Test Bank | Legal and Ethical Issues for
Health Professionals | Chapter-wise Practice
Questions
An operating room nurse asks a psychiatric nurse, "How can you work with the mentally
ill day in and day out?" The psychiatric nurse replies, "It's just the right things to do."
The psychiatric nurse is operating from which ethical framework?
A. Kantianism
B. Christian ethics
C. Ethical egoism
D. Utilitarianism - answers ANSWER: A
Focuses on morality of actions
As a last resort, an agitated, physically aggressive client is placed in four point
restraints. The client yells , " I'll sue you for assault and battery". The unit manager
determines that the nurses are protected under which condition?
A. The client is voluntarily committed and poses a danger to others on the unit
B. the client is voluntarily committed and has a history of being a danger to others
C. the client is involuntarily committed because of a history of violent behavior
D. the client is involuntarily committed and is refusing treatment - answers Answer: A
A nurse gives a client 5 mg of haloperidol (Haldol) for agitation. The client's chart was
clearly stamped "Allergic HALDOL." The client suffered anaphylactic shock and died.
How would the nurse's actions be labeled?
A. Intentional tort
B. Negligence
C. Battery
D. Assault - answers ANSWER: B
1. In response to a students question regarding choosing a psychiatric specialty, a
charge nurse states, Mentally ill clients need special care. If I were in that position, Id
want a caring nurse also. From which ethical framework is the charge nurse operating?
A. Kantianism
B. Christian ethics
C. Ethical egoism
D. Utilitarianism - answers ANS: B
The charge nurse is operating from a Christian ethics framework. A basic principle in
Christian ethics is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Kantianism
,states that decisions should be based on moral law and that actions are bound by a
sense of moral duty. Utilitarianism holds that decisions should be made with a focus on
the end result being happiness. Ethical egoism promotes the idea that what is right is
good for the individual.
2. During a hiring interview, which response by a nursing applicant should indicate that
the applicant operates from an ethical egoism framework?
A. I would want to be treated in a caring manner if I were mentally ill.
B. This job will pay the bills, and the workload is light enough for me.
C. I will be happy caring for the mentally ill. Working in Med/Surg kills my back.
D. It is my duty in life to be a psychiatric nurse. It is the right thing to do. - answers ANS:
B
The applicants comment reflects an ethical egoism framework. This framework
promotes the idea that
decisions are based on what is good for the individual and may not take the needs of
others into account.
3. Without authorization, a nurse administers an extra dose of narcotic tranquilizer to an
agitated client. The nurses coworker observes this action but does nothing for fear of
repercussion. What is the ethical
interpretation of the coworkers lack of involvement?
A. Taking no action is still considered an action by the coworker.
B. Taking no action releases the coworker from ethical responsibility.
C. Taking no action is advised when potential adverse consequences are foreseen.
D. Taking no action is acceptable, because the coworker is only a bystander. - answers
ANS: A
The coworkers lack of involvement can be interpreted as an action taken. The coworker
is experiencing an ethical dilemma in which a decision needs to be made between two
unfavorable alternatives. Although the coworker may be struggling with ethical decision
making, he or she has witnessed another nurse dispensing medication outside of the
scope of practice; therefore, from a legal perspective, this should be reported.
4. Group therapy is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, on an inpatient psychiatric
unit. The unit
managers policy is that clients can make a choice about whether or not to attend group
therapy. Which ethical principle does the unit managers policy preserve?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Veracity
D. Beneficence - answers ANS: B
The unit managers policy regarding voluntary client participation in group therapy
preserves the ethical
, principle of autonomy. The principle of autonomy presumes that individuals are capable
of making
independent decisions for themselves and that health-care workers must respect these
decisions.
5. Which is an example of an intentional tort?
A. A nurse fails to assess a clients obvious symptoms of neuroleptic malignant
syndrome.
B. A nurse physically places an irritating client in four-point restraints.
C. A nurse makes a medication error and does not report the incident.
D. A nurse gives patient information to an unauthorized person. - answers ANS: B
A tort is a violation of civil law in which an individual has been wronged and can be
intentional or
unintentional. A nurse who physically places an irritating client in restraints has touched
the client without
consent and has committed an intentional tort. Examples of unintentional torts are
malpractice and negligence actions.
6. An involuntarily committed client is verbally abusive to the staff and repeatedly
threatening to sue. Then client records the full names and phone numbers of the staff.
Which nursing action is most appropriate to decrease the possibility of a lawsuit?
A. Verbally redirect the client, and then limit one-on-one interaction.
B. Involve the hospitals security division as soon as possible.
C. Notify the client that documenting personal staff information is against hospital policy.
D. Continue professional attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the
client. - answers ANS: D The most appropriate nursing action is to continue professional
attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the client. The involuntarily
committed client should be respected and has the right to assert grievances if rights are
infringed.
7. Which statement should a nurse identify as correct regarding a clients right to refuse
treatment?
A. Clients can refuse pharmacological but not psychological treatment.
B. Clients can refuse any treatment at any time.
C. Clients can refuse only electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
D. Professionals can override treatment refusal if the client is actively suicidal or
homicidal. - answers ANS: D
The nurse should understand that health-care professionals can override treatment
refusal when a client is
actively suicidal or homicidal. A suicidal or homicidal client who refuses treatment may
be a danger to self or others. This situation should be treated as an emergency, and
treatment may be performed without informed consent.
Health Professionals | Chapter-wise Practice
Questions
An operating room nurse asks a psychiatric nurse, "How can you work with the mentally
ill day in and day out?" The psychiatric nurse replies, "It's just the right things to do."
The psychiatric nurse is operating from which ethical framework?
A. Kantianism
B. Christian ethics
C. Ethical egoism
D. Utilitarianism - answers ANSWER: A
Focuses on morality of actions
As a last resort, an agitated, physically aggressive client is placed in four point
restraints. The client yells , " I'll sue you for assault and battery". The unit manager
determines that the nurses are protected under which condition?
A. The client is voluntarily committed and poses a danger to others on the unit
B. the client is voluntarily committed and has a history of being a danger to others
C. the client is involuntarily committed because of a history of violent behavior
D. the client is involuntarily committed and is refusing treatment - answers Answer: A
A nurse gives a client 5 mg of haloperidol (Haldol) for agitation. The client's chart was
clearly stamped "Allergic HALDOL." The client suffered anaphylactic shock and died.
How would the nurse's actions be labeled?
A. Intentional tort
B. Negligence
C. Battery
D. Assault - answers ANSWER: B
1. In response to a students question regarding choosing a psychiatric specialty, a
charge nurse states, Mentally ill clients need special care. If I were in that position, Id
want a caring nurse also. From which ethical framework is the charge nurse operating?
A. Kantianism
B. Christian ethics
C. Ethical egoism
D. Utilitarianism - answers ANS: B
The charge nurse is operating from a Christian ethics framework. A basic principle in
Christian ethics is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Kantianism
,states that decisions should be based on moral law and that actions are bound by a
sense of moral duty. Utilitarianism holds that decisions should be made with a focus on
the end result being happiness. Ethical egoism promotes the idea that what is right is
good for the individual.
2. During a hiring interview, which response by a nursing applicant should indicate that
the applicant operates from an ethical egoism framework?
A. I would want to be treated in a caring manner if I were mentally ill.
B. This job will pay the bills, and the workload is light enough for me.
C. I will be happy caring for the mentally ill. Working in Med/Surg kills my back.
D. It is my duty in life to be a psychiatric nurse. It is the right thing to do. - answers ANS:
B
The applicants comment reflects an ethical egoism framework. This framework
promotes the idea that
decisions are based on what is good for the individual and may not take the needs of
others into account.
3. Without authorization, a nurse administers an extra dose of narcotic tranquilizer to an
agitated client. The nurses coworker observes this action but does nothing for fear of
repercussion. What is the ethical
interpretation of the coworkers lack of involvement?
A. Taking no action is still considered an action by the coworker.
B. Taking no action releases the coworker from ethical responsibility.
C. Taking no action is advised when potential adverse consequences are foreseen.
D. Taking no action is acceptable, because the coworker is only a bystander. - answers
ANS: A
The coworkers lack of involvement can be interpreted as an action taken. The coworker
is experiencing an ethical dilemma in which a decision needs to be made between two
unfavorable alternatives. Although the coworker may be struggling with ethical decision
making, he or she has witnessed another nurse dispensing medication outside of the
scope of practice; therefore, from a legal perspective, this should be reported.
4. Group therapy is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, on an inpatient psychiatric
unit. The unit
managers policy is that clients can make a choice about whether or not to attend group
therapy. Which ethical principle does the unit managers policy preserve?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Veracity
D. Beneficence - answers ANS: B
The unit managers policy regarding voluntary client participation in group therapy
preserves the ethical
, principle of autonomy. The principle of autonomy presumes that individuals are capable
of making
independent decisions for themselves and that health-care workers must respect these
decisions.
5. Which is an example of an intentional tort?
A. A nurse fails to assess a clients obvious symptoms of neuroleptic malignant
syndrome.
B. A nurse physically places an irritating client in four-point restraints.
C. A nurse makes a medication error and does not report the incident.
D. A nurse gives patient information to an unauthorized person. - answers ANS: B
A tort is a violation of civil law in which an individual has been wronged and can be
intentional or
unintentional. A nurse who physically places an irritating client in restraints has touched
the client without
consent and has committed an intentional tort. Examples of unintentional torts are
malpractice and negligence actions.
6. An involuntarily committed client is verbally abusive to the staff and repeatedly
threatening to sue. Then client records the full names and phone numbers of the staff.
Which nursing action is most appropriate to decrease the possibility of a lawsuit?
A. Verbally redirect the client, and then limit one-on-one interaction.
B. Involve the hospitals security division as soon as possible.
C. Notify the client that documenting personal staff information is against hospital policy.
D. Continue professional attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the
client. - answers ANS: D The most appropriate nursing action is to continue professional
attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the client. The involuntarily
committed client should be respected and has the right to assert grievances if rights are
infringed.
7. Which statement should a nurse identify as correct regarding a clients right to refuse
treatment?
A. Clients can refuse pharmacological but not psychological treatment.
B. Clients can refuse any treatment at any time.
C. Clients can refuse only electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
D. Professionals can override treatment refusal if the client is actively suicidal or
homicidal. - answers ANS: D
The nurse should understand that health-care professionals can override treatment
refusal when a client is
actively suicidal or homicidal. A suicidal or homicidal client who refuses treatment may
be a danger to self or others. This situation should be treated as an emergency, and
treatment may be performed without informed consent.
