Foundations of Maternal-Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing, 7th Edition by Sharon
Smith Murray, Emily Slone McKinney
Chapter 02: Social, Ethical, and Legal Issues
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. During which phase of the cycle of violence does the batterer become contrite and
remorseful?
a. Battering
b. Honeymoon
c. Tension-building
d. Increased drug taking
ANS: B
During the honeymoon phase, the battered person wants to believe that the battering will
never happen again, and the batterer will promise anything to get back into the home. During
the battering phase, violence actually occurs, and the victim feels powerless. During the
tension-building phase, the batterer becomes increasingly hostile, swears, threatens, throws
things, and pushes the battered person. Often, the batterer increases the use of drugs during
the tension-building phase.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC:
Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. The United States ranks poorly in terms of worldwide infant mortality rates. Which factor
has the greatest impact on decreasing the mortality rate of infants? a. Providing more
women’s shelters
b. Ensuring early and adequNatUe pRrSenIaNtal cTare
c. Resolving all language and cultural differences
d. Enrolling pregnant women in the Medicaid program by their eighth month of pregnancy
ANS: B
Because preterm infants form the largest category of those needing expensive intensive care,
early pregnancy intervention is essential for decreasing infant mortality. The women in
shelters have the same difficulties in obtaining health care as other poor people, particularly
lack of transportation and inconvenient clinic hours. Language and cultural differences are not
infant mortality issues but must be addressed to improve overall health care. Medicaid
provides health care for poor pregnant women, but the process may take weeks to take effect.
The eighth month is too late to apply and receive benefits for this pregnancy.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC:
Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. The nurse is planning a teaching session for staff on ethical theories. Which situation best
reflects the Deontologic theory?
a. Approving a physician-assisted suicide
b. Supporting the transplantation of fetal tissue and organs
c. Using experimental medications for the treatment of AIDS
d. Initiating resuscitative measures on a 90-year-old patient with terminal cancer
ANS: D
In the Deontologic theory, life must be maintained at all costs, regardless of quality of life.
Approving a physician-assisted suicide, supporting the transplantation of fetal tissue and
organs, and using experimental medications for the treatment of AIDS are examples of a
utilitarian model.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Planning MSC: Patient
Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. Which step of the nursing process is being used when the nurse decides whether an ethical
dilemma exists? a. Analysis
b. Planning
c. Evaluation
d. Assessment
ANS: A
When a nurse uses the collected data to determine whether an ethical dilemma exists, the data
are being analyzed. Planning is done after the data have been analyzed. Evaluation occurs
once the outcome has been achieved. Assessment is the data collection phase.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation MSC:
Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
5. The nurse is interviewing a patient who is 6-weeks pregnant. The patient asks the nurse,
“Why is elective abortion considered such an ethical issue?” Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
a. Abortion requires third-pNarUtyRcSonIseNnGt.TB
b. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that life begins at conception.
c. Abortion law is unclear about a woman’s constitutional rights.
d. There is a conflict between the rights of the woman and the rights of the fetus.
ANS: D
Elective abortion is an ethical dilemma because two opposing courses of action are available.
Abortion does not require third-party consent. The Supreme Court has not ruled on when life
begins. Abortion laws are clear concerning a woman’s constitutional rights.
Smith Murray, Emily Slone McKinney
Chapter 02: Social, Ethical, and Legal Issues
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. During which phase of the cycle of violence does the batterer become contrite and
remorseful?
a. Battering
b. Honeymoon
c. Tension-building
d. Increased drug taking
ANS: B
During the honeymoon phase, the battered person wants to believe that the battering will
never happen again, and the batterer will promise anything to get back into the home. During
the battering phase, violence actually occurs, and the victim feels powerless. During the
tension-building phase, the batterer becomes increasingly hostile, swears, threatens, throws
things, and pushes the battered person. Often, the batterer increases the use of drugs during
the tension-building phase.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC:
Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. The United States ranks poorly in terms of worldwide infant mortality rates. Which factor
has the greatest impact on decreasing the mortality rate of infants? a. Providing more
women’s shelters
b. Ensuring early and adequNatUe pRrSenIaNtal cTare
c. Resolving all language and cultural differences
d. Enrolling pregnant women in the Medicaid program by their eighth month of pregnancy
ANS: B
Because preterm infants form the largest category of those needing expensive intensive care,
early pregnancy intervention is essential for decreasing infant mortality. The women in
shelters have the same difficulties in obtaining health care as other poor people, particularly
lack of transportation and inconvenient clinic hours. Language and cultural differences are not
infant mortality issues but must be addressed to improve overall health care. Medicaid
provides health care for poor pregnant women, but the process may take weeks to take effect.
The eighth month is too late to apply and receive benefits for this pregnancy.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC:
Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. The nurse is planning a teaching session for staff on ethical theories. Which situation best
reflects the Deontologic theory?
a. Approving a physician-assisted suicide
b. Supporting the transplantation of fetal tissue and organs
c. Using experimental medications for the treatment of AIDS
d. Initiating resuscitative measures on a 90-year-old patient with terminal cancer
ANS: D
In the Deontologic theory, life must be maintained at all costs, regardless of quality of life.
Approving a physician-assisted suicide, supporting the transplantation of fetal tissue and
organs, and using experimental medications for the treatment of AIDS are examples of a
utilitarian model.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Planning MSC: Patient
Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. Which step of the nursing process is being used when the nurse decides whether an ethical
dilemma exists? a. Analysis
b. Planning
c. Evaluation
d. Assessment
ANS: A
When a nurse uses the collected data to determine whether an ethical dilemma exists, the data
are being analyzed. Planning is done after the data have been analyzed. Evaluation occurs
once the outcome has been achieved. Assessment is the data collection phase.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation MSC:
Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
5. The nurse is interviewing a patient who is 6-weeks pregnant. The patient asks the nurse,
“Why is elective abortion considered such an ethical issue?” Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
a. Abortion requires third-pNarUtyRcSonIseNnGt.TB
b. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that life begins at conception.
c. Abortion law is unclear about a woman’s constitutional rights.
d. There is a conflict between the rights of the woman and the rights of the fetus.
ANS: D
Elective abortion is an ethical dilemma because two opposing courses of action are available.
Abortion does not require third-party consent. The Supreme Court has not ruled on when life
begins. Abortion laws are clear concerning a woman’s constitutional rights.
