Professional Caring & Ethics Flashcards

A nurse notices that a colleague is documenting vital signs without actually taking them. What is the most appropriate first step?

Answer: Report the behavior to the nurse manager

Falsifying documentation is a serious breach of professional ethics and patient safety. The most appropriate first step is to report the behavior to the nurse manager, who has the authority and responsibility to address such misconduct. This ensures patient safety is maintained and professional standards are upheld, without directly confronting the colleague in a potentially unprofessional manner.

What principle of ethical practice is demonstrated by respecting a patient’s right to refuse treatment?

Answer: Autonomy

Autonomy is the ethical principle that respects an individual's right to make their own decisions about their healthcare, free from coercion. Allowing a patient to refuse treatment, even if it goes against medical advice, upholds their right to self-determination and their personal values. This principle is fundamental to patient-centered care.

Which action by the nurse demonstrates advocacy for a critically ill patient?

Answer: Communicating the patient’s wishes to the care team

Patient advocacy involves speaking up for the patient, ensuring their rights are respected, and their needs and wishes are communicated effectively to the healthcare team. This empowers the patient, especially when they are critically ill and may not be able to advocate for themselves. Administering medications or reassuring family are important but do not solely define advocacy.

A nurse assigned to care for a former romantic partner should:

Answer: Request reassignment to avoid potential conflict

To maintain professional boundaries, avoid potential conflicts of interest, and ensure objective care, a nurse should request reassignment if a patient is a former romantic partner. This protects both the patient's privacy and the nurse's professional integrity, preventing any emotional or personal biases from affecting care. Continuing care could compromise the therapeutic relationship.

A nurse forgets to document a dose of medication but gave it. What is the appropriate action?

Answer: Chart a late entry with the correct time and explanation

If a medication was given but not documented, the nurse must make a late entry in the patient's chart. This entry should accurately reflect the time the medication was administered and include an concise explanation for the delay in documentation. This ensures the medical record is accurate and complete, reflecting the actual care provided and maintaining legal integrity.

Which ethical principle involves doing no harm to the patient?

Answer: Nonmaleficence

Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that means "do no harm." In nursing, this involves avoiding actions that could intentionally or unintentionally cause harm to a patient. It is a fundamental principle guiding all healthcare interventions and decisions, ensuring patient safety is prioritized.

Confidentiality is best maintained in the progressive care setting by:

Answer: Speaking quietly during handoff at the nurses' station

Maintaining patient confidentiality is paramount in healthcare. Speaking quietly during handoff reports at the nurses' station minimizes the risk of unauthorized individuals overhearing sensitive patient information. Discussing cases in public areas, using only initials, or sharing information with friends/family are breaches of confidentiality and HIPAA violations.

Which action best reflects the ethical principle of justice in nursing?

Answer: Providing equal care and resources to all patients

The ethical principle of justice in nursing dictates that all patients should receive fair and equitable care, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, or personal characteristics. This means distributing resources and care impartially and without discrimination. Prioritizing based on personal preference or arrival time does not align with justice.

When a nurse admits a terminally ill patient who requests no life-prolonging treatment, the nurse should:

Answer: Call the physician to clarify advance directives

A verbal request for no life-prolonging treatment is important, but it must be legally documented as an advance directive (e.g., DNR/DNI) to be actionable. The nurse's role is to ensure the patient's wishes are formally recognized and ordered by the physician, protecting both the patient's autonomy and the healthcare team legally. Calling the physician clarifies the patient's wishes and initiates the proper documentation process.