Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real NEXT 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 Standards and Ethics flashcards as text
A newly licensed nurse feels pressured by a supervisor to perform a procedure they have not been trained to perform. The appropriate response is to:
Answer: Decline and explain that performing the procedure is outside their current competence
Nurses must practice within their scope of competence and refuse assignments beyond their training to protect patient safety.
Which document serves as the primary guide for nursing professional conduct and ethical obligations in the United States?
Answer: The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses
The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses provides the ethical framework and professional standards for nursing practice.
A nurse witnesses a physician making a derogatory comment about a patient based on their race. The nurse's best course of action is to:
Answer: Address the behavior and report it through the appropriate chain of command
Nurses are ethically obligated to advocate for respectful, non-discriminatory care and report unprofessional conduct.
What is the ethical term for a patient's right to make informed decisions about their own healthcare?
Answer: Autonomy
Autonomy is the ethical principle recognizing each patient's right to make decisions about their own care based on their values and beliefs.
A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who expresses a wish to discontinue all life-sustaining treatment. The nurse should first:
Answer: Ensure the patient's wishes are communicated to the healthcare team and documented
The nurse must communicate and document the patient's wishes to ensure the entire healthcare team is informed and can act accordingly.
Mandatory reporting laws require nurses to report which of the following?
Answer: Suspected cases of child abuse or neglect
Nurses are mandated reporters and must report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate child protective services.
A nurse who participates in professional development activities and continuing education is demonstrating which standard of professional practice?
Answer: Lifelong learning and professional growth
Maintaining competence through continuing education reflects the professional standard of lifelong learning and commitment to quality care.
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