A drug-addicted nurse switches a patient's morphine injection
with normal saline so that the nurse can use the morphine. The
nurse is violating which principles of ethics? (Select all that
apply.)
a. Autonomy
b. Utilitarianism
c. Beneficence
d. Dilemmas
e. Veracity Correct Answer -Autonomy
-Utilitarianism
-Beneficence
-Veracity
Beneficence is providing benefit to others by promoting their
welfare. In general terms, to be beneficent is to promote
goodness, kindness, and charity. By taking the patient's pain
medication and substituting saline, the nurse did harm, not good,
for the patient. Autonomy is the principle of respect for the
individual person; the nurse does not respect someone upon
whom the nurse is inflicting harm. Utilitarianism is the principle
that assumes that an action is right if it leads to the greatest
possible balance of good consequences or to the least possible
balance of bad consequences.
A male patient suffered a brain injury from a motor vehicle
accident and has no brain activity. The spouse has come up to
see the patient every day for the past 2 months. She asks the
nurse, "Do you think when he moves his hands he is responding
to my voice?" The nurse feels bad because she believes the
,movements are involuntary, and the prognosis is grim for this
patient. She states, "He can hear you, and it appears he did
respond to your voice." The nurse is violating which principle of
ethics?
a. Autonomy
b. Veracity
c. Utilitarianism
d. Deontology Correct Answer Veracity
Veracity is the principle of telling the truth in a given situation.
Autonomy is the principle of respect for the individual person;
this concept states that humans have incalculable worth or moral
dignity. Utilitarianism is an approach that is rooted in the
assumption that an action or practice is right if it leads to the
greatest possible balance of good consequences or to the least
possible balance of bad consequences.
A nurse has been asked to care for a patient who is an inmate
from a nearby prison. During shift report, the nurse asks, "Why
was the man convicted and imprisoned?" Another nurse
responds that this is not important since nurses are required to
provide compassionate care for all people in all circumstances.
The responding nurse has displayed what concept?
a. Beneficence
b. Advocacy
c. Confidentiality
d. Autonomy Correct Answer Beneficence
In its simplest form, beneficence can be defined as doing good.
Nurses demonstrate beneficence by acting on behalf of others
,and placing a priority on the needs of others rather than on
personal thoughts and feelings.
A nurse on the unit makes an error in the calculation of the dose
of medication for a critically ill patient. The patient suffered no
ill consequences from the administration. The nurse decides not
to report the error or file an incident report. The nurse is
violating which principle of ethics?
a. Fidelity
b. Individuality
c. Justice
d. Values clarification Correct Answer Fidelity
Fidelity is the principle that requires us to act in ways that are
loyal. In the role of a nurse, such action includes keeping your
promises, doing what is expected of you, performing your
duties, and being trustworthy.
A nursing student is conducting a survey of fellow nursing
students. Which ethical concept is the student following when
calculating the risk-to-benefit ratio and concluding that no
harmful effects were associated with a survey?
a. Beneficence
b. Human dignity
c. Justice
d. Human rights Correct Answer Beneficence
Beneficence is a term that is defined as promoting goodness,
kindness, and charity. In ethical terms, beneficence means to
provide benefit to others by promoting their good. Human
dignity is the inherent worth and uniqueness of a person. Justice
, involves upholding moral and legal principles. Human rights are
the basic rights of each individual.
A patient suffered a brain injury from a motor vehicle accident
and has no brain activity. The patient has a living will which
states no heroic measures. The family requests that no additional
heroic measures be instituted for their son. The nurse respects
this decision in keeping with which principle?
a. Accountability
b. Autonomy
c. Nonmaleficence
d. Veracity Correct Answer Autonomy
Patients and families must be treated in a way that respects their
autonomy and their ability to express their wishes and make
informed choices about their treatment.
A student nurse and clinical instructor are discussing quality in
health care. The instructor knows the student understands when
the student makes which statement?
a. "Quality is apparent in all health care."
b. "Quality is an outcome of health care."
c. "Quality is seen and unseen in health care."
d. "Quality is achieved by collaboration in health care." Correct
Answer "Quality is seen and unseen in health care."
Quality in health care is tangible and intangible. Quality in
health care is not apparent in all health care, as many areas of
health care are lacking. Quality of care does not always affect
the outcome of care; the patient may recover no matter what
care is given. Quality is not always achieved by collaboration.