ATI RN
Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client with malignant hypertension whose blood pressure has increased by 40 mm Hg during the past hour. The nurse goes to lunch and fails to report the change to the physician. The nurse is at risk for being charged with:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct Answer: A - Negligence Rationale: 1. Negligence is the failure to provide the standard of care resulting in harm to the patient. 2. The nurse failed to report a significant change in the patient's condition, breaching the duty of care. 3. The increase in blood pressure could lead to serious complications, indicating the severity of negligence. Summary: B: Assault - Involves intentional threat or harm, not applicable in this scenario. C: Defamation of character - Involves false statements damaging reputation, not relevant in the context of patient care. D: Tort - A broader legal term encompassing various civil wrongs, but negligence is a specific type of tort applicable here.
Question 2 of 5
Although a hospital reversed all charges when a client was the victim of wrong site surgery, the court awarded the client $5 million. The client was able to return to work in 6 weeks and had no permanent damages. This monetary compensation is termed:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their wrongful actions. In this case, the hospital's negligence in performing wrong site surgery resulted in harm to the client, even though the hospital reversed the charges. The court awarded $5 million to punish the hospital for their negligence, as the client suffered emotional distress and the potential risk of harm. The other choices are incorrect because: A: res ipsa loquitur is a legal doctrine used to shift the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant in cases where the negligence is obvious. C: vicarious liability holds an employer responsible for the actions of their employees, which is not directly applicable in this scenario. D: immunity refers to protection from legal liability, which is not relevant in a case where the court awarded monetary compensation.
Question 3 of 5
A physician shares with the patient's family that, while a central line was being inserted, the patient's lungs were inadvertently punctured, which required oxygen administration. The physician also explains that a chest x-ray indicated the lung remained intact and no additional treatment was required. The physician's role in this instance is based on the legal principle of:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: disclosure. In this scenario, the physician shared information about the accidental lung puncture with the patient's family, demonstrating transparency and honesty. This aligns with the legal principle of disclosure, which emphasizes the importance of informing patients and their families about relevant medical information. The physician's actions foster trust and open communication, ensuring that the patient and family are informed about the situation. Choice A: comparative negligence, is incorrect because it involves assessing the degree of negligence by both parties involved, which is not applicable in this context. Choice B: gross negligence, is incorrect because the physician's actions do not demonstrate recklessness or a complete disregard for the patient's safety. Choice D: the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), is incorrect because this law primarily addresses the provision of emergency medical care and ensuring access to necessary services, not the disclosure of medical errors.
Question 4 of 5
A family requests that no additional heroic measures be instituted for their terminally ill mother who has advance directives in place. The nurse respects this decision in keeping with the principle of:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: autonomy. Autonomy refers to respecting the right of individuals to make their own decisions about their healthcare. In this scenario, the family's request to honor the terminally ill mother's advance directives aligns with the principle of autonomy as it acknowledges her right to make decisions about her own care. Accountability (A) pertains to taking responsibility for one's actions, nonmaleficence (C) involves avoiding harm, and veracity (D) refers to truthfulness. While these principles are important in healthcare, in this specific case, autonomy takes precedence as it respects the patient's wishes.
Question 5 of 5
A researcher calculated the risk-to-benefit ratio and concluded that no harmful effects were associated with a survey of college sophomores. The researcher was applying the principles of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: beneficence. Beneficence refers to the ethical principle of maximizing benefits and minimizing harm in research. In this scenario, the researcher calculated the risk-to-benefit ratio and concluded that no harmful effects were associated with the survey of college sophomores. By considering the well-being of the research participants and ensuring that the benefits outweigh any potential risks, the researcher demonstrated the application of beneficence. Summary: Choice A is correct because it aligns with the ethical principle of beneficence in research. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not directly relate to the consideration of risks and benefits in research involving human participants.