Week 2 Sherpath: Ethical Principles in Health Care
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f5bg7l
1. The nurse draws arterial blood gases for a patient with acute respiratory
failure. This procedure carries risk and does harm to the patient, which is
contrary to the principle of nonmaleficence. However, the action allows for
adjustment of respiratory care, benefiting the patient. Which ethical principle
overrides the principle of nonmaleficence in this scenario?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy: A. Beneficence
Beneficence, or the principle of doing good for the patient, would override the principle of nonmaleficence. The nurse
is doing good by providing therapeutic and appropriate care for the patient.
2. Which nursing action addresses conflict of principles in a critical care environ-
ment?
A. Keeping the reasons for actions to oneself
B. Making health choices for the patient
C. Justification of privileging one principle over another
D. Providing comfort regardless of patient permission: C. Justification of privileging one
principle over another
Nurses justify privileging one principle over another when they encounter conflicting principles.
3. Which principle is used when principles conflict? Select all that apply. One,
some, or all responses may be correct.
A. Justification
B. Specification
C. Maleficence
D. Autonomy
E. Assessment: A and B
Justification
Nurses can rely on the principle of justification when principles conflict.
Specification
Specification is a principle that is used when principles conflict.
1/5
, Week 2 Sherpath: Ethical Principles in Health Care
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f5bg7l
4. The nurse ensures informed consent is completed prior to a surgical proce-
dure. Which ethical principle is the nurse incorporating?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Beneficence: B. Autonomy
Autonomy is the respect for the patient's ability to freely exercise choice about what happens to them. Informed consent
supports a patient's right to choose surgical options.
5. Which description of privacy is accurate?
A. Relates to the patient
B. Includes sharing of information
C. Encompasses patient history
D. Incorporates lab values: A. Relates to the patient
Privacy relates to the patient.
6. The nurse is sitting on a committee to determine how organs are allocated for
transplant. Which ethical principle is most important for the nurse to include?
A. Beneficence
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Justice
D. Autonomy: C. Justice
Justice is an equitable distribution of resources, especially when the resources are scarce. Organs are scarce and the
committee must carefully incorporate the ethical principle of justice to ensure fair and equal allotment.
7. The nurse is providing care to a patient with acute kidney injury. The nephrol-
ogist orders hemodialysis for the patient, and the patient states, "I am not sure
if that is what I want to do." Which response by the nephrologist indicates a
paternalistic approach?
A. "I know what's best for you, and you need the dialysis."
B. "Let us talk about your concerns."
C. "Do you have questions I can answer for you?"
D. "The decision is ultimately yours.": A. "I know what's best for you, and you need the dialysis."
Paternalism exists when the nurse or physician makes a decision for the patient. Telling the patient that the physician
knows best and will decide demonstrates a paternalistic approach.
2/5
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f5bg7l
1. The nurse draws arterial blood gases for a patient with acute respiratory
failure. This procedure carries risk and does harm to the patient, which is
contrary to the principle of nonmaleficence. However, the action allows for
adjustment of respiratory care, benefiting the patient. Which ethical principle
overrides the principle of nonmaleficence in this scenario?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy: A. Beneficence
Beneficence, or the principle of doing good for the patient, would override the principle of nonmaleficence. The nurse
is doing good by providing therapeutic and appropriate care for the patient.
2. Which nursing action addresses conflict of principles in a critical care environ-
ment?
A. Keeping the reasons for actions to oneself
B. Making health choices for the patient
C. Justification of privileging one principle over another
D. Providing comfort regardless of patient permission: C. Justification of privileging one
principle over another
Nurses justify privileging one principle over another when they encounter conflicting principles.
3. Which principle is used when principles conflict? Select all that apply. One,
some, or all responses may be correct.
A. Justification
B. Specification
C. Maleficence
D. Autonomy
E. Assessment: A and B
Justification
Nurses can rely on the principle of justification when principles conflict.
Specification
Specification is a principle that is used when principles conflict.
1/5
, Week 2 Sherpath: Ethical Principles in Health Care
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f5bg7l
4. The nurse ensures informed consent is completed prior to a surgical proce-
dure. Which ethical principle is the nurse incorporating?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Beneficence: B. Autonomy
Autonomy is the respect for the patient's ability to freely exercise choice about what happens to them. Informed consent
supports a patient's right to choose surgical options.
5. Which description of privacy is accurate?
A. Relates to the patient
B. Includes sharing of information
C. Encompasses patient history
D. Incorporates lab values: A. Relates to the patient
Privacy relates to the patient.
6. The nurse is sitting on a committee to determine how organs are allocated for
transplant. Which ethical principle is most important for the nurse to include?
A. Beneficence
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Justice
D. Autonomy: C. Justice
Justice is an equitable distribution of resources, especially when the resources are scarce. Organs are scarce and the
committee must carefully incorporate the ethical principle of justice to ensure fair and equal allotment.
7. The nurse is providing care to a patient with acute kidney injury. The nephrol-
ogist orders hemodialysis for the patient, and the patient states, "I am not sure
if that is what I want to do." Which response by the nephrologist indicates a
paternalistic approach?
A. "I know what's best for you, and you need the dialysis."
B. "Let us talk about your concerns."
C. "Do you have questions I can answer for you?"
D. "The decision is ultimately yours.": A. "I know what's best for you, and you need the dialysis."
Paternalism exists when the nurse or physician makes a decision for the patient. Telling the patient that the physician
knows best and will decide demonstrates a paternalistic approach.
2/5
