ATI LPN
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017)
Chapter 3 : Critical Thinking, Ethical Decision Making and the Nursing Process Questions
Question 1 of 5
While receiving report on a group of patients, the nurse learns that a patient with terminal cancer has granted power of attorney for health care to her brother. How does this affect the course of the patients care?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A power of attorney is said to be in effect when a patient has identified another individual to make decisions on her behalf. The patient has the right to change her mind. A power-of-attorney for health care does not give anyone the right to make financial decisions for the patient nor does it delegate custody of minor children.
Question 2 of 5
In the process of planning a patients care, the nurse has identified a nursing diagnosis of Ineffective Health Maintenance related to alcohol use. What must precede the determination of this nursing diagnosis?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the diagnostic phase of the nursing process, the patients nursing problems are defined through analysis of patient data. Establishing a plan comes after collecting and analyzing data; evaluating a plan is the last step of the nursing process and assigning a positive value to each consequence is not done.
Question 3 of 5
You are following the care plan that was created for a patient newly admitted to your unit. Which of the following aspects of the care plan would be considered a nursing implementation?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Implementation refers to carrying out the plan of nursing care. The other listed options exemplify goals, assessment findings, and diagnoses.
Question 4 of 5
The physician has recommended an amniocentesis for an 18-year-old primiparous woman. The patient is 34 weeks gestation and does not want this procedure. The physician is insistent the patient have the procedure. The physician arranges for the amniocentesis to be performed. The nurse should recognize that the physician is in violation of what ethical principle?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The principle of autonomy specifies that individuals have the ability to make a choice free from external constraints. The physicians actions in this case violate this principle. This action may or may not violate the principle of beneficence. Veracity centers on truth-telling and nonmaleficence is avoiding the infliction of harm.
Question 5 of 5
During discussion with the patient and the patients husband, you discover that the patient has a living will. How does the presence of a living will influence the patients care?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Because living wills are often written when the person is in good health, it is not unusual for the patient to nullify the living will during illness. A living will does not make a patient legally unable to refuse basic life support. The physician may disagree with the patients wishes, but he or she is ethically bound to carry out those wishes. A power-of-attorney is not synonymous with a living will.