Test Bank For Understanding Medical Surgical Nursing, 3rd Edition

Chapter 2: Issues in Nursing Practice 1. After working a 12-hour shift, the nurse is asked to work part of the next shift due to short staffing. The nurse is under which type of obligation to work? A) Justice B) Welfare C) Moral D) Legal 2. The family of a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer does not want the patient told about the diagnosis. The patient asks the nurse, “Do I have cancer?” Which ethical principles should the nurse consider to resolve this situation? A) Autonomy and veracity B) Beneficence and justice C) Nonmalfeasance and legal obligations D) Welfare rights and moral obligations 3. A patient tells the nurse that the Patient’s Bill of Rights gives patients the legal right to read their medical information. Which of these responses would be appropriate for the nurse to make? A) “The Patient’s Bill of Rights is a legal document that is enforceable by law.” B) “The Patient’s Bill of Rights is a legal document that is open to interpretation.” C) “The Patient’s Bill of Rights is valid if the physician prescribes that it be followed.” D) “The Patient’s Bill of Rights is an ethical or moral right not enforceable by law.” 4. The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who has human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV). The nurse accepts the patient assignment despite believing that the patient’s condition is a punishment from God. Which ethical principle did the nurse follow in accepting this patient assignment? A) Beneficence B) Justice C) Nonmalfeasance D) Veracity 5. Which of these actions can nurses take to increase their limitation of liability? A) Ensure patient’s rights. B) Follow directions exactly as given. C) Verify employer’s liability insurance. D) Follow verbal orders. Page 1 Chapter 2: Issues in Nursing Practice 6. A physician is conducting an experiment with a new medication and needs several more patients in the study. The physician asks the nurse to give the medication to an adult patient who is unable to understand the experiment but willingly takes any medication. Which ethical principle should the nurse cite in objecting to the inclusion of this patient in the experiment? A) Autonomy B) Nonmalfeasance C) Standard of Best Interest D) Veracity 7. New technology used in health care has had which of these effects on nurses’ use of the ethical decision-making process? A) Nurses have fewer ethical decisions because computers now make many decisions. B) Nurses can postpone ethical decisions because technology allows patients to live longer. C) Ethical dilemmas have become more complex owing to technologies that prolong life. D) Ethical situations remain similar to what they have always been in health care. 8. Which of these, if found in the patient’s history, would most interfere in a patient’s ability to make an autonomous decision about his or her own health care? A) Authoritarian family relationships B) Past experience with hospitalization C) Lower socioeconomic status D) Lack of information about treatment 9. A patient has a living will and gives it to the nurse to follow. The patient says, “Do not tell my family about the living will.” Which of these actions should the nurse take? A) Encourage the patient to discuss the living will with the family. B) Assure the patient that the nurse will not tell anyone. C) Send a copy of the living will to medical records. D) Return the living will to the patient until the family is informed. 10. The nurse is caring for Mrs. Genevieve Gristham, who is 80 years old. Which of these statements by the nurse conveys dignity and respect to the patient? A) “Honey, I have your medications.” B) “I have your medications for you, dear.” C) “Ms. Genevieve, I have your medications for you.” D) “Mrs. Gristham, I have your medications for you.” 11. Which of these observations by the nurse would require taking action for breech of confidentiality? A) Use of patient initials on student’s clinical paperwork B) A nurse asking an unknown physician for identification C) A physician asking a nurse if a friend has cancer D) A nurse reviewing charts of assigned patients for orders Page 2 Chapter 2: Issues in Nursing Practice 12. Which of these types of laws establish the parameters within which nurses must practice to obtain and maintain their licenses? A) Administrative law B) Moral law C) Tort law D) Civil law 13. Which of these legal terms refers to the nurse’s failure to follow a prescribed duty of care? A) An ethos B) A wrong C) Malpractice D) Negligence 14. The nurse is served with a summons relating to the care of a patient. Which of these actions should the nurse take? A) Notify employer immediately. B) Seek legal counsel after 30 days. C) Acknowledge liability promptly. D) Answer summons after 30 days. 15. The nurse is working with a nursing assistant in providing a patient’s care. Which of these actions of the nursing assistant would the nurse recognize as violating a patient’s rights? A) Knocking before entering the patient’s room B) Identifying name and title to the patient C) Asking the patient which beverage is prefered D) Telling the patient to bathe right now 16. The nurse is performing a procedure while caring for a patient and unintentionally eliminates a step in the procedure. Which of these may result from the nurse’s action? A) Limitation of liability B) Criminal punishment C) Civil liability for employer D) Imprisonment 17. The nurse understands that an employer’s insurance provides liability coverage for the nurse’s action when which of these conditions occurs? A) The nurse arrives promptly to work. B) The nurse follows institutional policies. C) The nurse has payroll-deducted premiums. D) The nurse understands the state’s tort laws. Page 3 Chapter 2: Issues in Nursing Practice 18. A civil liability suit begins with which of these actions? A) A complete police investigation B) The answering of a summons C) Filing of a complaint with a court D) Determination of a respondent superior 19. A patient remarks to the LPN that she has decided not to have a hysterectomy even though her gynecologist recommends it. The LPN says, “Oh, you should have it done. You have had your children already, and this surgery would be good for you. I’ll tell the RN that you have decided to have the surgery.” This is an example of which ethical principle? A) Nonmaleficence B) Autonomy C) Paternalism D) Beneficence 20. Which philosophical theory states that outcomes are the most important factor to consider in decision making? A) Deontology B) Utilitarianism C) Beneficence D) Justice 21. What should be the last step in any decision-making process? A) Clarify the values of all the participants. B) Implement the decision. C) Evaluate the outcomes. D) Determine which action has strongest ethical support. 22. Which law/act/regulations have been established nationally to protect a patient’s medical and personal information? A) Medicare B) Patient’s Bill of Rights C) Department of Health and Human Services regulations D) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 23. What may be included in tort reform legislation as it pertains to health care workers and institutions? Select all that apply. A) Limiting dollar amounts allowable for a patient’s damages B) Requiring expert medical evaluation before a lawsuit is filed C) Acquiring individual malpractice or liability insurance D) Shortening the time in which a patient may file a lawsuit E) Reading institutional policies before procedures 24. The principle of ______________is the obligation to be faithful to commitments made to self and others. Page 4 Chapter 2: Issues in Nursing Practice 25. Wrongful release of confidential information is a (an) ________________ tort. 26. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s (NCSBN) five rights of delegation includes the right task, person, circumstances, supervision, and ________________. Page 5 Chapter 2: Issues in Nursing Practice Answer Key 1. C 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. A 6. B 7. C 8. D 9. A 10. D 11. C 12. A 13. C 14. A 15. D 16. C 17. B 18. C 19. C 20. B 21. C 22. D 23. A, B, D 24. fidelity 25. intentional 26. communication Page 6