ETHICS & LEGAL ISSUES TEST BANK
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
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 - ANS-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 - ANS-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 - ANS-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 - ANS-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. - ANS-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. - ANS-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 - ANS-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.
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