Ethics #2 Flashcards
How can the nurse prepare to handle ethical situations?
Obtain more background information
The nurse has been approached by a family member, who does not want the patient know about a new cancer diagnosis. If the nurse agreed to this request, which ethical principle would the nurse violate?
Veracity
veracity—to tell the truth.
Which action by the nurse best represents the ethical principle fidelity?
Checking on a patient at an agreed upon time.
Fidelity means being truthful and doing what you say you’re going to do.
The nurse is witnessing a physician give informed consent. The client signs the form. When the physician leaves the patient makes a comment about not really understanding what the doctor was talking about. What is the priority nursing action?
Ask the physician to come and discuss the informed consent with the patient.
A decision making process where neither option seems optimal is referred to as a?
ethical dilemma
An important process in ethical decision making is reviewing the outcomes and determining if changes need to be made. This process is referred to as?
Reflection
Reflection is an important process in an ethical dilemma in which outcomes are reviewed and it is determined if changes need to be made.
The nurse is caring for a patient with opioid addiction. The nurse has cared for this patient many times being readmitted to the hospital. The nurse has strong personal beliefs against opioid addiction but understands that it is the nurses duty to adhere to which ethical principle while caring for this patient?
Justice
The nurse must adhere to justice by treating each patient fairly, equitably, and appropriately even when they do not agree with or feel strongly against a patient’s lifestyle.
The organization had an in-service on maintaining professional boundaries. Which statement made by the nurse determines understanding of professional boundaries?
“Limiting my personal relationships with coworkers and patients helps to promote a safe environment.”
Where is the best resource for a nurse to find information about professional standards of nursing?
The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses
The nurse is caring for a post operative patient 24 hours post op and notices the patient asking for pain medication right when it is due to be given. The nurse believes that a patient is “faking it”, since the patient is laughing and texting on their phone. The nurse decides to give the patient a placebo instead of the pain medication that was ordered. The nurse is violating which of the following principles of ethics?
Beneficence
Veracity
Autonomy
The nurse’s actions of making this individual decision to not provide the patient with the pain medication which was ordered violates beneficence by not providing beneficial ordered treatment to the patient who states they are in pain, violates autonomy by no allowing the patient the right to receive treatment for their pain, and it violates veracity by not telling the truth to the patient who believes they are receiving pain medication, when they are not.
