Q.1 Which principle emphasizes doing good and promoting the patient's best interest in critical care nursing?
Autonomy
Beneficence
Non-maleficence
Justice
Explanation - Beneficence is the ethical principle that obligates healthcare providers to act in the best interest of the patient and promote their well-being.
Correct answer is: Beneficence
Q.2 A patient refuses a life-saving treatment. Respecting this decision is an example of which ethical principle?
Autonomy
Beneficence
Fidelity
Justice
Explanation - Autonomy refers to respecting a patient's right to make decisions about their own healthcare, even if it conflicts with medical advice.
Correct answer is: Autonomy
Q.3 Which legal concept protects a nurse from liability when providing emergency care in good faith?
Informed consent
Good Samaritan Law
Negligence
Advanced directive
Explanation - The Good Samaritan Law provides legal protection to healthcare providers who offer emergency care voluntarily and in good faith.
Correct answer is: Good Samaritan Law
Q.4 Failure to provide the standard level of care resulting in harm to a patient is known as:
Battery
Negligence
Assault
Fidelity
Explanation - Negligence occurs when a healthcare professional fails to provide the standard of care, resulting in injury or harm to the patient.
Correct answer is: Negligence
Q.5 Maintaining patient confidentiality is primarily linked to which ethical principle?
Veracity
Autonomy
Fidelity
Justice
Explanation - Fidelity involves being faithful to commitments, including maintaining patient confidentiality and trust.
Correct answer is: Fidelity
Q.6 When a nurse provides care that intentionally harms a patient, it is legally considered:
Battery
Negligence
Assault
Falsification
Explanation - Battery in healthcare refers to intentional harmful or offensive contact with a patient without their consent.
Correct answer is: Battery
Q.7 Which document specifies a patient's wishes regarding end-of-life care?
Informed consent
Living will
HIPAA form
Power of attorney
Explanation - A living will outlines a patient's preferences for medical treatment if they become unable to communicate their decisions.
Correct answer is: Living will
Q.8 Allocating scarce resources fairly in a critical care unit relates to which ethical principle?
Autonomy
Justice
Beneficence
Non-maleficence
Explanation - Justice involves treating patients fairly, distributing healthcare resources equitably, and ensuring fairness in decision-making.
Correct answer is: Justice
Q.9 A nurse witnesses a colleague committing a medical error but does not report it. This violates which ethical principle?
Fidelity
Veracity
Non-maleficence
Beneficence
Explanation - Veracity involves being truthful and transparent. Failing to report errors breaches honesty and accountability.
Correct answer is: Veracity
Q.10 Consent obtained without fully explaining the procedure and risks is considered:
Informed consent
Implied consent
Battery
Negligence
Explanation - Consent that is not fully informed may legally be treated as battery, because the patient did not voluntarily agree to the procedure with understanding.
Correct answer is: Battery
Q.11 Which principle requires the nurse to avoid causing harm to patients?
Beneficence
Non-maleficence
Autonomy
Justice
Explanation - Non-maleficence is the obligation to refrain from actions that can cause harm to patients.
Correct answer is: Non-maleficence
Q.12 HIPAA primarily addresses which aspect of patient care?
Consent for treatment
Patient confidentiality
End-of-life decisions
Legal liability
Explanation - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects patient health information and ensures confidentiality.
Correct answer is: Patient confidentiality
Q.13 A nurse administering treatment without patient consent may be liable for:
Negligence
Battery
Assault
Veracity
Explanation - Battery occurs when unauthorized treatment is provided, violating the patient's right to consent.
Correct answer is: Battery
Q.14 The ethical dilemma of prolonging life using aggressive treatment versus quality of life is most closely related to:
Autonomy vs Beneficence
Justice vs Fidelity
Non-maleficence vs Beneficence
Veracity vs Justice
Explanation - This dilemma balances doing good (beneficence) against avoiding harm (non-maleficence) when treatments may extend life but reduce quality.
Correct answer is: Non-maleficence vs Beneficence
Q.15 Delegating tasks beyond a nurse's competence may result in:
Assault
Negligence
Battery
Autonomy violation
Explanation - Delegating tasks that a nurse is not competent to perform can lead to substandard care and legal liability for negligence.
Correct answer is: Negligence
Q.16 Respecting cultural and religious beliefs when providing care reflects adherence to:
Autonomy
Beneficence
Justice
Non-maleficence
Explanation - Respecting patients' values and beliefs is part of honoring their autonomy in healthcare decisions.
Correct answer is: Autonomy
Q.17 A nurse falsifying patient records commits a violation of:
Fidelity
Veracity
Beneficence
Non-maleficence
Explanation - Veracity involves honesty in documentation and communication. Falsifying records violates this ethical principle and may have legal consequences.
Correct answer is: Veracity
Q.18 The principle that healthcare decisions should be made fairly, without discrimination, is called:
Justice
Autonomy
Beneficence
Fidelity
Explanation - Justice in healthcare ensures that resources, treatment, and care are distributed equitably and without bias.
Correct answer is: Justice
Q.19 Which legal document allows a designated person to make healthcare decisions for a patient who cannot do so?
Living will
Do Not Resuscitate order
Power of attorney
HIPAA authorization
Explanation - A healthcare power of attorney designates an individual to make medical decisions if the patient is incapacitated.
Correct answer is: Power of attorney
Q.20 Failure to act when a patient is at risk of harm is a breach of:
Beneficence
Fidelity
Non-maleficence
Autonomy
Explanation - Non-maleficence includes the duty to avoid harm, which extends to taking action to prevent harm when possible.
Correct answer is: Non-maleficence
Q.21 Disclosing a patient's condition to unauthorized individuals violates:
Beneficence
Autonomy
Confidentiality
Justice
Explanation - Patient confidentiality is a legal and ethical duty to protect personal health information from unauthorized disclosure.
Correct answer is: Confidentiality
Q.22 In research involving critical care patients, obtaining consent from a legal guardian is required when:
The patient is an adult
The patient is a minor or incapacitated
The patient agrees verbally
The nurse approves the study
Explanation - For minors or patients unable to consent, a legal guardian must provide consent for participation in research, ensuring ethical compliance.
Correct answer is: The patient is a minor or incapacitated
Q.23 Ethical conflict between family wishes and patient autonomy in ICU care requires:
Following family wishes always
Prioritizing patient autonomy
Ignoring ethical principles
Consulting legal counsel only
Explanation - Ethical practice requires that the patient's informed preferences take precedence, even if family opinions differ.
Correct answer is: Prioritizing patient autonomy
Q.24 Reporting unsafe staffing levels in the ICU is an example of adhering to which principle?
Veracity
Non-maleficence
Autonomy
Beneficence
Explanation - By reporting unsafe staffing, nurses prevent harm to patients, fulfilling the principle of non-maleficence.
Correct answer is: Non-maleficence