Ethical Considerations Flashcards

Which scenario BEST represents a conflict of interest for a vascular access nurse?

Answer: Recommending a specific device brand from a company that provides the nurse with gifts

Accepting gifts from vendors while recommending their products represents a conflict of interest that compromises professional integrity.

A patient from a non-English-speaking background requires a PICC insertion. The nurse cannot find an interpreter and a family member offers to translate. The BEST ethical approach is to:

Answer: Delay the procedure until a qualified medical interpreter is available

Using a qualified medical interpreter ensures accurate communication and protects patient autonomy and informed consent validity.

The ethical concept of 'double effect' is MOST relevant in vascular access when:

Answer: Placing a catheter for pain medication may hasten death in a palliative patient

The doctrine of double effect addresses situations where an action intended to produce a good effect may also foreseeably cause harm.

A nurse is pressured by a supervisor to insert an IV in a patient who has clearly refused the procedure. The nurse's BEST course of action is to:

Answer: Refuse to perform the procedure and report the situation through appropriate channels

Nurses have a professional and ethical duty to refuse participation in procedures that violate patient rights, regardless of institutional pressure.

Which action BEST demonstrates the ethical principle of veracity in vascular access nursing?

Answer: Accurately informing the patient of all known risks, benefits, and alternatives before the procedure

Veracity requires truthfulness, meaning the nurse must fully and honestly disclose procedure-related information to the patient.

When a nurse disagrees with a physician's vascular access plan on clinical grounds, the ethical and professional obligation is to:

Answer: Raise the concern using respectful professional communication and document it

Professional advocacy requires the nurse to communicate clinical concerns through appropriate channels while maintaining respect and documentation.

A pediatric patient undergoing a vascular access procedure is old enough to express fear and reluctance. Ethically, the nurse should:

Answer: Acknowledge the child's feelings, provide age-appropriate explanation, and seek assent when possible

While parental consent is legally required for minors, seeking the child's assent and providing developmentally appropriate explanation respects the child's developing autonomy.