C HAPTER 02: L EGAL AND E THICAL A SPECTS
OF N URSING
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The new LPN/LVN is concerned regarding what should or should not be
done for patients. What resource will best provide this information?
a. Nurse practice act
b. Standards of care
c. Scope of nursing practice
d. Professional organizations
ANS: B
Standards of care define what should or should not be done for
patients. The nurse practice act, scope of nursing practice, and
professional organizations do not provide the best information as to
what should or should not be done for patients.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 24 OBJ: 5
TOP: Standards of care KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NC LEX: N/A
2. What role is the nurse who diligentl y works for the protection of patients’
interests playing?
a. Caregiver
, b. Health care administrator
c. Advocate
d. Health care evaluator
ANS: C
A nurse accepts the role of advocate when, in addition to general care,
the nurse protects the patient’s interests. Caregiver, health care
administrator, and health care evaluator are not terms for the nurse who
diligentl y works for the protection of patient s.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 25 OBJ: 9 |
12 TOP: Advocate KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NC LEX: N/A
3. When asked to perform a procedure that the nurse has never done before,
what should the nurse do to legall y protect himself or herself?
a. Go ahead and do it.
b. Refuse to perform it, citing lack of knowledge.
c. Discuss it with the charge nurse, asking for direction.
d. Ask another nurse who has performed the procedure.
ANS: C
The nurse cannot use ignorance as an excuse for nonperforman ce. The
nurse should ask for direction from the charge nurse, explaining she
has never performed the procedure independentl y.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 26 OBJ: 8
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NC LEX: N/A
4. The nurse is assisting a patient to clarify values by encouraging the
expression of feelings and thoughts related to the situation. What is the
most appropriate action for the nurse?
a. Compare values with those of the patient.
b. Make a judgment.
c. Withhold an opinion.
d. Give advice.
ANS: C
The nurse can assist the patient in values clarification without giving
an opinion.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 35 OBJ: 3 | 8
TOP: Values clarification KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NC LEX: N/A
5. What fundamental principle must the nurse first observe when confronted
with an ethical decision?
a. Autonom y
b. Beneficence
c. Respect for people
d. Nonmaleficence
ANS: C
OF N URSING
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The new LPN/LVN is concerned regarding what should or should not be
done for patients. What resource will best provide this information?
a. Nurse practice act
b. Standards of care
c. Scope of nursing practice
d. Professional organizations
ANS: B
Standards of care define what should or should not be done for
patients. The nurse practice act, scope of nursing practice, and
professional organizations do not provide the best information as to
what should or should not be done for patients.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 24 OBJ: 5
TOP: Standards of care KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NC LEX: N/A
2. What role is the nurse who diligentl y works for the protection of patients’
interests playing?
a. Caregiver
, b. Health care administrator
c. Advocate
d. Health care evaluator
ANS: C
A nurse accepts the role of advocate when, in addition to general care,
the nurse protects the patient’s interests. Caregiver, health care
administrator, and health care evaluator are not terms for the nurse who
diligentl y works for the protection of patient s.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 25 OBJ: 9 |
12 TOP: Advocate KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NC LEX: N/A
3. When asked to perform a procedure that the nurse has never done before,
what should the nurse do to legall y protect himself or herself?
a. Go ahead and do it.
b. Refuse to perform it, citing lack of knowledge.
c. Discuss it with the charge nurse, asking for direction.
d. Ask another nurse who has performed the procedure.
ANS: C
The nurse cannot use ignorance as an excuse for nonperforman ce. The
nurse should ask for direction from the charge nurse, explaining she
has never performed the procedure independentl y.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 26 OBJ: 8
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NC LEX: N/A
4. The nurse is assisting a patient to clarify values by encouraging the
expression of feelings and thoughts related to the situation. What is the
most appropriate action for the nurse?
a. Compare values with those of the patient.
b. Make a judgment.
c. Withhold an opinion.
d. Give advice.
ANS: C
The nurse can assist the patient in values clarification without giving
an opinion.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 35 OBJ: 3 | 8
TOP: Values clarification KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NC LEX: N/A
5. What fundamental principle must the nurse first observe when confronted
with an ethical decision?
a. Autonom y
b. Beneficence
c. Respect for people
d. Nonmaleficence
ANS: C
