Contemporary Issues in Nursing
Final Exam Questions
Course Introduction
This course explores current challenges and trends in the nursing profession, focusing on how social, ethical, legal, and technological developments shape healthcare delivery. Students will critically examine topics such as evidence-based practice, healthcare policy, patient advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural competence, and global health concerns. Emphasis is placed on understanding how contemporary issues impact clinical decision-making and the future roles of nurses, preparing students to navigate complex, real-world situations with professionalism and leadership.
Recommended Textbook
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing 4th Edition by Margaret A. Burkhardt
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20 Chapters
313 Verified Questions
313 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/1109
Page 2
Chapter 1: Social, Philosophical, and Other Historical Forces
Influencing the Development of Nursing
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16 Verified Questions
16 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following events that changed nursing occurred during the 20th century?
A) Women became more politically active.
B) The nursing profession gained acceptance as a legitimate force.
C) Nurses began to provide independent health care services.
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Q2) Empathy is a motive for:
A) meeting the needs of others.
B) moral reasoning and action.
C) becoming a nurse.
D) determining right from wrong.
Answer: B
Q3) The overarching belief system of a culture that deals with the culture's beliefs about the nature of the universe is termed:
A) cosmology.
B) religion.
C) values.
D) astrology.
Answer: A
Page 3
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Chapter 2: Ethical Theory
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Kantian maxim requiring that one treat others always as ends and never as a means is known as:
A) the categorical imperative.
B) the practical imperative.
C) deontology.
D) utilitarianism.
Answer: B
Q2) During a hurricane, there is no electricity in a hospital where floodwater is rapidly rising. An ICU nurse manually ventilates a patient with an ambu bag for 6 hours before she makes the difficult decision to leave her patient and help the solitary remaining nurse carry 12 newborns to safety. The nurse's decision is most clearly supported by which of the following?
A) Deontology
B) Virtue ethics
C) Rationalism
D) Utilitarianism
Answer: D
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Page 4
Chapter 3: Ethical Principles
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The act of speaking or pleading on another's behalf is the ethical principle of:
A) autonomy.
B) paternalism.
C) fidelity.
D) advocacy.
Answer: D
Q2) A nurse sees a patient quietly crying in her room. The nurse enters the room, sits in the chair facing the patient, and says, "Something seems to be troubling you." This exchange is an example of the practical application of which of the following ethical principles?
A) Beneficence
B) Autonomy
C) Veracity
D) Nonmaleficence
Answer: A
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5
Chapter 4: Values Clarification
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14 Verified Questions
14 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Tools that may assist a person to expand self-awareness include which of the following?
A) Journaling
B) Meditation
C) Therapy
D) Feedback
E) All of the above
Q2) Values that are implicit in expectations of an institution, but not in writing, are termed:
A) formal values.
B) covert values.
C) integral values.
D) overt values.
Q3) The valuing process includes which of the following? Select all that apply.
A) Promoting beliefs
B) Prizing beliefs
C) Choosing behaviors
D) Acting on beliefs
E) Cherishing behaviors
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Page 6
Chapter 5: Values Development
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16 Verified Questions
16 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Human values development is often referred to as:
A) moral development.
B) faith development.
C) ethical values.
D) formal operations development.
Q2) Which of the following statements are true regarding Gilligan's study of the psychosocial development of women? Select all that apply.
A) Progression through each of the three stages reflects greater depth in understanding the relationship of self and others.
B) Phase 3 focuses on the concern for survival.
C) Gilligan suggests a linear progression moving from one phase to the next.
D) Phase 2, focusing on good, includes a sense of goodness as self-sacrifice.
E) Gilligan's model is considered an ethic of care.
Q3) The moral imperative grounded in relationship with and responsibility for one another is called:
A) ethic of justice.
B) ethic of care.
C) faith development.
D) cognitive development.
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Page 7
Chapter 6: Ethics and Professional Nursing
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) ____ relates to the characteristic of having a high level of specialized skill and knowledge.
A) Profession
B) Expertise
C) Wisdom
D) Skill
Q2) A complex, organized occupation preceded by a long training program is a(n):
A) profession.
B) expert.
C) autonomy.
D) nurse.
Q3) Standards of nursing practice are developed within the profession to describe practice and establish the minimum level of safe practice. The purpose of standards of nursing practice can include:
A) helping to ensure that nurses are competent and safe to practice.
B) serving as a guide for nurses providing care.
C) determining whether the actions of nurses accused of malpractice are consistent with reasonable expectations.
D) all of the above.
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Page 8
Chapter 7: Ethical Decision Making
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) ____________ occurs when we sense that there is a moral problem but are not sure of the morally correct action.
A) Moral distress
B) Moral uncertainty
C) Moral dilemma
D) Practical dilemma
Q2) Which of the following is an example of a moral dilemma?
A) A nurse who is accustomed to working on the prenatal unit floats to the ER.
B) A nurse who has strong religious beliefs opposing abortion is assigned to assist with an elective abortion.
C) A terminally ill patient on life support suffers from severe, intractable pain.
D) A patient has a cardiopulmonary arrest when the suction apparatus fails.
Q3) Determining key participants is appropriate during which step of the moral decision-making process?
A) Data gathering
B) Problem articulation
C) Strategy exploration
D) Strategy implementation
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9
Chapter 8: Legal Issues
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26 Verified Questions
26 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Law that involves the operation of government agencies is:
A) common law.
B) administrative law.
C) constitutional law.
D) statutory/legislative law.
Q2) Formal laws written and enacted by federal, state, or local legislatures are known as:
A) statutory/legislative law.
B) constitutional law.
C) administrative law.
D) common law.
Q3) Serious crimes that carry significant fines and jail sentences refer to:
A) legislative laws.
B) felonies.
C) misdemeanors.
D) precedents.
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10
Chapter 9: Professional Relationship Issues
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has several positions including which of the following? Select all that apply.
A) It ensures people with disabilities are not excluded from job opportunities.
B) It allows the practice of requiring medical examinations before employment.
C) Prospective employers may ask questions about disabilities, past medical history, or previous workers' compensation claims.
D) Employers may question individuals about educational qualifications, experience, and their ability to perform the job safely with or without accommodations.
E) Upon request from disabled employees, employers must make necessary physical accommodations to the workplace.
Q2) When delegating patient care activities, the registered nurse has a responsibility to:
A) assess individual competency when assigning nursing care activities to other health care workers.
B) divide the activities fairly between health care workers.
C) teach subordinate health care workers proper techniques and procedures.
D) observe ancillary staff as they perform delegated activities.
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Chapter 10: Practice Issues Related to Technology
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The process of creating a cell or an entire organism that is identical in every way to another is called:
A) stem cell research
B) cloning
C) genetic screening
D) eugenics
Q2) Which of the following disciplines generally make up an ethics committee? Select all that apply.
A) Nursing
B) Medicine
C) Social work
D) Chaplains
E) Client's family
Q3) In assessing a patient's quality of life (QOL), the nurse needs to understand that QOL: A) is an objective measure of comfort and factors that make life worth living.
B) is only considered good if the patient feels fulfilled and can be independent.
C) generally means the same thing to most patients, families, and nurses.
D) includes subjective ideas about conditions of life and functional ability.
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Chapter 11: Practice Issues Related to Patient Self
Determination
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Having the freedom to make choices about issues that affect our own lives and to make decisions about personal goals is called:
A) paternalism.
B) informed consent.
C) autonomy.
D) competence.
Q2) Which of the following elements must be present when evaluating a patient's decision-making capacity? Select all that apply.
A) The ability to understand the information provided
B) The ability to communicate understanding
C) The ability to indicate personal choices and decisions
D) The ability to understand medical terminology
E) The ability to demonstrate values guiding the decision
Q3) What is the legal protection of a patient's right to personal autonomy?
A) Paternalism
B) Advanced directives
C) Informed consent
D) Competence
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Chapter 12: Scholarship Issues
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16 Verified Questions
16 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Of utmost importance in the ethical treatment of data are the integrity and honesty of the:
A) statistician.
B) participants.
C) researcher.
D) data collector.
Q2) Which of the following documents was developed to set forth principles for the ethical conduct of research in response to human rights violations during World War II?
A) Belmont Report
B) ANA Code of Ethics
C) Nuremberg Code
D) Declaration of Helsinki
Q3) The process of obtaining consent from children ages 7 to 18 years old is called:
A) full disclosure.
B) assent.
C) right to treatment.
D) trustworthiness.
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Page 14
Chapter 13: Global Consciousness in the Twenty First Century
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) When doing triage in a disaster situation, leaving a person whose injuries are beyond treatment with the available resources to attend to someone whose injuries, though serious, can be cared for with resources available is considered:
A) unprofessional behavior.
B) abandonment of the person.
C) inappropriate nursing care.
D) ethically appropriate.
Q2) The International Council of Nurses (ICN) suggests a number of action areas for nursing involvement with issues of displaced persons. These actions areas may include which of the following? Select all that apply.
A) Identifying nursing and health needs of displaced persons and mobilizing resources to address these needs
B) Assisting with emergency and resettlement programs
C) Planning for provision and evaluation of health services provided for displaced persons
D) Implementing educational programs for refugees
E) Assisting nurse refugees
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Chapter 14: Health Policy Issues
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which branch of government is involved in the operation of government agencies, such as state boards of nursing and medicine?
A) Judicial branch
B) Administrative branch
C) Executive branch
D) Legislative branch
Q2) Which of the following is a health policy issue of concern to the profession of nursing?
A) Abortion
B) Third-party reimbursement
C) Air pollution control
D) Gun control
E) All of the above
Q3) Issues that are created, affected, or regulated by any of the government branches are:
A) political issues
B) partisan issues
C) health policy issues
D) regulatory issues
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Page 16
Chapter 15: Economic Issues
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following ethical theories of justice are based upon the rule that it is good to maximize the greatest good for the greatest number of people?
A) Libertarian theories
B) Utilitarian theories
C) Deontological theories
D) Communitarian theories
Q2) The traditional health care system in the United States is:
A) managed care.
B) fee-for-service.
C) universal health insurance.
D) single payer systems.
Q3) In Canada, almost all people are insured against the cost of all hospital and physician expenses through a government health insurance program. This type of health care financing is commonly called:
A) fee for service.
B) managed care.
C) universal health insurance.
D) voluntary or private insurance.
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Chapter 16: Social Issues
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) An African American man returned to the emergency room for the fourth time in less than a week complaining of severe epigastric pain. Talk begins at the nurses' station regarding whether the patient should even receive treatment as it is his fault the pain is back; they claim he has GERD but never filled the prescription given to him. This behavior by the nurses is an example of what?
A) Racism
B) Language of violence
C) Victim blaming
D) Nonmaleficence
Q2) Giving preference for health care to those who have the ability to pay is an example of disregarding which ethical principle?
A) Nonmaleficence
B) Justice
C) Beneficence
D) Autonomy
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18
Chapter 17: Gender Issues
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21818
Sample Questions
Q1) In the Civil Rights Act of 1964, gender discrimination:
A) is addressed only in relation to race and ethnicity.
B) is allowed if gender is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business of enterprise.
C) is never allowed, even if gender is arguably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business of enterprise.
D) exempts labor and delivery rooms from gender discrimination law and upholds a hospital's ban on employing nurses who are men in these areas.
Q2) As recently as the mid-20th century, nursing students were taught to stand and offer the physician a seat and to accompany the physician on rounds, carrying patient charts. This practice is an example of which of the following?
A) Sexism
B) Paternalism
C) Nursism
D) Parentalism
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19
Chapter 18: Transcultural and Spiritual Issues
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) When addressing values such as autonomy, beneficence, and the right to self-determination with patients, nurses need to understand that:
A) all cultures consider these values to be very important in health decisions.
B) the cultural perspective of all people involved must be considered.
C) cultural sensitivity means the family must be included in the discussion.
D) these values are understood pretty much the same in most cultures.
Q2) Transcultural issues and conflicts are more likely to arise when nurses:
A) are aware of their own bias and judgments of others.
B) judge another's behavior by their own cultural values.
C) understand their own cultural beliefs and values.
D) avoid judging others based on preconceived ideas.
Q3) Self-awareness of one's own spiritual and cultural perspective is important so that nurses:
A) take care not to impose personal beliefs and values on patients.
B) can more consciously address culture and spirituality with patients.
C) are more aware of differences that may cause potential dilemmas.
D) All of the above.
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Page 20
Chapter 19: Empowerment for Nurses
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Sample Questions
Q1) Nursing empowerment that derives from the perspective of power with or power to:
A) is given to or delegated to the nurse.
B) is a directive process regarding change.
C) is more focused on outcome than process.
D) is based on mutual love and respect.
Q2) Ethical nursing conduct reflected in current nursing codes includes all of the following behaviors except:
A) following physician orders without question.
B) being alert for incompetent practice and care.
C) taking appropriate action to safeguard patients.
D) reporting practice that might endanger patients.
Q3) Factors in our internal and external environments affect both personal and professional decision making. External environment factors include which of the following? Select all that apply.
A) Ideals
B) Mind-set
C) Expectations of patients
D) Professional systems we interact with
E) Personal beliefs
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Page 21
Chapter 20: Facilitating Patient Enpowerment
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15 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) Nurses foster patient empowerment when they:
A) design and set appropriate health goals for patients.
B) guide patients in selecting appropriate health options.
C) design strategies within the patient's sociocultural context.
D) tell patients what they believe would be most empowering.
Q2) Barriers to empowerment can include which of the following? Select all that apply.
A) Patients sufficient knowledge of resources
B) Paternalistic attitudes
C) Anxiety and fear
D) Willingness of the nurse to share decision-making power
E) Dependency
F) Mistrust
Q3) Individuals who believe that they are able to influence or control things that happen to them are considered to have a/an:
A) negative locus of control.
B) external locus of control.
C) internal locus of control.
D) positive locus of control.
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