Varcarolis Ch 6 - Legal & Ethical Verified Solutions
Question 1:
Which action by a psychiatric nurse best applies the ethical principle of autonomy? - a. Exploring alternative solutions with the patient, who then makes a choice. - b. Suggesting that two patients who were fighting be restricted ...
Which action by a psychiatric nurse best applies the ethical principle of autonomy?
- a. Exploring alternative solutions with the patient, who then makes a choice.
- b. Suggesting that two patients who were fighting be restricted to the unit.
- c. Intervening when a self-mutilating patient attempts to harm self.
- d. Staying with a patient demonstrating a high level of anxiety.
Answer: a. Exploring alternative solutions with the patient, who then makes a choice.
Feedback: Autonomy refers to the patient's right to make their own decisions. When the nurse
encourages the patient to explore alternatives and make a choice, it supports their autonomy.
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Question 2:
A nurse finds a psychiatric advance directive in the medical record of a patient currently experiencing
psychosis. The directive was executed during a period when the patient was stable and competent. The
nurse should:
- a. Review the directive with the patient to ensure it is current.
- b. Ensure that the directive is respected in treatment planning.
- c. Consider the directive only if there is a cardiac or respiratory arrest.
- d. Encourage the patient to revise the directive in light of the current health problem.
Answer: b. Ensure that the directive is respected in treatment planning.
Feedback: The advance psychiatric directive reflects the patient's wishes when they were competent.
The nurse must honor this directive even though the patient is currently psychotic.
---
, Question 3:
Two hospitalized patients fight whenever they are together. During a team meeting, a nurse asserts that
safety is of paramount importance, so treatment plans should call for both patients to be secluded to
keep them from injuring each other. This assertion:
- a. Reinforces the autonomy of the two patients.
- b. Violates the civil rights of both patients.
- c. Represents the intentional tort of battery.
- d. Correctly places emphasis on safety.
Answer: b. Violates the civil rights of both patients.
Feedback: This action of unnecessary seclusion may violate the patients' civil rights and principles of
autonomy. The least restrictive measures should be attempted before resorting to seclusion.
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Question 4:
In a team meeting, a nurse says, "I'm concerned about whether we are behaving ethically by using
restraint to prevent one patient from self-mutilation while the care plan for another self-mutilating
patient requires one-on-one supervision." Which ethical principle most clearly applies to this situation?
- a. Beneficence
- b. Autonomy
- c. Fidelity
- d. Justice
Answer: d. Justice.
Feedback: The nurse's concern focuses on fairness and equal treatment for both patients, which relates
to the principle of justice in healthcare.
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Question 5:
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