Topic 5 Nursing Values & Ethics

Question 1

What are values in nursing?

Answer 1

Values are strong personal beliefs and ideals that a person or group believes to have merit.

Question 2

What is ethics in the context of nursing?

Answer 2

Ethics is the study of philosophical ideals of right and wrong behavior based on what one thinks one ought to do.

Question 3

What influences our values?

Answer 3

Values can be influenced by personal experiences, culture, education, and social environment.

Question 4

Do values vary from person to person?

Answer 4

Yes, values can vary significantly between individuals.

Question 5

Can values change over time?

Answer 5

Yes, values can evolve as a person experiences life.

Question 6

What is values clarification?

Answer 6

Values clarification is the process of identifying and understanding one’s own values.

Question 7

What is a values conflict?

Answer 7

A values conflict occurs when an individual’s values clash with those of others, creating tension.

Question 8

What does the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) publish?

Answer 8

The CNA publishes a code of ethics outlining nurses’ professional values and ethical commitments.

Question 9

List the seven values central to ethical nursing practice.

Answer 9

• Providing safe, compassionate, competent, and ethical care
• Promoting health and well-being
• Promoting and respecting informed decision making
• Preserving dignity
• Maintaining privacy and confidentiality
• Promoting justice
• Being accountable

Question 10

What is the purpose of the CNA Code of Ethics?

Answer 10

The CNA Code of Ethics guides nurses in all contexts and domains of nursing practice.

Question 11

What does responsibility mean in nursing?

Answer 11

Responsibility refers to the characteristics of reliability and dependability in nursing practice.

Question 12

What does accountability mean in nursing?

Answer 12

Accountability means being able to accept responsibility for one’s actions.

Question 13

What does advocacy in nursing entail?

Answer 13

Advocacy means acting on behalf of another person, including protecting their rights and obtaining informed consent.

Question 14

What are the four ethical principles in nursing?

Answer 14

• Autonomy
• Beneficence
• Nonmaleficence
• Justice

Question 15

Define autonomy in the context of nursing ethics.

Answer 15

Autonomy refers to one’s freedom or self-determination in making informed personal choices.

Question 16

What is beneficence?

Answer 16

Beneficence means doing or promoting good for others.

Question 17

What is nonmaleficence?

Answer 17

Nonmaleficence is the avoidance of harm or hurt.

Question 18

What does justice refer to in nursing ethics?

Answer 18

Justice refers to fairness and equity in the treatment of individuals and groups.

Question 19

How is ethical dilemma defined?

Answer 19

An ethical dilemma is a conflict between two sets of human values, both judged to be ‘good’, but neither can be fully served.

Question 20

What is the first step in analyzing an ethical dilemma?

Answer 20

Determine whether the issue is an ethical dilemma.

Question 21

What is a health care directive?

Answer 21

A health care directive is a legal document outlining a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment.

Question 22

What are goals of care?

Answer 22

Goals of care are the objectives set for patient treatment and management.

Question 24

What is required for safe nursing practice?

Answer 24

Knowledge of the legal boundaries within which nurses must function.

Question 25

Why must nurses understand the law?

Answer 25

To protect themselves from liability and to protect their patients’ rights.

Question 26

What type of relationship is a fiduciary relationship?

Answer 26

A relationship where a professional provides services that cause the recipient to trust in the professional's specialized knowledge and integrity.

Question 27

What defines the scope of nursing practice?

Answer 27

Health professions acts or nursing practice acts passed by provincial and territorial legislatures.

Question 28

What is a tort?

Answer 28

A civil wrong committed against a person or property.

Question 29

What are the two types of torts?

Answer 29

Intentional torts and unintentional torts.

Question 30

What are four examples of intentional torts?

Answer 30

* Assault * Battery * Invasion of privacy * False imprisonment

Question 31

What constitutes assault in nursing?

Answer 31

Conduct that creates apprehension or fear of imminent harmful or offensive contact.

Question 32

What is battery in the context of nursing?

Answer 32

Any intentional physical contact with a person without that person’s consent.

Question 33

What is the nurse's fiduciary duty regarding patient information?

Answer 33

To keep confidential information private and only share on a need-to-know basis.

Question 34

What is false imprisonment in nursing practice?

Answer 34

Unlawfully restraining a patient against their will.

Question 35

What must be established for a nurse to be found liable for negligence?

Answer 35

* The nurse owed a duty of care to the patient * The nurse did not carry out that duty * The patient was injured * The nurse’s failure caused the injury

Question 36

What is required for consent to be legally valid?

Answer 36

* Patient must have legal and mental capacity * Consent must be given voluntarily and without coercion

Question 37

What is informed consent?

Answer 37

A person's agreement to allow a medical action based on full disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and consequences of refusal.

Question 38

Who is legally responsible for obtaining informed consent?

Answer 38

The physician, not the nurse.

Question 39

What should nursing students know about their competencies?

Answer 39

They must know their own capabilities and not perform nursing actions unless competent.

Question 40

What issue may arise during nursing shortages?

Answer 40

Inadequate staffing.

Question 41

What should nurses do if staffing is inadequate?

Answer 41

Not walk out, as this could lead to charges of abandonment.

Question 42

What should nurses do if they are floated to a different unit?

Answer 42

Inform the nursing supervisor of any lack of experience and request orientation.

Question 43

What is the nurse's obligation regarding physicians' orders?

Answer 43

To follow orders unless they believe the orders are in error, violate policy, or could harm patients.

Question 44

What must a nurse do if harm to a patient is foreseeable from a prescriber's order?

Answer 44

Not proceed to perform the order.

Question 45

Fill in the blank: A signed consent form is required for all routine treatment, procedures such as _______.

Answer 45

[surgery]