1
Comprehensive Exam Bank on Nursing Legal and
Ethical Responsibilities: Patient Rights,
Professional Conduct, and Decision-Making
Standards
Table of Contents
Topic 1: Foundations of Nursing Legal Responsibilities and Ethical Principles. 2
Topic 2: Advanced Ethical Decision-Making and Patient Advocacy in Nursing
.......................................................................................................................10
Topic 3: Legal Accountability and Risk Management in Nursing Practice.......18
Topic 4: Patient Rights, Consent, and Legal Protections in Healthcare...........26
Topic 5: Ethical Issues in Special Populations and Situational Dilemmas.......34
Topic 6: Professional Boundaries, Confidentiality, and Ethical Communication
in Nursing.......................................................................................................42
Topic 7: Legal Documentation, Incident Reporting, and Risk Management in
Nursing..........................................................................................................50
Topic 8: Legal and Ethical Issues in End-of-Life Care and Advance Directives
.......................................................................................................................58
Topic 9: Ethical Decision-Making Models and Nurse Advocacy in Complex
Situations.......................................................................................................66
Topic 10: Legal Accountability, Professional Boundaries, and Scope of Nursing
Practice..........................................................................................................74
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Topic 1: Foundations of Nursing Legal
Responsibilities and Ethical Principles
(Questions 1–20)
1. Which of the following best describes the principle of autonomy in nursing
ethics?
A. The nurse prioritizes community well-being over individual choices.
B. The nurse decides for the patient what is best for their health.
C. The nurse respects the patient’s right to make informed decisions about
their own care.
D. The nurse follows only physician orders without patient input.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that supports the patient’s right
to make informed decisions about their care. Respecting autonomy ensures
that care is patient-centered and that consent is obtained without coercion.
2. A nurse witnesses a fellow nurse administering the wrong dose of
medication and not reporting it. What is the nurse's legal responsibility?
A. Ignore the situation if the patient is unharmed.
B. Report the incident following institutional and state guidelines.
C. Speak with the nurse privately and drop the matter.
D. Wait for the nurse to self-report the error.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurses are legally obligated to report unsafe or unethical practices
to ensure patient safety and maintain professional standards. Reporting also
supports legal accountability and institutional transparency.
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3. What legal concept protects a nurse from liability when rendering
emergency care without compensation?
A. Professional indemnity
B. Code of ethics
C. Good Samaritan Law
D. Respondeat superior
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Good Samaritan Laws provide legal protection to individuals,
including nurses, who offer reasonable assistance during emergencies
without expecting compensation, provided they act within their scope and
training.
4. A patient refuses a prescribed blood transfusion due to religious beliefs.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Persuade the patient to reconsider the treatment.
B. Respect the patient’s decision and notify the healthcare provider.
C. Document the refusal and proceed with the transfusion.
D. Call hospital legal services immediately.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment based on personal or
religious beliefs. Nurses must uphold autonomy and notify the physician
while documenting the decision.
5. Which of the following is an example of a breach of patient confidentiality?
A. Sharing patient information during shift report.
B. Discussing patient care with the treatment team.
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C. Talking about a patient’s condition in a public elevator.
D. Reviewing a patient’s chart as their assigned nurse.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Confidentiality is violated when protected health information is
disclosed in public spaces. Professionalism demands maintaining privacy at
all times.
6. What is the primary purpose of informed consent in nursing?
A. To ensure the nurse agrees with the patient’s care plan
B. To allow the patient to make knowledgeable decisions about treatment
C. To document that the provider has explained procedures
D. To avoid legal action against the nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent ensures that patients understand the risks,
benefits, and alternatives of a proposed treatment and voluntarily agree to it.
7. A nurse is assigned a procedure they are not trained for. What is the best
ethical action?
A. Attempt it under supervision.
B. Refuse the task and explain their lack of competence.
C. Learn on the job during the procedure.
D. Delegate the task to another nurse.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurses must practice within their competence. Performing tasks
without training endangers patient safety and violates ethical and legal
standards.
Comprehensive Exam Bank on Nursing Legal and
Ethical Responsibilities: Patient Rights,
Professional Conduct, and Decision-Making
Standards
Table of Contents
Topic 1: Foundations of Nursing Legal Responsibilities and Ethical Principles. 2
Topic 2: Advanced Ethical Decision-Making and Patient Advocacy in Nursing
.......................................................................................................................10
Topic 3: Legal Accountability and Risk Management in Nursing Practice.......18
Topic 4: Patient Rights, Consent, and Legal Protections in Healthcare...........26
Topic 5: Ethical Issues in Special Populations and Situational Dilemmas.......34
Topic 6: Professional Boundaries, Confidentiality, and Ethical Communication
in Nursing.......................................................................................................42
Topic 7: Legal Documentation, Incident Reporting, and Risk Management in
Nursing..........................................................................................................50
Topic 8: Legal and Ethical Issues in End-of-Life Care and Advance Directives
.......................................................................................................................58
Topic 9: Ethical Decision-Making Models and Nurse Advocacy in Complex
Situations.......................................................................................................66
Topic 10: Legal Accountability, Professional Boundaries, and Scope of Nursing
Practice..........................................................................................................74
, 2
Topic 1: Foundations of Nursing Legal
Responsibilities and Ethical Principles
(Questions 1–20)
1. Which of the following best describes the principle of autonomy in nursing
ethics?
A. The nurse prioritizes community well-being over individual choices.
B. The nurse decides for the patient what is best for their health.
C. The nurse respects the patient’s right to make informed decisions about
their own care.
D. The nurse follows only physician orders without patient input.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle that supports the patient’s right
to make informed decisions about their care. Respecting autonomy ensures
that care is patient-centered and that consent is obtained without coercion.
2. A nurse witnesses a fellow nurse administering the wrong dose of
medication and not reporting it. What is the nurse's legal responsibility?
A. Ignore the situation if the patient is unharmed.
B. Report the incident following institutional and state guidelines.
C. Speak with the nurse privately and drop the matter.
D. Wait for the nurse to self-report the error.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurses are legally obligated to report unsafe or unethical practices
to ensure patient safety and maintain professional standards. Reporting also
supports legal accountability and institutional transparency.
, 3
3. What legal concept protects a nurse from liability when rendering
emergency care without compensation?
A. Professional indemnity
B. Code of ethics
C. Good Samaritan Law
D. Respondeat superior
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Good Samaritan Laws provide legal protection to individuals,
including nurses, who offer reasonable assistance during emergencies
without expecting compensation, provided they act within their scope and
training.
4. A patient refuses a prescribed blood transfusion due to religious beliefs.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Persuade the patient to reconsider the treatment.
B. Respect the patient’s decision and notify the healthcare provider.
C. Document the refusal and proceed with the transfusion.
D. Call hospital legal services immediately.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment based on personal or
religious beliefs. Nurses must uphold autonomy and notify the physician
while documenting the decision.
5. Which of the following is an example of a breach of patient confidentiality?
A. Sharing patient information during shift report.
B. Discussing patient care with the treatment team.
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C. Talking about a patient’s condition in a public elevator.
D. Reviewing a patient’s chart as their assigned nurse.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Confidentiality is violated when protected health information is
disclosed in public spaces. Professionalism demands maintaining privacy at
all times.
6. What is the primary purpose of informed consent in nursing?
A. To ensure the nurse agrees with the patient’s care plan
B. To allow the patient to make knowledgeable decisions about treatment
C. To document that the provider has explained procedures
D. To avoid legal action against the nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent ensures that patients understand the risks,
benefits, and alternatives of a proposed treatment and voluntarily agree to it.
7. A nurse is assigned a procedure they are not trained for. What is the best
ethical action?
A. Attempt it under supervision.
B. Refuse the task and explain their lack of competence.
C. Learn on the job during the procedure.
D. Delegate the task to another nurse.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurses must practice within their competence. Performing tasks
without training endangers patient safety and violates ethical and legal
standards.
