Professional Accountability and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real CNOR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Accountability and Ethics flashcards as text
Which organization sets the primary scope and standards of perioperative nursing practice in the United States?
Answer: AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses)
AORN establishes the guidelines, standards, and recommended practices specific to perioperative nursing practice.
A patient's family member demands to know details of the surgery performed on the patient. The nurse's BEST response is to:
Answer: Share only what the patient has authorized to be disclosed
HIPAA requires that patient health information only be shared with individuals the patient has authorized to receive it.
In the context of the CNOR exam, 'professional boundaries' PRIMARILY refer to:
Answer: Limits that define appropriate nurse-patient relationships and interactions
Professional boundaries define the therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient, preventing exploitation or inappropriate personal involvement.
A perioperative nurse discovers that a sponge count is incorrect before wound closure. The surgeon wants to close anyway, stating it is 'probably a count error.' The nurse should:
Answer: Perform an X-ray and refuse to close until the discrepancy is resolved
An unresolved incorrect count mandates radiographic investigation before closure to protect the patient from a retained surgical item.
The concept of 'moral distress' in perioperative nursing occurs when a nurse:
Answer: Knows the right action but is prevented from taking it by institutional constraints
Moral distress arises when ethical constraints prevent the nurse from acting on their moral judgment, leading to psychological distress.
Which element is ESSENTIAL for a valid surgical informed consent?
Answer: The patient must be informed of alternatives, risks, benefits, and the right to refuse
Valid informed consent requires disclosure of the procedure, its risks, benefits, alternatives, and the patient's right to refuse or withdraw consent.
A nurse notes a colleague is impaired during a surgical procedure. The PRIORITY action is to:
Answer: Immediately notify the charge nurse or supervisor and ensure patient safety
Impairment in the OR poses an immediate threat to patient safety requiring immediate supervisory notification and removal of the impaired provider.