Ethics and Communication Flashcards
7 cards from real ACCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics and Communication flashcards as text
A patient with a terminal diagnosis asks the nurse, 'Am I going to die?' The MOST therapeutically appropriate response is:
Answer: 'What do you understand about your illness right now?'
Assessing the patient's current understanding before responding allows the nurse to tailor communication to the patient's readiness and knowledge.
Which scenario BEST illustrates a conflict between the ethical principles of autonomy and beneficence in the ICU?
Answer: A patient refusing a treatment the team believes would benefit them
When a patient refuses a beneficial treatment, the clinician's duty to promote well-being (beneficence) conflicts with respecting the patient's right to choose (autonomy).
Which communication strategy is MOST effective when delivering a sudden unexpected death notification to a family in the ICU waiting room?
Answer: Bring the family to a private room, sit down, and speak in person using clear, direct language
In-person notification in a private setting with a seated, compassionate approach is the gold standard for death notification.
An ICU patient repeatedly expresses to the nurse a wish to die and asks the nurse to help end his life. The MOST appropriate nursing action is to:
Answer: Acknowledge the patient's suffering, assess for treatable causes, and notify the care team
Requests for hastened death often reflect unaddressed suffering; exploring underlying causes and involving the multidisciplinary team is the evidence-based response.
Which approach BEST supports the ethical principle of justice in critical care resource allocation during a surge situation?
Answer: Using transparent, consistent, clinically-based triage criteria applied equally to all patients
Justice in resource allocation requires fair, consistent, transparent criteria that apply equally regardless of patient demographics or social status.
A critically ill patient's adult child, who is not the designated healthcare proxy, demands that the nurse share all clinical details and participate in all care decisions. What is the appropriate response?
Answer: Explain the role of the designated healthcare proxy and limit decision-making to that individual
Only the legally designated healthcare proxy has decision-making authority; other family members may receive information the patient has authorized but cannot override the proxy.
After a prolonged ICU stay with poor outcomes, a patient's family requests withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. Which action should the nurse take FIRST?
Answer: Verify the family member has appropriate decision-making authority and clarify goals of care
Confirming surrogate authority and understanding the goals of care ensures the withdrawal process is ethically sound and legally appropriate before any intervention is discontinued.