficence?
a. Ignoring patient wishes
b. Acting in patient best interest
c. Withholding pain meds
d. Discharging early
Answer: B
Explanation: Beneficence means doing good for the patient.
23. Veracity means:
a. Justice
b. Truthfulness
c. Privacy
d. Equality
Answer: B
Explanation: Veracity is telling the truth to patients.
24. A nurse refuses unsafe assignment. This is:
a. Abandonment
b. Ethical responsibility
c. Negligence
d. Assault
Answer: B
Explanation: Nurses must advocate for safe care conditions.
25. Which is a legal nursing document?
a. Text message
b. Medical record
c. Personal notes
d. Verbal report only
Answer: B
Explanation: The medical record is a legal document.
UPDATE ACTUAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS MOST ASKED
200 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | A+ SUCCESS KIT
FROM PAST PAPERS EXAM COLLECTION
1. A nurse is caring for a competent adult who refuses a life-saving blood transfusion. What
is the nurse’s best action?
a. Administer the transfusion anyway
b. Notify security to restrain the patient
c. Respect the patient’s refusal
d. Ask the family to override the decision
Answer: C
Explanation: A competent patient has the legal right to refuse treatment even if it results
in death.
2. Which principle is being upheld when a nurse keeps a patient’s information private?
a. Autonomy
b. Justice
c. Fidelity
d. Confidentiality
Answer: D
Explanation: Confidentiality protects patient information from unauthorized disclosure.
3. A nurse mistakenly administers the wrong medication. What is the first action?
a. Document and continue care
b. Report the incident to the provider
c. Notify the patient immediately
d. Complete an incident report and leave it
Answer: B
Explanation: The provider must be informed immediately for patient safety.
4. Which action is an example of negligence?
a. Refusing to treat a patient
b. Failing to monitor a post-op patient leading to harm
c. Administering medication as prescribed
d. Obtaining informed consent
Answer: B
Explanation: Negligence is failure to meet standard care resulting in harm.
5. Informed consent is primarily the responsibility of:
a. Nurse
b. Physician
c. Pharmacist
d. Social worker
Answer: B
Explanation: The provider performing the procedure must obtain consent.
6. A nurse hears a coworker discussing a patient in the elevator. This is:
a. Defamation
b. Invasion of privacy
, c. Breach of confidentiality
d. Libel
Answer: C
Explanation: Discussing patient info in public violates confidentiality.
7. Which situation requires mandatory reporting by the nurse?
a. Patient refusal of treatment
b. Suspected child abuse
c. Medication side effects
d. Anxiety disorder
Answer: B
Explanation: Nurses are legally required to report suspected abuse.
8. A nurse threatens to restrain a patient who refuses care. This is:
a. Assault
b. Battery
c. Negligence
d. False imprisonment
Answer: A
Explanation: Assault is the threat of harm causing fear.
9. Physically restraining a patient without justification is:
a. Assault
b. Battery
c. Defamation
d. Malpractice
Answer: B
Explanation: Battery is unlawful physical contact.
10. A nurse documents false information in a chart. This is:
a. Negligence
b. Fraud
c. Libel
d. Assault
Answer: B
Explanation: Fraud involves intentional falsification of records.
11. The ethical principle of autonomy means:
a. Doing good for the patient
b. Allowing patient self-decision
c. Avoiding harm
d. Treating all patients equally
Answer: B
Explanation: Autonomy respects patient decision-making.
12. Which action violates HIPAA?
a. Discussing patient care in report room
b. Sharing patient info with authorized team
c. Leaving charts unattended in nurse station
d. Documenting care in EMR
Answer: C
Explanation: Unauthorized access to records breaches HIPAA.
,13. A nurse refuses to participate in abortion care due to beliefs. This is:
a. Negligence
b. Malpractice
c. Conscientious objection
d. Battery
Answer: C
Explanation: Nurses may refuse care based on moral beliefs if patient is not abandoned.
14. Malpractice requires:
a. Intent to harm
b. Breach of duty causing harm
c. Patient consent
d. Hospital approval
Answer: B
Explanation: Malpractice is professional negligence with harm.
15. A DNR order means:
a. No treatment at all
b. No resuscitation if breathing stops
c. No medications
d. No food or fluids
Answer: B
Explanation: DNR applies only to CPR/resuscitation.
16. Who can legally witness informed consent?
a. Nurse
b. Physician only
c. Any competent adult staff
d. Pharmacist
Answer: C
Explanation: Nurse can witness signature but not explain procedure.
17. A nurse documents care not performed. This is:
a. Negligence
b. Falsification
c. Battery
d. Assault
Answer: B
Explanation: False documentation is illegal and unethical.
18. Which is an example of advocacy?
a. Following orders blindly
b. Speaking for patient rights
c. Ignoring patient concerns
d. Sharing records publicly
Answer: B
Explanation: Advocacy supports patient rights and needs.
19. A patient leaves the hospital against medical advice. Nurse should:
a. Restrain patient
b. Inform provider and document
c. Call police immediately
, d. Refuse discharge papers
Answer: B
Explanation: Patients have the right to leave; nurse must document.
20. Delegation is appropriate when:
a. Nurse assigns assessment
b. Task is within UAP scope
c. Patient is unstable
d. Medication is IV push
Answer: B
Explanation: UAP can perform non-critical tasks.
21. Breach of confidentiality can result in:
a. Promotion
b. Legal penalties
c. No consequences
d. Immunity
Answer: B
Explanation: HIPAA violations carry legal consequences.
22. Which action best demonstrates beneficence?
a. Ignoring patient wishes
b. Acting in patient best interest
c. Withholding pain meds
d. Discharging early
Answer: B
Explanation: Beneficence means doing good for the patient.
23. Veracity means:
a. Justice
b. Truthfulness
c. Privacy
d. Equality
Answer: B
Explanation: Veracity is telling the truth to patients.
24. A nurse refuses unsafe assignment. This is:
a. Abandonment
b. Ethical responsibility
c. Negligence
d. Assault
Answer: B
Explanation: Nurses must advocate for safe care conditions.
25. Which is a legal nursing document?
a. Text message
b. Medical record
c. Personal notes
d. Verbal report only
Answer: B
Explanation: The medical record is a legal document.
