CANS Professional Ethics & Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An aesthetic nurse is asked to perform a procedure they have not been trained to perform. The most appropriate action is to:
- Attempt the procedure using general nursing knowledge
- Decline and refer the patient to a qualified provider (Correct answer)
- Ask a colleague to supervise while attempting the procedure
- Perform the procedure and document it as an experimental treatment
Correct answer: Decline and refer the patient to a qualified provider
Performing procedures outside one's competency violates the standard of care and exposes patients to unnecessary risk.
Question 2: Which body primarily governs the scope of practice for aesthetic nurses in the United States?
- The American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- The State Board of Nursing where the nurse is licensed (Correct answer)
- The Food and Drug Administration
- The American Nurses Association national office
Correct answer: The State Board of Nursing where the nurse is licensed
State Boards of Nursing define and regulate the legal scope of practice for nurses within their respective jurisdictions.
Question 3: A patient with a history of body dysmorphic disorder requests multiple aggressive cosmetic procedures. Ethically, the nurse should first:
- Proceed with all requested procedures to avoid discrimination
- Perform the least invasive procedure requested only
- Refer the patient for psychological evaluation before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Document the history and perform procedures with extra caution
Correct answer: Refer the patient for psychological evaluation before proceeding
Body dysmorphic disorder can impair a patient's ability to make truly informed decisions; psychological evaluation protects patient welfare and aligns with non-maleficence.
Question 4: When documenting an adverse event after a cosmetic injection, the aesthetic nurse should:
- Document only after consulting with legal counsel
- Record the event accurately, completely, and promptly in the medical record (Correct answer)
- Note the adverse event in a separate log not accessible to the patient
- Minimize the documentation to reduce liability exposure
Correct answer: Record the event accurately, completely, and promptly in the medical record
Accurate and prompt documentation of adverse events is both a legal and ethical obligation that ensures continuity of care and accountability.
Question 5: The term 'dual relationship' in aesthetic nursing ethics refers to:
- A nurse who holds two licenses simultaneously
- A situation where the nurse has both a professional and personal relationship with a patient (Correct answer)
- Performing two procedures in a single patient encounter
- Working for two competing aesthetic practices at the same time
Correct answer: A situation where the nurse has both a professional and personal relationship with a patient
Dual relationships occur when a professional relationship overlaps with a personal one, creating potential conflicts of interest that can compromise objectivity.
Question 6: A patient declines to provide their full medical history before a procedure. The aesthetic nurse should:
- Proceed with the procedure using the available information
- Refuse to proceed until a complete health history is obtained (Correct answer)
- Document the refusal and proceed at the patient's own risk
- Ask only about allergies and proceed with the treatment
Correct answer: Refuse to proceed until a complete health history is obtained
A complete health history is essential for safe practice; proceeding without it could expose the patient to unidentified contraindications or adverse interactions.
Question 7: Which of the following best defines 'nonmaleficence' in the context of aesthetic nursing?
- The obligation to promote patient well-being
- The duty to do no harm to the patient (Correct answer)
- The responsibility to distribute care equitably
- The commitment to truthful communication with patients
Correct answer: The duty to do no harm to the patient
Nonmaleficence is the fundamental bioethical principle that obligates healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to patients.
CANS Professional Ethics & Standards 3
An aesthetic nurse is asked to perform a procedure they have not been trained to perform.
The most appropriate action is to: