NUR1 424 Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
General: What is ethics? - Answers - includes thinking through "right" vs "wrong"
- can be obvious or subtle
-nurses have legal and ethical duties to uphold
-does not occur in a vacuum --> context of relationships and setting
What is morality vs ethics? - Answers Individual beliefs rather than what is right
-formed by values, principles, beliefs, customs, ways of living
-not usually enforced but are set in social norms
-"inherited"
What is laws vs ethics? - Answers Laws are formal rules on what we must/must not do
-narrow focus and upheld by court and judicial systems
-can be just/unjust depending on ethical view
-can be quiet in situations where ethics and morality are loud
-dynamic
-nurses must know law context of our legal bounds, our patient's rights, and protection from
liability
How are ethics articulated? - Answers by reflection on...
-our beliefss, values
-outcomes and options
-goals
3 levels of moral response: expressive, pre-reflective, reflective
What are ethical theories? - Answers Theories based on principles to back up a position or
action from an ethical lens
Ex. deontology, consequentialism, utilitarianism, principlism, feminist
What is fiduciary duty? - Answers Trust-based duty that implies higher duty of care to others
-nurses are often in situations of fiduciary duty through their role
,Resolving ethical dilemmas - Answers -helps preserve moral integrity (fidelity, steadfastness,
autonomy, wholeness)
-often follows frameworks
-key:reflective practice
-often there are barriers out of the nurse's control (can cause moral distress)
creating an ethical workplace - Answers -important to nurses
-promotes ethical resolutions, support
-leadership is key! req commitment and courage
Fields of ethics - Answers Metaethics, normative, descriptive, applied
Metaethics: main ideas - Answers -looks at deep questions, defining moral terms, "what is the
meaning"
-focus: analysis of meaning, creating justifications, inferences from concepts
-questions the meaning of ethics
Normative ethics: main ideas - Answers -focus on formulation and defence of principles, values,
virtues, and ideas governing moral behaviour
-seeks to answer questions
-justice is applied as a norm
Descriptive ethics: main ideas - Answers focus: factual descriptions, observations
-analyzes what people actually do and their reasons
-doesn't answer Qs, describes the reality
-"how are ethics applied to a situation?"
Applied ethics: main ideas - Answers focus: practical application of ethics in specific contexts
asks: What is the right action, irl, in a specific context?
"What should I do?"
Includes professional, environmental, business/corporate, bioethics
bioethics/healthcare ethics - Answers Includes organizational, clinical, research, public health
-part of applied ethics
, Nursing: Moral practice - Answers -nurses are considered moral agents = part of practice
-capacity to direct actions to some ethical end
-maximize good and minimize bad
-nurses engage, shape, respond to moral experience
Ethical fitness - Answers -helps nurses practice as moral agents
-needs development and practice
Keys: reflection, professional codes, context of moral distress, strategies to recover
Organizational ethics - Answers part of applied ethics: bioethics
-meso/macro level (organizational) vs. micro level (clinical)
-++consideration of ethical code of conduct
-includes resource allocation, business development, etc.
-frameworks guide decision making, committees
Ethical standards - Answers -Codes of ethics, professional bodies
-defines "good nurse"
-subjective, disapproval/indignation consequences
-implies normative
-can include character of the person
Conduct-codes - Answers -codes of conduct, regulatory bodies
-"just good enough nurse", objective
-sanction as consequence
-directive, excludes character
Cultural humility vs. safety - Answers -safety is an outcome based on respectful engagement
that recognizes and strives to address power imbalances
-humility is self-reflection process to understand personal and systemic biases and
develop/maintain respect and relationships built on trust
awareness...sensitivity...competency...safety
General: What is ethics? - Answers - includes thinking through "right" vs "wrong"
- can be obvious or subtle
-nurses have legal and ethical duties to uphold
-does not occur in a vacuum --> context of relationships and setting
What is morality vs ethics? - Answers Individual beliefs rather than what is right
-formed by values, principles, beliefs, customs, ways of living
-not usually enforced but are set in social norms
-"inherited"
What is laws vs ethics? - Answers Laws are formal rules on what we must/must not do
-narrow focus and upheld by court and judicial systems
-can be just/unjust depending on ethical view
-can be quiet in situations where ethics and morality are loud
-dynamic
-nurses must know law context of our legal bounds, our patient's rights, and protection from
liability
How are ethics articulated? - Answers by reflection on...
-our beliefss, values
-outcomes and options
-goals
3 levels of moral response: expressive, pre-reflective, reflective
What are ethical theories? - Answers Theories based on principles to back up a position or
action from an ethical lens
Ex. deontology, consequentialism, utilitarianism, principlism, feminist
What is fiduciary duty? - Answers Trust-based duty that implies higher duty of care to others
-nurses are often in situations of fiduciary duty through their role
,Resolving ethical dilemmas - Answers -helps preserve moral integrity (fidelity, steadfastness,
autonomy, wholeness)
-often follows frameworks
-key:reflective practice
-often there are barriers out of the nurse's control (can cause moral distress)
creating an ethical workplace - Answers -important to nurses
-promotes ethical resolutions, support
-leadership is key! req commitment and courage
Fields of ethics - Answers Metaethics, normative, descriptive, applied
Metaethics: main ideas - Answers -looks at deep questions, defining moral terms, "what is the
meaning"
-focus: analysis of meaning, creating justifications, inferences from concepts
-questions the meaning of ethics
Normative ethics: main ideas - Answers -focus on formulation and defence of principles, values,
virtues, and ideas governing moral behaviour
-seeks to answer questions
-justice is applied as a norm
Descriptive ethics: main ideas - Answers focus: factual descriptions, observations
-analyzes what people actually do and their reasons
-doesn't answer Qs, describes the reality
-"how are ethics applied to a situation?"
Applied ethics: main ideas - Answers focus: practical application of ethics in specific contexts
asks: What is the right action, irl, in a specific context?
"What should I do?"
Includes professional, environmental, business/corporate, bioethics
bioethics/healthcare ethics - Answers Includes organizational, clinical, research, public health
-part of applied ethics
, Nursing: Moral practice - Answers -nurses are considered moral agents = part of practice
-capacity to direct actions to some ethical end
-maximize good and minimize bad
-nurses engage, shape, respond to moral experience
Ethical fitness - Answers -helps nurses practice as moral agents
-needs development and practice
Keys: reflection, professional codes, context of moral distress, strategies to recover
Organizational ethics - Answers part of applied ethics: bioethics
-meso/macro level (organizational) vs. micro level (clinical)
-++consideration of ethical code of conduct
-includes resource allocation, business development, etc.
-frameworks guide decision making, committees
Ethical standards - Answers -Codes of ethics, professional bodies
-defines "good nurse"
-subjective, disapproval/indignation consequences
-implies normative
-can include character of the person
Conduct-codes - Answers -codes of conduct, regulatory bodies
-"just good enough nurse", objective
-sanction as consequence
-directive, excludes character
Cultural humility vs. safety - Answers -safety is an outcome based on respectful engagement
that recognizes and strives to address power imbalances
-humility is self-reflection process to understand personal and systemic biases and
develop/maintain respect and relationships built on trust
awareness...sensitivity...competency...safety
