Professional Ethics and Standards Flashcards

A post-anesthesia nurse discovers a colleague falsifying pain scores in patient documentation. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action?

Answer: Report the finding through the facility's established chain of command

Falsification of medical records is a serious ethical and legal violation that must be reported through the proper chain of command to protect patient safety.

Which principle of bioethics obligates a CPAN nurse to provide post-anesthesia care that promotes patient well-being and prevents harm?

Answer: Beneficence

Beneficence is the ethical principle that requires healthcare providers to act in the best interest of the patient and promote their well-being.

A PACU nurse is asked by a surgeon to discharge a patient whose pain is not adequately controlled to free up bed space. The nurse should:

Answer: Advocate for the patient and communicate clinical concerns to the surgeon and charge nurse

Patient advocacy is a core nursing responsibility; the nurse must communicate clinical concerns and advocate against premature discharge when safety criteria are not met.

ASPAN's Standards of PeriAnesthesia Nursing Practice serve primarily to:

Answer: Provide a framework for safe, evidence-based perianesthesia nursing care

ASPAN standards provide a professional framework for evidence-based, safe perianesthesia nursing practice and guide clinical decision-making.

A patient in the PACU is agitated and attempts to remove their IV. They lack decision-making capacity at this moment. Which ethical principle MOST supports using a soft restraint if less restrictive measures fail?

Answer: Non-maleficence

Non-maleficence ('do no harm') supports using the least restrictive restraint necessary to prevent the patient from harming themselves when they temporarily lack decision-making capacity.

A CPAN nurse receives a gift from a grateful patient's family after discharge. According to professional ethics, the nurse should:

Answer: Decline and explain the facility's policy on accepting gifts

Most professional nursing codes and facility policies prohibit or discourage accepting gifts to avoid conflicts of interest and maintain professional boundaries.

Which document primarily guides the scope of practice for a CPAN nurse at the state level?

Answer: The Nurse Practice Act of the nurse's state

The state Nurse Practice Act is the legal document that defines the scope of practice, responsibilities, and limitations for nurses within that state.