Next Professional Standards and Ethics 5

Question 1

A nurse is asked to witness a patient signing an informed consent form but realizes the patient does not understand the procedure. The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Refuse to witness the signature and notify the physician that the patient lacks understanding

Answer

Witnessing informed consent requires that the patient genuinely understands the procedure; the nurse must notify the physician if true informed consent has not been achieved.

Question 2

A nurse is experiencing compassion fatigue that is affecting their ability to provide safe care. The ethical course of action is to:

Accepted Answer

Seek support and report their impaired state to a supervisor

Answer

Nurses have an ethical obligation to maintain their own wellbeing and report when their ability to provide safe care is compromised.

Question 3

When two ethical principles conflict — such as patient autonomy versus beneficence — the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Use ethical frameworks and consult the ethics committee to reach a balanced decision

Answer

Ethical dilemmas require using structured frameworks, consultation, and collaborative decision-making rather than automatically prioritizing one principle.

Question 4

Which behavior best demonstrates a nurse's professional accountability?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledging errors, reporting them, and participating in corrective action

Answer

Accountability means accepting responsibility for one's actions, including errors, and actively participating in quality improvement.

Question 5

A patient with dementia is no longer able to make decisions. Who has the legal authority to make healthcare decisions on their behalf?

Accepted Answer

The legally designated healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare

Answer

A legally designated healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare has the authority to make medical decisions for an incapacitated patient.

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(Next) National Exit Test Practice Test

Next Professional Standards and Ethics 5