ATI RN
Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing Questions
Question 1 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 2 of 5
It is important to realize that nurses may seek unionization if: (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale: Choice C is correct because it highlights a significant issue related to patient safety - medication errors caused by delayed shift reports. This creates a legitimate concern for nurses regarding the effectiveness of communication and ultimately patient care. Seeking unionization could be a way for nurses to address this issue collectively. Summary: - Choice A is incorrect as it focuses on physician coverage rather than nurse concerns. - Choice B is incorrect as it addresses staffing and scheduling but does not directly relate to nurses seeking unionization. - Choice D is incorrect as it describes a collaborative care approach, which does not necessarily indicate a need for unionization among nurses.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is seeking to become culturally competent in regard to obtaining information during health history and when performing physical diagnosis. The nurse is aware that which biologic variation is found in all of the following ethnicities: blacks, Asians, Hispanics, and American Indians?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Sickle cell anemia. This genetic disorder is found in individuals of African, Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian descent. Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene, leading to the production of abnormal hemoglobin. This condition is more prevalent in these ethnic groups due to historical reasons and natural selection against malaria. A: Mongolian spots are common in Asian infants but not in all the mentioned ethnicities. C: Lactose intolerance is more common in individuals of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent but not specifically in American Indians. D: Thalassemia is more prevalent in individuals of Mediterranean, African, and Southeast Asian descent, not in all the mentioned ethnicities.
Question 4 of 5
A registered nurse is on break and checking e-mails. One e-mail contains a picture of a celebrity who is a patient in the hospital, and on the same floor, where the nurse works. Included with the photo is a message, "check out my Facebook," which contains additional photographs of the patient. The nurse immediately deletes the picture to prevent having to report the "friend" to supervisors. Based on the action of the nurse who received the message, which statement is correct?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The nurse is at risk for discipline because failing to report the receipt of the message demonstrates poor ethical and legal role-modeling. By deleting the photo and not reporting the incident, the nurse is not upholding patient confidentiality and is potentially violating privacy laws. Sharing patient information, even if the patient is on the same floor, is unethical and illegal. Choices A and B are incorrect because simply deleting the photos does not absolve the nurse from potential consequences, and not being the sender does not excuse the nurse from being responsible for maintaining patient confidentiality. Choice D is incorrect because sharing patient information without authorization is a violation of ethical and legal standards.
Question 5 of 5
Nurses caring for the victims of a mass casualty incident:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because prioritizing care based on the greatest chance of survival maximizes the number of lives saved in a mass casualty incident. This approach follows the principle of triage, which aims to allocate resources efficiently. Choice A is incorrect as it pertains to coordination rather than immediate patient care. Choice B is incorrect as it is not the primary role of nurses during a mass casualty incident. Choice C is incorrect as determining a credible threat is the responsibility of security and law enforcement, not nurses.
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