ETHICS AND ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY
NURSING 3RD CANADIAN EDITION 2026
MOCK EXAM PRACTICE SET WITH
SOLUTIONS A+
◉ Character Ethics. Answer: Theories of ethics, sometimes called
virtue ethics, that are related to the concept of innate moral virtue
◉ Focal Virtues (I don't think I need this in here). Answer: This is the
big, green header, which is right after Virtue Ethics and Character
Ethics, on Pg. 49 and it contains the next 4 words being Compassion,
Discernment, Trustworthiness, and Integrity
◉ Compassion. Answer: A focal virtue combining an attitude of
active regard for another's welfare with an imaginative awareness
and emotional response of deep sympathy, tenderness, and
discomfort at the other person's misfortune or suffering
◉ Discernment. Answer: A focal virtue of sensitive insight, acute
judgment and understanding that results in decisive action
◉ Trustworthiness. Answer: A focal virtue that results in recognition
by others of one's consistency and predictability in following moral
norms
,◉ Integrity. Answer: Refers to adherence to moral norms that is
sustained over time. Implicit in this is trustworthiness and a
consistency of convictions, actions, and emotions
◉ Privacy (I don't think I need this in here). Answer: (This is right
before Confidentiality, but I am not sure if it is necessary for it to be
in there, yet it goes right along with what Confidentiality truly is)
- Refers to the right of an individual to control the personal
information or secrets that are disclosed to others
◉ Confidentiality. Answer: The ethical principle that requires
nondisclosure of private or secret information with which one is
entrusted. In research, it refers to the researcher's assurance to
participants that information provided will not be made public or
available to anyone other than those involved in the research
process without the participant's consent
◉ Limits of Confidentiality. Answer: - There are arguments that
favor questioning the absolute obligation of confidentiality in certain
situations
--> these arguments include theories related to the principles of
harm and vulnerability
, ~~> The harm principle can be applied when the nurse or other
professional recognizes that maintaining confidentiality will result
in preventable wrongful hard to innocent others
==> Ex: Mandatory premarital testing for syphilis, for example, is
intended to prevent the spread of a serious communicable disease to
innocent babies and spouses
++> In this instance, society chooses to override the privacy of the
individual to protect the health of the innocent
~~> The harm principle is strengthened when one considers the
vulnerability of the innocent. The duty to protect others from harm
is stronger t=when the third party is dependent on others or is in
some way especially vulnerable. This duty is called the Vulnerability
Principle
Vulnerability implies risk or susceptibility to harm when vulnerable
individuals have a relative inability to protect themselves
--> Ex: For example, nurses have an absolute duty to report child
abuse. Because children are dependent and vulnerable, they are at
greater risk of harm.
- Coupling of the harm principle with the Vulnerability Principle
produces a rather strong argument for abandoning the principle of
Confidentiality in certain instances
- Actions that are considered ethical are not always found to be legal.
Though there is an ethical basis for subsuming the principle of
Confidentiality in special circumstances, and there is some legal
precedent for doing so, there is legal risk to disclosing sensitive
information. There is dynamic tension between the patient's right to
, Confidentiality and the duty to warn innocent others. Nurses need to
recognize that careful consideration of the eth
◉ Justice (Medical Justice). Answer: An ethical principle that relates
to fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment in light of what is due or
owed to persons, recognizing that giving to some will deny receipt to
others who might otherwise have received these things. In research,
it implies the rights of fair treatment and privacy, including
anonymity and confidentiality
◉ Distributive Justice. Answer: - Application of an ethical principle
that relates to fair, equitable, and appropriate distribution in society,
determined by justified norms that structure the terms of social
cooperation. Its scope includes policies that allot diverse benefits
and burdens such as property, resources, taxation, privileges, and
opportunities
- Unfortunately, there is a finite supply of goods and services, and it
is impossible for all people to have everything they might want or
need
--> One of the primary purposes of governing systems is to
formulate and enforce policies that deal with fair and equitable
distribution of scarce resources
--> Decisions about this are made on a variety of levels.
~~> The government is responsible for deciding policy about broad
public health access issues, such as children's immunization and
Medicare for the elderly
NURSING 3RD CANADIAN EDITION 2026
MOCK EXAM PRACTICE SET WITH
SOLUTIONS A+
◉ Character Ethics. Answer: Theories of ethics, sometimes called
virtue ethics, that are related to the concept of innate moral virtue
◉ Focal Virtues (I don't think I need this in here). Answer: This is the
big, green header, which is right after Virtue Ethics and Character
Ethics, on Pg. 49 and it contains the next 4 words being Compassion,
Discernment, Trustworthiness, and Integrity
◉ Compassion. Answer: A focal virtue combining an attitude of
active regard for another's welfare with an imaginative awareness
and emotional response of deep sympathy, tenderness, and
discomfort at the other person's misfortune or suffering
◉ Discernment. Answer: A focal virtue of sensitive insight, acute
judgment and understanding that results in decisive action
◉ Trustworthiness. Answer: A focal virtue that results in recognition
by others of one's consistency and predictability in following moral
norms
,◉ Integrity. Answer: Refers to adherence to moral norms that is
sustained over time. Implicit in this is trustworthiness and a
consistency of convictions, actions, and emotions
◉ Privacy (I don't think I need this in here). Answer: (This is right
before Confidentiality, but I am not sure if it is necessary for it to be
in there, yet it goes right along with what Confidentiality truly is)
- Refers to the right of an individual to control the personal
information or secrets that are disclosed to others
◉ Confidentiality. Answer: The ethical principle that requires
nondisclosure of private or secret information with which one is
entrusted. In research, it refers to the researcher's assurance to
participants that information provided will not be made public or
available to anyone other than those involved in the research
process without the participant's consent
◉ Limits of Confidentiality. Answer: - There are arguments that
favor questioning the absolute obligation of confidentiality in certain
situations
--> these arguments include theories related to the principles of
harm and vulnerability
, ~~> The harm principle can be applied when the nurse or other
professional recognizes that maintaining confidentiality will result
in preventable wrongful hard to innocent others
==> Ex: Mandatory premarital testing for syphilis, for example, is
intended to prevent the spread of a serious communicable disease to
innocent babies and spouses
++> In this instance, society chooses to override the privacy of the
individual to protect the health of the innocent
~~> The harm principle is strengthened when one considers the
vulnerability of the innocent. The duty to protect others from harm
is stronger t=when the third party is dependent on others or is in
some way especially vulnerable. This duty is called the Vulnerability
Principle
Vulnerability implies risk or susceptibility to harm when vulnerable
individuals have a relative inability to protect themselves
--> Ex: For example, nurses have an absolute duty to report child
abuse. Because children are dependent and vulnerable, they are at
greater risk of harm.
- Coupling of the harm principle with the Vulnerability Principle
produces a rather strong argument for abandoning the principle of
Confidentiality in certain instances
- Actions that are considered ethical are not always found to be legal.
Though there is an ethical basis for subsuming the principle of
Confidentiality in special circumstances, and there is some legal
precedent for doing so, there is legal risk to disclosing sensitive
information. There is dynamic tension between the patient's right to
, Confidentiality and the duty to warn innocent others. Nurses need to
recognize that careful consideration of the eth
◉ Justice (Medical Justice). Answer: An ethical principle that relates
to fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment in light of what is due or
owed to persons, recognizing that giving to some will deny receipt to
others who might otherwise have received these things. In research,
it implies the rights of fair treatment and privacy, including
anonymity and confidentiality
◉ Distributive Justice. Answer: - Application of an ethical principle
that relates to fair, equitable, and appropriate distribution in society,
determined by justified norms that structure the terms of social
cooperation. Its scope includes policies that allot diverse benefits
and burdens such as property, resources, taxation, privileges, and
opportunities
- Unfortunately, there is a finite supply of goods and services, and it
is impossible for all people to have everything they might want or
need
--> One of the primary purposes of governing systems is to
formulate and enforce policies that deal with fair and equitable
distribution of scarce resources
--> Decisions about this are made on a variety of levels.
~~> The government is responsible for deciding policy about broad
public health access issues, such as children's immunization and
Medicare for the elderly
