ATI RN
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing PDF Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who just suffered a stroke and is medicated for pain. The nurse completes the following interventions: places the client on the examining table, completes a thorough history and physical, covers the client with a sheet, places the call button within reach, and goes out in the hall to speak with the client's physician. The client tries to get up to speak with his family and falls, sustaining a hematoma on the head and a broken hip. The nurse's actions reflect:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: negligence. Negligence refers to a failure to provide the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would have provided in a similar situation, resulting in harm to the client. In this scenario, the nurse failed to ensure the safety of the client by leaving them unattended on an examining table, leading to the client falling and sustaining injuries. This breach of duty to provide proper care and supervision constitutes negligence. Choice A (invasion of privacy) is incorrect because it does not relate to the nurse's failure to provide proper care and supervision. Choice B (libel) and Choice C (slander) are also incorrect as they pertain to defamation, which is not applicable in this situation. The nurse's actions primarily reflect negligence due to the failure to provide adequate supervision, resulting in harm to the client.
Question 2 of 5
A physician orders a drug for a patient with a known allergy resulting in anaphylactic shock. The nurse:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because disclosure is a key component of the national patient safety movement. By disclosing the error to the patient and involving them in the decision-making process, the nurse promotes transparency, trust, and patient-centered care. This approach also allows for timely interventions to address the allergic reaction effectively. Choice A is incorrect because prioritizing agency consequences over patient safety goes against ethical principles. Choice B is incorrect as it suggests disclosing before discussing with the physician or management, which could lead to confusion and potential miscommunication. Choice D is incorrect since reporting to the patient's insurance company does not address the immediate patient safety concern of the allergic reaction.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is assigned to a unit other than the one she is normally assigned due to increased census on the alternate unit. She is assigned to care for seven patients and participates in walking rounds where the patient's condition and needs are discussed between oncoming and off-going shifts of the interdisciplinary team. The nurse carefully makes notes of all pending orders and prioritizes needs. The nurse enters the cafeteria later and the notes accidentally fall from her pocket, which contain the above information that contains patient sensitive datThe liabilities arising from this incident would be covered under:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why Choice A is correct: 1. The scenario involves the accidental disclosure of patient-sensitive data. 2. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) specifically addresses the protection of patient information. 3. HIPAA requires healthcare providers to safeguard patient data and maintain confidentiality. 4. In this case, the nurse's unintentional disclosure of patient information falls under HIPAA violations. 5. Therefore, the liabilities arising from this incident would be covered under HIPAA. Summary of why other choices are incorrect: B. The ANA Scope and Practice Act focuses on the scope of nursing practice and does not specifically address patient data protection like HIPAA. C. Affirmative duty failing to question order relates to a nurse's responsibility to question unsafe orders, not patient data protection. D. Personal liability with floating and cross-training does not cover the accidental disclosure of patient information, which falls under HIPAA.
Question 4 of 5
An older adult client is comatose and had one electroencephalogram that indicated no activity. The daughter is very distraught and notices her mother's hand moves when she is talking to her. The daughter asks the nurse, "Is mother responding to my voice?" The nurse, attempting to console the daughter, knows the movement was involuntary but states, "It does appear she did." The nurse is violating which principle of ethics?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Veracity. Veracity refers to the principle of truthfulness and honesty in communication. In this scenario, the nurse knowingly provides false information to the daughter by stating that the mother is responding to her voice when the movement was actually involuntary. By not being truthful, the nurse violates the principle of veracity. Autonomy (A) is the right of individuals to make their own decisions. Utilitarianism (C) focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Deontology (D) is an ethical theory based on rules and duties. These principles are not directly related to the nurse's dishonesty in this situation.
Question 5 of 5
The physician who insists on providing treatment in spite of the client's wishes because he "knows best" is reflecting:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: paternalism. Paternalism occurs when a physician overrides a patient's autonomy in favor of what they believe is best for the patient. In this scenario, the physician is not respecting the client's wishes and is making decisions based on their own judgment, which is characteristic of paternalism. Autonomy (A) refers to respecting the patient's right to make their own decisions. Beneficence (B) is the principle of doing good for the patient, but in this case, it is being overshadowed by the physician's paternalistic approach. Justice (C) refers to fairness in healthcare distribution, which is not applicable in this context.