Professional Ethics and Standards Flashcards

A PACU nurse is aware that a colleague is diverting opioids from the medication dispensing cabinet. The nurse's ethical and legal obligation is to:

Answer: Report the suspected diversion to the charge nurse and appropriate authority immediately

Drug diversion is illegal and a serious patient safety threat; nurses are legally and ethically obligated to report suspected diversion immediately through the chain of command.

The principle of 'veracity' as applied to PACU nursing practice means:

Answer: Being truthful with patients about their condition and care

Veracity is the ethical obligation to be truthful and honest with patients, which is foundational to trust and informed decision-making in the nurse-patient relationship.

A CPAN nurse disagrees with a discharge order but all clinical criteria are met. After voicing concerns to the surgeon, the most appropriate next step if still concerned is to:

Answer: Document the concern thoroughly and escalate to the charge nurse or patient safety officer

When clinical concerns persist after initial advocacy, escalation through the chain of command and thorough documentation ensures patient safety and professional accountability.

According to ASPAN standards, the recommended nurse-to-patient ratio in Phase I PACU for a patient just emerging from general anesthesia is:

Answer: 1:1

ASPAN recommends a 1:1 nurse-to-patient ratio in Phase I PACU for patients emerging from general anesthesia due to the intensity of monitoring required during this critical period.

A PACU nurse receives a social media request from a former patient to connect and share post-operative tips. The most ethical response is to:

Answer: Decline and explain that professional boundaries prohibit personal social media relationships with patients

Professional boundaries extend beyond the clinical setting; nurses should not engage in personal social media relationships with patients or former patients as it can blur professional boundaries.

Which action by a PACU nurse BEST supports a culture of safety within the unit?

Answer: Participating in root cause analysis and quality improvement following adverse events

A culture of safety is built on open reporting of all adverse events and near-misses and actively participating in root cause analysis to prevent future occurrences.

A patient in the PACU is alert and oriented and refuses a blood transfusion on religious grounds, despite being anemic. The nurse should:

Answer: Respect the refusal, document it, notify the physician, and ensure the patient understands the risks

A competent adult patient has the absolute right to refuse any treatment, including life-sustaining treatment; the nurse must respect this decision, document it, and notify the provider.