NCLEX-RN 4 Flashcards
6 cards from real NCLEX practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 NCLEX-RN 4 flashcards as text
A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs, even though the physician has determined it is medically necessary. Which ethical principle BEST supports the nurse's obligation to honor the patient's decision?
Answer: Autonomy
Autonomy recognizes the patient's right to make informed decisions about their own care, even when those decisions conflict with medical recommendations. The nurse's role is to ensure the patient is fully informed and then respect their choice.
When a nurse witnesses a colleague administering the wrong medication dose but chooses not to report it to avoid conflict, this behavior MOST directly violates which professional obligation?
Answer: The duty to advocate for patient safety
Nurses have a professional and ethical duty to advocate for patient safety. Failing to report a medication error, regardless of interpersonal concerns, directly compromises patient welfare and violates this core nursing obligation.
A patient with terminal cancer asks the nurse not to tell his family about his prognosis. Which action by the nurse BEST upholds the patient's rights?
Answer: Honor the patient's request and maintain confidentiality
Competent adult patients have the right to confidentiality regarding their own health information. Unless disclosure is legally required or the patient poses a danger to others, the nurse must honor the patient's explicit request.
Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'veracity' as it applies to nursing practice?
Answer: Being truthful and honest with patients about their care and condition
Veracity is the ethical principle of truthfulness. In nursing, it means providing patients with accurate, complete information about their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis so they can make informed decisions.
A nurse manager observes that one staff nurse consistently receives the highest patient satisfaction scores while another consistently receives the lowest. From a justice perspective, the manager should FIRST:
Answer: Assess whether both nurses have equal access to resources and support
Justice requires fair and equitable treatment. Before drawing conclusions about performance, the manager must determine whether systemic inequities — such as unequal access to training, staffing support, or patient assignments — are contributing to the disparity.
Which of the following situations BEST represents a conflict between the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence?
Answer: A nurse administers a high-dose opioid to relieve a dying patient's pain, knowing it may hasten death
This scenario illustrates the double effect — the nurse intends to do good (relieve suffering) but the action may also cause harm (hastening death). This tension between beneficence (doing good) and nonmaleficence (avoiding harm) is a classic ethical conflict in end-of-life care.