Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A 73-year-old patient with hypertension is awaiting a triple cardiac bypass
surgery. The pa- tient is hard of hearing and did not understand what the
surgeon said regarding the surgery. The daughter is concerned that the patient
does not understand the risks of the surgery. If not clarified, this would be a
violation of what principle?
a. Autonomy
b. Justice
c. Fidelity
d. Nonmaleficence
ANS: A
Autonomy refers to a person’s independence. As a principle in bioethics,
autonomy repre- sents an agreement to respect a patient’s right to determine a
course of action. Justice refers to the principle of fairness: fair treatment and
fair distribution of health care resources. Fi- delity refers to the agreement to
keep promises and is based on the virtue of caring. Non- maleficence is
actively seeking to do no harm.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
REF: 77 OBJ: Describe and defend patient advocacy and the
nurse’s role. TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX:
Management of Care
2. A 45-year-old mother of two children has cirrhosis of the liver and is on a
waiting list for a liver transplant. She had to meet certain criteria to be eligible
to receive a liver. She under- stands that she is next on the list for a donor liver
that matches. This is an example of which ethical principle?
a. Autonomy
b. Justice
c. Fidelity
d. Nonmaleficence
ANS: B
Justice refers to the principle of fairness. In health care, the term is used to
reflect a commit- ment to fair treatment and fair distribution of health care
resources. You may find reference to this principle during discussion about
issues of access to care. It is not always clear just how to achieve a fair
distribution of resources. Autonomy refers to independence and self-
determination. Fidelity refers to the agreement to keep promises and is based
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, on the virtue of caring. Nonmaleficence refers to the fundamental agreement to
do no harm.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
REF: 78 OBJ: Describe and defend patient advocacy and the
nurse’s role. TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX:
Management of Care
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, 3. A registered nurse who works on an oncology unit discussed pain control
options that the primary health care provider had ordered with a patient
undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. The patient requested that the
intravenous (IV) pain medication be given on a regular basis. The nurse agreed
to provide the IV pain medication as requested and continued to reevaluate the
pain levels. The nurse is following which ethical principle?
a. Autonomy
b. Justice
c. Fidelity
d. Nonmaleficence
ANS: C
Fidelity refers to the agreement to keep promises. The principle of fidelity also
promotes the obligation of a nurse to follow through with the care offered to
patients. Autonomy refers to independence and self-determination, which is
what the patient followed, but the question asked for which principle the nurse
followed. Justice refers to fairness or equity of health care resources.
Nonmaleficence refers to the fundamental agreement to do no harm.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
REF: 78 OBJ: Describe and defend patient advocacy and the
nurse’s role. TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX:
Management of Care
4. A registered nurse knows that an oncology patient undergoing a bone marrow
transplant will spend weeks in isolation in the hospital. During that time the
patient will be at an increased risk for infection and other complications and
may not recover. The nurse ensures that the patient has been given information
regarding the risks and potential benefits of the proce- dure. The nurse is
following which ethical principle?
a. Autonomy
b. Justice
c. Fidelity
d. Nonmaleficence
ANS: D
The principle of nonmaleficence (do no harm) promotes a continuing effort to
consider the potential for harm even when it is necessary to promote health. It
is helpful in guiding your discussions about new or controversial technologies.
Autonomy deals with independence and self-determination. Justice refers to
fairness or equity of health care resources. Fidelity refers to maintaining
promises and faithfulness.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
REF: 78 OBJ: Describe and defend patient advocacy and the
This study source was downloaded by 100000802531269 from CourseHero.com on 10-07-2022 12:46:47 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/11671781/c6/