Philosophy and Ethics in Nursing Practice
Exam Solutions
Course Introduction
This course explores the foundational philosophical concepts and ethical frameworks that guide nursing practice. Students will examine major theories in moral philosophy and how these perspectives inform ethical decision-making in healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on understanding professional values, bioethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, and the practical application of these ideals in patient care. Through case studies and reflective analysis, learners will develop skills to address complex ethical dilemmas, uphold ethical standards, and demonstrate integrity and compassion as nursing professionals.
Recommended Textbook
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing 2nd Canadian Edition by Margaret A. Burkhardt
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19 Chapters
286 Verified Questions
286 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/1101 Page 2
Chapter 1: Social, Philosophical, and Other Historical Forces
Influencing the Development of Nursing
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16 Verified Questions
16 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21674
Sample Questions
Q1) Why do professions exist?
A) to meet the needs of employers
B) to meet the needs of individuals
C) to meet the needs of society
D) to meet the needs of families
Answer: C
Q2) What is the term that relates to knowledge gained through observation and experience?
A) empirical
B) Cartesian philosophy
C) values
D) moral thought
Answer: A
Q3) What historical influences affected nursing as a moral discipline?
A) technology
B) society
C) spirituality
D) oppression
Answer: C
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Chapter 2: Ethical Theory
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16 Verified Questions
16 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Scenario: In a clinic where there is only one functioning haemodialysis machine, there are two patients waiting for dialysis. One patient is a female, married, with four children; the other is a male, unmarried, and a homeless alcoholic. The nurse decides that the female is the right choice. Which of the following most clearly supports the nurse's decision?
A) deontology
B) virtue ethics
C) rationalism
D) utilitarianism
Answer: D
Q2) What is the Kantian maxim requiring that one treat others always as ends and never as a means?
A) the categorical imperative
B) the practical imperative
C) deontology
D) utilitarianism
Answer: B
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Chapter 3: Ethical Principles
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What does the principle of beneficence require the nurse to do?
A) to separate personal from professional life
B) to prevent harm or evil and do good
C) to make moral decisions that are motivated by what will benefit the patient
D) to morally regulate the conduct of others
Answer: B
Q2) What does the CNA Code of Ethics recognize about confidentiality?
A) It develops from respect for patients and is an absolute requirement in all situations.
B) It is restricted to legal regulations and definitions.
C) It is not absolute and may be modified to protect the patient or other innocent people.
D) It enables preservation of dignity for patients in intimate and private situations.
Answer: C
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5
Chapter 4: Values Clarification
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is an institution's mission statement a reflection of?
A) overt values
B) formal values
C) covert values
D) integral values
Q2) What is the correct term for the attribute of maintaining and articulating consistent values and beliefs over time?
A) personal values
B) authenticity
C) moral thought
D) implicit values
Q3) What is the correct terminology for the process of becoming more conscious of and expressing what we value or consider worthy?
A) journalling
B) values clarification
C) overt values
D) values conflict
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Page 6
Chapter 5: Values Development
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14 Verified Questions
14 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is another term that can be used interchangeably with "human values development"?
A) moral development
B) faith development
C) ethical values
D) formal operations development
Q2) What is the term for the moral imperative being grounded in relationship with and responsibility for one another?
A) ethic of justice
B) ethic of care
C) faith development
D) cognitive development
Q3) Which level of Thomas's moral response is "Blind following of standards set by somebody else" an example of?
A) expressive level
B) pre-reflective level
C) self-reflective level
D) reflective level
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Chapter 6: Ethical Decision Making
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Michael, an ICU nurse, worked with the team as they followed the physician's order to discontinue life support on a patient diagnosed with persistent vegetative state. Michael believes that life is sacred and that he has a duty to do whatever it takes to preserve life. Nevertheless, he remained silent as the decision was made, and he assisted his coworkers when they unplugged the respirator. In this situation, what is Michael likely to experience?
A) moral uncertainty
B) moral distress
C) moral outrage
D) moral perplexity
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.
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Chapter 7: Legal Issues
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26 Verified Questions
26 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21680
Sample Questions
Q1) How can a nurse reduce the risk of malpractice litigation?
A) by keeping up to date with knowledge and skills, and seeking attention for patients with changing health status
B) by involving patients in decision making, documenting objectively, and avoiding physicians
C) by keeping up to date with current knowledge, seeking physician attention for patients with changing health status, and challenging the patient
D) by keeping up to date with current and outmoded knowledge, and providing patients with challenges
Q2) Which of the following would apply to a nurse removing life support from a terminally ill patient without permission?
A) legislative law
B) indictable offence
C) misdemeanour
D) summary offence
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Chapter 8: Professional Issues
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14 Verified Questions
14 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21681
Sample Questions
Q1) According to the Canadian Nurses Association, which of the following is one of the four principles that must be included in any practice statement?
A) to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration
B) to conduct ongoing competency reviews
C) to review ethical implications for institutions that allow nurses to practice
D) to acknowledge that nursing is a diversified group of professionals
Q2) According to Degazon, what must be taken into account in the changing face of nursing?
A) gender
B) accountability
C) authority
D) competence
Q3) Which of the following traits did Flexner include in his list of criteria to identify professions?
A) They acknowledge other kinds of influences.
B) They are motivated by altruism.
C) They include ethical codes.
D) They describe a scope of practice.
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Chapter 9: Professional Relationship Issues
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13 Verified Questions
13 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21682
Sample Questions
Q1) A nurse attempts to perform a urinary catheterization on a patient who is unable to void. The novice nurse is nervous and is unable to accurately catheterize the client. An experienced nurse storms into the patient's room, grabs the catheter out of the nurse's hands and loudly proclaims, "What's wrong with you, haven't you ever done this before?!" What definition best exemplifies this situation?
A) moral integrity
B) poor leadership
C) self-discipline
D) eating their young
Q2) A staff nurse suspects that her friend, another nurse on her unit, is impaired by illicit drugs. The nurse does not want to get her friend in trouble, but she fears that patients may be harmed. What is this conflict of loyalties an example of?
A) a moral dilemma
B) a practical dilemma
C) moral uncertainty
D) moral distress
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Chapter 10: Practice Issues Related to End-Of-Life Care
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14 Verified Questions
14 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) According to the textbook, what does the term "medical futility" mean?
A) a physician alone defining overall treatment and the value of medically indicated care
B) causing painless death of the person in order to end suffering
C) treatment beneficial to both physical and overall well-being
D) treatment valued by the patient but not medically indicated
Q2) Regardless of technological development and scientific advances, what are the important considerations for nursing to relate to?
A) basing decisions on personal values
B) acknowledging the importance of advanced technology
C) being attentive to technology
D) maintaining the human focus of care
Q3) According to Taylor (1950), how might the subject of medical futility be approached?
A) whether the intervention is prolonging living or prolonging dying
B) as non-beneficial, with involvement of parties regarding what is benefit or burden
C) as treatment valued by the patient but not medically indicated
D) that only the perspective of the physician determines what is a futile measure
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Chapter 11: Practice Issues Related to Patient
Self-Determination
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21684
Sample Questions
Q1) A patient asks the surgeon what will be gained by having the procedure and the surgeon does not respond. Which patient right is being violated?
A) autonomy
B) justice
C) advance directives
D) informed consent
Q2) What does a nurse's advocacy role regarding a patient's advance directives (AD) include?
A) making sure that the patient is not resuscitated in a cardiac arrest situation
B) telling patients about changes in their condition so they can modify their AD
C) informing health team members about healthcare decisions when the patient cannot do so
D) informing health team members of the content of a patient's AD
Q3) What is the purpose of a patient completing a living will?
A) prolonging life or improving quality of life
B) identifying a proxy or substitute decision-maker
C) a medical determination relating only to the issue at hand
D) evaluating health care decisions and reducing choices
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Chapter 12: Scholarship Issues
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21685
Sample Questions
Q1) A nurse researcher decides to discontinue a research project because the findings indicate that the risks of the study outweigh the benefits. Which principle is the nurse researcher applying?
A) beneficence
B) justice
C) trustworthiness
D) confidentiality
Q2) Which document was developed to set forth principles for the ethical conduct of research in response to human rights violations during the Second World War?
A) World Humanities Research
B) CNA Code of Ethics
C) Nuremberg Code
D) Declaration of Helsinki
Q3) Which of the following characteristics may a nurse experience when participating in conducting research?
A) academic dishonesty
B) personal bias
C) misrepresentation
D) role conflict
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Page 14
Chapter 13: The Future of Canadian Health Care: Challenges
and Priorities
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10 Verified Questions
10 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following contribute to the challenge of providing health care for populations across the globe?
A) infant mortality and globalization
B) ecology and traditional healing systems
C) war and national crises
D) relationships and curative measures
Q2) The main goal of primary health care is health for all in a community, and the involvement of individuals and groups in communities. What is another key element of primary health care?
A) illness prevention
B) problem-based care
C) universal health care
D) intersectoral collaboration
Q3) Which of the following is an example of provincial or territorial responsibility for health care?
A) deciding upon the principles for health care
B) delivering direct health care services to veterans
C) providing health-related functions such as health protection programs
D) evaluating physician and hospital care
Page 15
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Chapter 14: Health Policy Issues
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14 Verified Questions
14 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21687
Sample Questions
Q1) What is the term for pieces of legislation that have been enacted by legislative bodies and approved by the government?
A) allocative policies
B) regulations
C) judicial decisions
D) statutes
Q2) Which of the following is NOT a method that a nurse should use when preparing to engage in political action?
A) understanding the processes and levels of government
B) writing many personal letters
C) bringing personal biases to the issue
D) enlisting interested and informed allies to the cause
Q3) Which of the following is an example of a federal regulatory act in Canada?
A) Assisted Human Reproductive Act
B) Future of Health Care Act
C) Canadian Policy Research Act
D) Canada Health Act
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Chapter 15: Economic Issues
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15 Verified Questions
15 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21688
Sample Questions
Q1) Three patients arrive at a health care facility in a remote northern area of Canada. All have serious injuries, but there is only enough room on a small plane for one patient. The nurse in charge of the facility asks; "Who needs access to specialties the most?" What does this scenario suggest?
A) The nurse is using a material rule of distributive justice to make the decision.
B) Decisions about how to distribute scarce medical resources are unpredictable.
C) The nurse should collaborate with the physician when this type of decision is made.
D) There are no rules regulating distribution of scarce medical resources in this facility.
Q2) In Canada, almost all people are insured against the cost of hospital and physician expenses through a government health insurance program. What is this type of health care financing commonly called?
A) fee for service
B) out-of-pocket expenses
C) universal health insurance
D) voluntary or private insurance
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Chapter 16: Social Issues
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14 Verified Questions
14 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following challenges is an important structural issue in health care?
A) abortion
B) research
C) pandemics
D) poverty
Q2) Which of the following social determinants is extremely important for nurses to consider in the holistic care of any patient?
A) healthy relationships
B) chronic medical conditions
C) unhealthy diet
D) level of education
Q3) Which ethical principle would lead to working with an abused woman to develop a strong sense of identity and to help her see various options?
A) non-maleficence
B) justice
C) beneficence
D) autonomy
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Page 18
Chapter 17: Issues of Gender and Culture
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17 Verified Questions
17 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Through informal dress and communications, what type of powerful messages may nurses be sending?
A) positive messages
B) negative messages
C) successful messages
D) friendly messages
Q2) Which of the following is a male patient making the statement that "nurses are well-bred, well-educated specimens of womanhood" an example of?
A) sexism
B) paternalism
C) nursism
D) parentalism
Q3) What is one factor that systematic discrimination against lesbians and gay men in nursing results from in health care institutions?
A) avoidance
B) societal stereotyping
C) punitive supervisors
D) controversy
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19
Chapter 18: Rural and Aboriginal Nursing in Canada
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12 Verified Questions
12 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/21691
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is a factor that impacts the health and well-being of Aboriginal persons?
A) social inclusion
B) civil war
C) population growth
D) physical environment
Q2) Which of the following best defines Aboriginal nursing?
A) nurses working in outpost settings and northern territories
B) nurses with specialized knowledge, affirmed by a faith community
C) Aboriginal persons who work as nurses
D) nurses who work in Aboriginal communities
Q3) What type of nursing education may help nurses in rural and remote areas to access continuing and graduate education?
A) university continuing education
B) college continuing education
C) modular courses
D) co-operative programs
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Page 20
Chapter 19: Empowerment for Nurses
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16 Verified Questions
16 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What descriptive term do nurse scholars use when discussing people who are empowered?
A) rigid
B) disobedient
C) assertive
D) aggressive
Q2) How is nursing empowerment derived from the perspective of power with or power to?
A) It is given to or delegated to the nurse.
B) It is a directive process regarding change.
C) It is more focused on outcome than process.
D) It is based on mutual love and respect.
Q3) Which of the following does the process of motivating and empowering individuals and groups require?
A) positive self-esteem
B) protectionism
C) attitude of superiority
D) obligations of beneficence
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