CHPN Ethical & Legal Issues in End-of-Life Care 3

Question 1

A hospice patient who appeared to have decision-making capacity now seems confused after a medication change. What is the nurse's priority action?

Accepted Answer

Reassess decision-making capacity before acting on new decisions

Answer

Capacity can fluctuate; the nurse must reassess capacity before determining who directs care decisions, as capacity is decision- and time-specific.

Question 2

Double effect is an ethical principle commonly applied in hospice when:

Accepted Answer

Opioids given for pain may hasten death as a foreseeable but unintended effect

Answer

Double effect justifies an action with a good primary intent (pain relief) even if a foreseeable secondary harm (possible earlier death) may occur.

Question 3

A family member tells the nurse she wants to be listed as the patient's healthcare proxy, but the patient designated a friend in writing. The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Honor the patient's written designation

Answer

The patient's documented designation of a healthcare proxy is legally binding and takes precedence over family preferences.

Question 4

Which behavior by a hospice nurse MOST clearly represents a breach of the ethical principle of veracity?

Accepted Answer

Telling a patient their condition is stable when it is rapidly declining

Answer

Veracity (truthfulness) requires honest communication; deliberately giving false information about the patient's condition violates this principle.

Question 5

In hospice, 'voluntarily stopping eating and drinking' (VSED) is considered ethically:

Accepted Answer

A patient's autonomous right and legally permissible in all US states

Answer

VSED is widely recognized as a legal expression of a competent patient's right to refuse treatment, distinct from euthanasia or assisted suicide.

(CHPN) Hospice Certified Professional Practice Test

(CHPN) Hospice Certified Professional Practice Test

CHPN Ethical & Legal Issues in End-of-Life Care 3