ATI RN
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client arrives in active labor and exhibits toxemia with irregular fetal heart tones. The client is an immigrant and is uninsured. Which act would prevent the client from being transferred to another facility?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Law (EMTALA). This act prohibits hospitals from transferring patients in active labor or with an emergency condition based on insurance status or ability to pay. It ensures that all individuals, regardless of insurance or immigration status, receive necessary emergency medical treatment. The other choices are incorrect because: B: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects patient privacy and does not address transfer of patients in active labor. C: Patient Self-Determination Act focuses on patient autonomy in making healthcare decisions, not on preventing transfer based on insurance status. D: The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act promotes patient safety and quality improvement but does not specifically address transfer of patients in active labor.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse who functions in the role of team leader can be held negligent for matters involving:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: delegation of client care tasks. A team leader nurse can be held negligent for improper delegation as they are responsible for assigning tasks to appropriate staff ensuring safe and effective care. This is crucial for patient safety. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because inadequate training, lack of policies, and failure to discipline unsafe workers are not directly related to the nurse's role in delegation and immediate patient care responsibilities.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse caring for a patient with anemia and heart failure prepares to hang a unit of packed red blood cells and realizes her break is in 5 minutes. She decides it is not necessary to have another nurse check the blood against the patient's information since the patient's blood type is O+ which she incorrectly remembered to be the universal donor. She hangs the blood, noting the patient is "reading and vital signs normal." She leaves the floor for her break and does not report leaving or ask anyone to perform required vital signs. Upon returning she meets a family friend who is visiting and time "just flies." She returns to the patient's room after admitting a new patient. The patient is hypotensive and color is cyanotic and anxious. She reports the findings to the charge nurse, who then contacts the physician. A blood reaction occurrence is noted. The nurse providing care is charged:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: with criminal negligence. The nurse displayed a reckless disregard for the patient's safety by not verifying the blood type, leaving for an extended break without ensuring proper monitoring, and failing to report her absence. These actions were highly irresponsible and demonstrated a severe lack of care and attention to the patient's well-being. Criminal negligence involves a conscious disregard for the consequences of one's actions, which in this case resulted in a serious adverse event for the patient. Choices A and B do not fully capture the gravity of the nurse's actions, as they imply a lesser degree of fault. Choice D, under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, would be inappropriate in this scenario as the nurse's actions directly contributed to the adverse outcome.
Question 4 of 5
Ethics applied to nursing can best be defined as:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethics applied to nursing can best be defined as care based on what should be done in keeping with the values of the client (Choice C). This answer emphasizes the importance of respecting the client's values and preferences in decision-making, which is a fundamental aspect of ethical nursing practice. It involves considering the client's beliefs, culture, and autonomy when providing care. Other choices are incorrect: A: Doing what is best for the client (Choice A) is subjective and may not always align with the client's values. B: Making good decisions about care (Choice B) is vague and does not specifically address the ethical considerations related to the client's values. D: Rules for providing competent care based on scientific principles (Choice D) focus on clinical competence rather than the ethical dimension of nursing practice.
Question 5 of 5
When assessing an ethical issue, the nurse must first:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because before addressing any ethical issue, it is vital to first identify and define the issue clearly. This helps in understanding the context and scope of the problem. Without knowing the specific ethical issue at hand, it is impossible to proceed with identifying alternatives, selecting the best option, or justifying the choice of action. Therefore, asking "What is the issue?" is the initial step in the ethical decision-making process. Summary: - Option B is incorrect because identifying alternatives comes after defining the issue. - Option C is incorrect as selecting the best option should be based on a clear understanding of the issue. - Option D is incorrect as justifying actions or inactions should come after determining the ethical problem.