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Category: Nursing Ethics

A nurse working in a busy clinic frequently sees patients who cannot afford necessary medications or treatments. The nurse often provides free samples or directs patients to charity programs, sometimes bending rules or using their own resources. While well-intentioned, this practice could be seen as blurring professional boundaries or misusing resources. Which ethical concept is the nurse primarily demonstrating, even if potentially misguided?

  • Autonomy
  • Veracity
  • Beneficence
  • Fidelity

A nurse discovers that a patient’s medical records contain outdated or inaccurate information that could potentially lead to inappropriate care or harm. The nurse has attempted to have the information corrected through official channels, but the process is slow and bureaucratic. What is the nurse’s immediate ethical responsibility?

  • Administer care based on the outdated information.
  • Document a note in the chart about the inaccuracy and proceed with care based on current assessment.
  • Refuse to provide care until the chart is fully corrected.
  • Inform the patient about the inaccuracies and let them resolve it.

A nurse discovers that a colleague is accessing patient records without a legitimate reason, simply to gossip about their conditions. The nurse confronts the colleague, who denies it and becomes defensive. What is the nurse’s ethical obligation?

  • Accept the denial and drop the issue.
  • Inform the patient whose record was accessed.
  • Report the suspected unauthorized access to patient records to the appropriate hospital authority.
  • Warn the colleague that they will be watched.

A nurse is present when a patient, clearly experiencing cognitive impairment, signs a consent form for a major surgical procedure. The nurse observes that the patient appears confused and is simply nodding along without fully grasping the explanation. What is the nurse’s ethical duty in this moment?

  • Allow the signing to proceed, assuming the physician has assessed capacity.
  • Obtain a second signature from a family member.
  • Stop the signing process and inform the physician that the patient's capacity for informed consent appears compromised.
  • Document that the patient signed the form.

A nurse is caring for a patient whose religious beliefs prohibit certain medical interventions, such as blood transfusions. The patient is a competent adult and has clearly communicated these wishes. The nurse disagrees with these beliefs and feels the interventions would save the patient’s life. What is the nurse’s ethical responsibility?

  • Attempt to convince the patient to change their mind.
  • Respect the patient's autonomy and religious freedom by upholding their decision.
  • Seek legal counsel to override the patient's decision.
  • Prioritize medical necessity over religious belief.

A nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who is experiencing severe pain. The patient has repeatedly expressed a desire to discontinue all life-sustaining treatments, including pain medication, citing a wish for a peaceful, natural end. The patient’s family, however, insists that all measures, including aggressive pain management, be continued, believing it is their duty to prolong life. Which ethical principle is most directly challenged in this situation?

  • Beneficence
  • Non-maleficence
  • Autonomy
  • Justice

A new graduate nurse is assigned to a complex patient case and feels overwhelmed. During a shift, they realize they made a medication error but quickly corrected it before it reached the patient. The patient suffered no harm. The nurse is now debating whether to report the error to their charge nurse, fearing disciplinary action and damage to their new career. Which ethical concept is primarily at play in the nurse’s dilemma regarding disclosure?

  • Confidentiality
  • Fidelity
  • Accountability
  • Veracity

A nurse is part of a healthcare team discussing an elderly patient with severe dementia. The patient lacks capacity to make medical decisions. The family is divided on whether to pursue aggressive treatment for a new acute illness or opt for palliative care. The team’s physician is leaning towards aggressive treatment, citing the possibility of improvement, while some nurses advocate for palliative care based on the patient’s long-term quality of life. Which ethical dilemma is most prominent here?

  • Resource allocation
  • Surrogate decision-making and best interest
  • Professional boundary violation
  • Informed consent for research

A nurse is attending a community health fair and is approached by a former patient who asks for specific details about another patient they both know, who recently underwent a highly publicized surgery. The former patient assures the nurse they won’t share the information with anyone else. What is the nurse’s immediate ethical responsibility in this situation?

  • Provide general information without specifics
  • Inform the former patient that they cannot disclose any patient information due to privacy regulations and ethical codes.
  • Verify if the patient has given consent for information sharing.
  • Refer the former patient to the hospital's public relations department.

A nurse discovers that a colleague is consistently coming to work late, appears drowsy, and has made several minor errors in patient care, such as charting inaccuracies and delayed medication administration. The nurse suspects substance abuse but has no direct proof. The nurse is concerned about patient safety but also fears alienating their colleague. Which ethical duty takes precedence for the nurse?

  • Advocating for patient safety.
  • Maintaining collegial relationships.
  • Protecting the colleague's reputation.
  • Avoiding confrontation.

A physician orders a blood transfusion for a patient who is a Jehovah’s Witness. The patient, who is conscious and competent, explicitly refuses the transfusion based on their religious beliefs, even after understanding the life-threatening consequences of refusal. The nurse’s personal belief is that life should be preserved at all costs. What is the nurse’s ethical obligation in this situation?

  • Persuade the patient to accept the transfusion for survival.
  • Administer the transfusion as ordered by the physician in an emergency.
  • Respect the patient's autonomous decision, even if it conflicts with the nurse's personal values.
  • Seek a court order to override the patient's refusal.

A patient’s family member insists on being present during a highly technical and sensitive procedure, stating they have the right to monitor the care being provided. The nurse believes their presence could compromise patient safety and distract the healthcare team, especially during a critical moment. What is the most appropriate ethical action for the nurse?

  • Allow the family member to stay but warn them not to interfere.
  • Request the family member to wait outside, explaining the reasons for safety and privacy.
  • Proceed with the procedure without informing the family member.
  • Document the family's request and proceed with the procedure, ignoring their presence.

A nurse observes that a physician is consistently rude and dismissive towards nursing staff, undermining their professional judgment in front of patients and other colleagues. This behavior is impacting team morale and potentially patient care outcomes. The nurse feels uncomfortable confronting the physician directly. What is the most ethical course of action?

  • Ignore the behavior to avoid conflict.
  • Discuss the issue only with other nursing colleagues.
  • Document specific instances and report the behavior through the appropriate channels (e.g., charge nurse, nursing supervisor, or ethics committee).
  • Confront the physician privately but immediately.

A nurse is caring for a patient who has been diagnosed with a highly stigmatized infectious disease. The patient requests that this diagnosis not be disclosed to their family members, even though it could impact the family’s health. The nurse is torn between respecting the patient’s confidentiality and protecting the family’s health. Which ethical principle is primarily in conflict with confidentiality in this situation?

  • Beneficence
  • Non-maleficence
  • Autonomy
  • Justice

A nurse working in an emergency department receives an unconscious patient who is a known organ donor. The patient has suffered irreversible brain damage, and the medical team determines there is no hope of recovery. The patient’s family is strongly against organ donation, despite the patient’s clear wishes documented in an advance directive. What is the nurse’s ethical priority?

  • Persuade the family to honor the patient's wishes.
  • Respect the family's immediate decision regarding donation.
  • Prioritize the patient's previously expressed autonomous decision (advance directive).
  • Delay the decision to allow more time for family grief.

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