Test Bank For Evolve resources for Ethics & Issues In
Contemporary Nursing
An operating room nurse asks a psychiatric nurse, "How can you work with the
mentally ill day in and day out?" The psychiatric nurse replies, "It's just the right
things to do." The psychiatric nurse is operating from which ethical framework?
A. Kantianism
B. Christian ethics
C. Ethical egoism
D. Utilitarianism - ANSWER ANSWER: A
Focuses on morality of actions
As a last resort, an agitated, physically aggressive client is placed in four point
restraints. The client yells , " I'll sue you for assault and battery". The unit manager
determines that the nurses are protected under which condition?
A. The client is voluntarily committed and poses a danger to others on the unit
B. the client is voluntarily committed and has a history of being a danger to others
C. the client is involuntarily committed because of a history of violent behavior
D. the client is involuntarily committed and is refusing treatment - ANSWER
Answer: A
A nurse gives a client 5 mg of haloperidol (Haldol) for agitation. The client's chart
was clearly stamped "Allergic HALDOL." The client suffered anaphylactic shock and
died. How would the nurse's actions be labeled?
A. Intentional tort
B. Negligence
C. Battery
D. Assault - ANSWER ANSWER: B
1. In response to a students question regarding choosing a psychiatric specialty, a
charge nurse states, Mentally ill clients need special care. If I were in that position, Id
want a caring nurse also. From which ethical framework is the charge nurse
operating?
A. Kantianism
B. Christian ethics
C. Ethical egoism
D. Utilitarianism - ANSWER ANS: B
The charge nurse is operating from a Christian ethics framework. A basic principle in
Christian ethics is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Kantianism states that decisions should be based on moral law and that actions are
bound by a sense of moral duty. Utilitarianism holds that decisions should be made
, with a focus on the end result being happiness. Ethical egoism promotes the idea
that what is right is good for the individual.
2. During a hiring interview, which response by a nursing applicant should indicate
that the applicant operates from an ethical egoism framework?
A. I would want to be treated in a caring manner if I were mentally ill.
B. This job will pay the bills, and the workload is light enough for me.
C. I will be happy caring for the mentally ill. Working in Med/Surg kills my back.
D. It is my duty in life to be a psychiatric nurse. It is the right thing to do. - ANSWER
ANS: B
The applicants comment reflects an ethical egoism framework. This framework
promotes the idea that
decisions are based on what is good for the individual and may not take the needs of
others into account.
3. Without authorization, a nurse administers an extra dose of narcotic tranquilizer to
an agitated client. The nurses coworker observes this action but does nothing for
fear of repercussion. What is the ethical
interpretation of the coworkers lack of involvement?
A. Taking no action is still considered an action by the coworker.
B. Taking no action releases the coworker from ethical responsibility.
C. Taking no action is advised when potential adverse consequences are foreseen.
D. Taking no action is acceptable, because the coworker is only a bystander. -
ANSWER ANS: A
The coworkers lack of involvement can be interpreted as an action taken. The
coworker is experiencing an ethical dilemma in which a decision needs to be made
between two unfavorable alternatives. Although the coworker may be struggling with
ethical decision making, he or she has witnessed another nurse dispensing
medication outside of the scope of practice; therefore, from a legal perspective, this
should be reported.
4. Group therapy is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, on an inpatient
psychiatric unit. The unit
managers policy is that clients can make a choice about whether or not to attend
group therapy. Which ethical principle does the unit managers policy preserve?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Veracity
D. Beneficence - ANSWER ANS: B
The unit managers policy regarding voluntary client participation in group therapy
preserves the ethical
principle of autonomy. The principle of autonomy presumes that individuals are
capable of making
independent decisions for themselves and that health-care workers must respect
these decisions.
5. Which is an example of an intentional tort?
Contemporary Nursing
An operating room nurse asks a psychiatric nurse, "How can you work with the
mentally ill day in and day out?" The psychiatric nurse replies, "It's just the right
things to do." The psychiatric nurse is operating from which ethical framework?
A. Kantianism
B. Christian ethics
C. Ethical egoism
D. Utilitarianism - ANSWER ANSWER: A
Focuses on morality of actions
As a last resort, an agitated, physically aggressive client is placed in four point
restraints. The client yells , " I'll sue you for assault and battery". The unit manager
determines that the nurses are protected under which condition?
A. The client is voluntarily committed and poses a danger to others on the unit
B. the client is voluntarily committed and has a history of being a danger to others
C. the client is involuntarily committed because of a history of violent behavior
D. the client is involuntarily committed and is refusing treatment - ANSWER
Answer: A
A nurse gives a client 5 mg of haloperidol (Haldol) for agitation. The client's chart
was clearly stamped "Allergic HALDOL." The client suffered anaphylactic shock and
died. How would the nurse's actions be labeled?
A. Intentional tort
B. Negligence
C. Battery
D. Assault - ANSWER ANSWER: B
1. In response to a students question regarding choosing a psychiatric specialty, a
charge nurse states, Mentally ill clients need special care. If I were in that position, Id
want a caring nurse also. From which ethical framework is the charge nurse
operating?
A. Kantianism
B. Christian ethics
C. Ethical egoism
D. Utilitarianism - ANSWER ANS: B
The charge nurse is operating from a Christian ethics framework. A basic principle in
Christian ethics is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Kantianism states that decisions should be based on moral law and that actions are
bound by a sense of moral duty. Utilitarianism holds that decisions should be made
, with a focus on the end result being happiness. Ethical egoism promotes the idea
that what is right is good for the individual.
2. During a hiring interview, which response by a nursing applicant should indicate
that the applicant operates from an ethical egoism framework?
A. I would want to be treated in a caring manner if I were mentally ill.
B. This job will pay the bills, and the workload is light enough for me.
C. I will be happy caring for the mentally ill. Working in Med/Surg kills my back.
D. It is my duty in life to be a psychiatric nurse. It is the right thing to do. - ANSWER
ANS: B
The applicants comment reflects an ethical egoism framework. This framework
promotes the idea that
decisions are based on what is good for the individual and may not take the needs of
others into account.
3. Without authorization, a nurse administers an extra dose of narcotic tranquilizer to
an agitated client. The nurses coworker observes this action but does nothing for
fear of repercussion. What is the ethical
interpretation of the coworkers lack of involvement?
A. Taking no action is still considered an action by the coworker.
B. Taking no action releases the coworker from ethical responsibility.
C. Taking no action is advised when potential adverse consequences are foreseen.
D. Taking no action is acceptable, because the coworker is only a bystander. -
ANSWER ANS: A
The coworkers lack of involvement can be interpreted as an action taken. The
coworker is experiencing an ethical dilemma in which a decision needs to be made
between two unfavorable alternatives. Although the coworker may be struggling with
ethical decision making, he or she has witnessed another nurse dispensing
medication outside of the scope of practice; therefore, from a legal perspective, this
should be reported.
4. Group therapy is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, on an inpatient
psychiatric unit. The unit
managers policy is that clients can make a choice about whether or not to attend
group therapy. Which ethical principle does the unit managers policy preserve?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Veracity
D. Beneficence - ANSWER ANS: B
The unit managers policy regarding voluntary client participation in group therapy
preserves the ethical
principle of autonomy. The principle of autonomy presumes that individuals are
capable of making
independent decisions for themselves and that health-care workers must respect
these decisions.
5. Which is an example of an intentional tort?
