Ethical Considerations Flashcards
7 cards from real VABC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethical Considerations flashcards as text
Which scenario BEST represents an ethical breach of patient confidentiality in vascular access practice?
Answer: Discussing a patient's PICC site status in a crowded elevator
Discussing identifiable patient information in public spaces violates HIPAA and the ethical principle of confidentiality.
A nurse suspects a patient's PICC was inserted without proper informed consent. The nurse's first step should be to:
Answer: Review the medical record for consent documentation
Reviewing the medical record is the appropriate first step to determine whether proper consent was documented before escalating concerns.
The ethical principle of justice in vascular access care requires that:
Answer: Patients receive equitable access to appropriate vascular devices regardless of ability to pay
Justice demands fair distribution of healthcare resources and equal treatment of all patients without discrimination.
A patient asks a vascular access nurse not to share their HIV status with family members visiting. The nurse should:
Answer: Honor the patient's request and maintain confidentiality
Patient confidentiality is a legal and ethical obligation; HIV status is protected health information that cannot be shared without patient consent.
When a patient lacks English proficiency, ethically obtaining informed consent for vascular access requires:
Answer: Using a qualified medical interpreter before the procedure
True informed consent requires the patient to understand the information, which necessitates a qualified interpreter, not a family member who may filter or distort information.
A pediatric patient's parents refuse a medically necessary central line. Which ethical framework best guides the next step?
Answer: Engage ethics consultation to balance parental rights against the child's best interests
When parental refusal conflicts with a child's medical welfare, an ethics consultation helps navigate competing values within legal and institutional frameworks.
A nurse is aware that a colleague is impaired by substances while performing vascular access procedures. The ethical duty is to:
Answer: Immediately remove the colleague from patient care and report to a supervisor
An impaired clinician poses an immediate patient safety risk, requiring immediate removal from care duties and reporting per institutional policy.