NUR1 424 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025-2026
Ethics - Answers what is right, wrong in behavior, decision making, and values
Morality - Answers beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior
Applied Ethics fields - Answers medical ethics, environmental ethics, business ethics, bioethics
Nursing Ethics - Answers distinct field, focus on noteworthy relationships ex: nurse-patient,
nurse-nurse, nurse-physician
"In-between" space occupied by nurses - Answers nurse strives to maintain balance and meet
the needs of more than one stakeholder
3 levels of moral response to ethical problems - Answers 1. expressive level
2. prereflective level
3. reflective level
expressive level - Answers state the way we feel about something without providing justification
or rationale for beliefs
Pre-reflective Level - Answers justified by citing legal, religious, professional norms without
critical reflection
Reflective Level - Answers justification for our position is based upon principles or values we
have reflected upon critically
Deontologic ethics - Answers concerned with duties we have towards others
Consequentialist ethics - Answers rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the
outcomes/consequences of a particular action
Difficulty w/ deontologic theory - Answers 1. difficult to determine what our duties are
2. we may face multiple and often competing duties
3. paying attention only to duties and failing to consider possible range of outcomes or
consequences to adhering to our duties may be problematic
utilitarianism - Answers - consequentialist theory
- action is ethically sound if it minimizes the negative outcome, maximize positive outcomes
- often looked at in scarce resource contexts
utilitarianism difficulties - Answers 1. ability to predict outcome is imperfect
,2. measure abstract/subjective notion ex: happiness
3. what someone considers good vary person to person
Principlism - Answers Draw on deontologic + consequentialist
4 principles: respect for Autonomy, beneficience, nonmaleficience, justice
More contextual/relevant nowadays
Hard to apply outside Western context
- Belmont report/ needing to protect human subjects
- foundation for REBs
Autonomy - Answers Ability of a competent person to make decisions regarding their life
- western culture: respect for autonomy greatly emphasized
Beneficence - Answers obligation of healthcare provider to act for good of patient, protect pt
from harm
Nonmaleficence - Answers duty not to harm others
Justice - Answers what is fair/owed to pt, resource allocation, etc
Code of Ethics - Answers expectations of ethical practice
- cannot legally be enforced by courts
- profession can legally sanction you
- does not prescribe particular actions to take in specific situations
3 Legal Obligations of a Nurse - Answers 1. To have knowledge of the legal boundaries of their
jobs
2. Protect patient's rights
3. Protect themselves from liability
Fiduciary duty - Answers trust-based duty that implies a higher duty of care to others
tort - Answers act of wrongdoing that results in harm or injury
intentional tort - Answers assault, battery, false imprisonment, or invasion of privacy
must include 3 elements:
, 1. act must be intended to interfere w/ the plaintiff
2. intent to bring about consequences of the act
3. act must substantially cause the consequences
unintentional tort - Answers 1. liability
2. negligence
- usually unintentional negligence (any treatment or aspect of care fall below acceptable lvl)
Negligence - Answers 1. duty of care must exist
2. evident that duty of care was breached
3. resultant injury or harm
4. harm resulted from conduct
- usually compensate affected party + professional nursing regulatory body inflicts
consequences
- failure to provide standard of care that is reasonable
Moral distress - Answers knowing the right thing to do but being unable to do it
Solution: change attitude and structures to allow for challenging the status quo
Moral Integrity: 4 elements - Answers 1. Moral autonomy
2. fidelity to promise
3. steadfastness
4. wholeness (full lives)
Moral courage - Answers Address inequities, engage in resolving conflicts, facilitate a strong
and sustainable connection between moral intent and action
Code of Ethics of Nurses Pillars - Answers Integrity
Respect for Client
Professional Autonomy
Professional Competence
Excellence in Care
Ethics - Answers what is right, wrong in behavior, decision making, and values
Morality - Answers beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior
Applied Ethics fields - Answers medical ethics, environmental ethics, business ethics, bioethics
Nursing Ethics - Answers distinct field, focus on noteworthy relationships ex: nurse-patient,
nurse-nurse, nurse-physician
"In-between" space occupied by nurses - Answers nurse strives to maintain balance and meet
the needs of more than one stakeholder
3 levels of moral response to ethical problems - Answers 1. expressive level
2. prereflective level
3. reflective level
expressive level - Answers state the way we feel about something without providing justification
or rationale for beliefs
Pre-reflective Level - Answers justified by citing legal, religious, professional norms without
critical reflection
Reflective Level - Answers justification for our position is based upon principles or values we
have reflected upon critically
Deontologic ethics - Answers concerned with duties we have towards others
Consequentialist ethics - Answers rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the
outcomes/consequences of a particular action
Difficulty w/ deontologic theory - Answers 1. difficult to determine what our duties are
2. we may face multiple and often competing duties
3. paying attention only to duties and failing to consider possible range of outcomes or
consequences to adhering to our duties may be problematic
utilitarianism - Answers - consequentialist theory
- action is ethically sound if it minimizes the negative outcome, maximize positive outcomes
- often looked at in scarce resource contexts
utilitarianism difficulties - Answers 1. ability to predict outcome is imperfect
,2. measure abstract/subjective notion ex: happiness
3. what someone considers good vary person to person
Principlism - Answers Draw on deontologic + consequentialist
4 principles: respect for Autonomy, beneficience, nonmaleficience, justice
More contextual/relevant nowadays
Hard to apply outside Western context
- Belmont report/ needing to protect human subjects
- foundation for REBs
Autonomy - Answers Ability of a competent person to make decisions regarding their life
- western culture: respect for autonomy greatly emphasized
Beneficence - Answers obligation of healthcare provider to act for good of patient, protect pt
from harm
Nonmaleficence - Answers duty not to harm others
Justice - Answers what is fair/owed to pt, resource allocation, etc
Code of Ethics - Answers expectations of ethical practice
- cannot legally be enforced by courts
- profession can legally sanction you
- does not prescribe particular actions to take in specific situations
3 Legal Obligations of a Nurse - Answers 1. To have knowledge of the legal boundaries of their
jobs
2. Protect patient's rights
3. Protect themselves from liability
Fiduciary duty - Answers trust-based duty that implies a higher duty of care to others
tort - Answers act of wrongdoing that results in harm or injury
intentional tort - Answers assault, battery, false imprisonment, or invasion of privacy
must include 3 elements:
, 1. act must be intended to interfere w/ the plaintiff
2. intent to bring about consequences of the act
3. act must substantially cause the consequences
unintentional tort - Answers 1. liability
2. negligence
- usually unintentional negligence (any treatment or aspect of care fall below acceptable lvl)
Negligence - Answers 1. duty of care must exist
2. evident that duty of care was breached
3. resultant injury or harm
4. harm resulted from conduct
- usually compensate affected party + professional nursing regulatory body inflicts
consequences
- failure to provide standard of care that is reasonable
Moral distress - Answers knowing the right thing to do but being unable to do it
Solution: change attitude and structures to allow for challenging the status quo
Moral Integrity: 4 elements - Answers 1. Moral autonomy
2. fidelity to promise
3. steadfastness
4. wholeness (full lives)
Moral courage - Answers Address inequities, engage in resolving conflicts, facilitate a strong
and sustainable connection between moral intent and action
Code of Ethics of Nurses Pillars - Answers Integrity
Respect for Client
Professional Autonomy
Professional Competence
Excellence in Care
