Nursing Ethics MCQs with Answers 2023

1. A nurse has just received an order from a physician to administer a medication to a patient.
The nurse knows that this medication is contraindicated for the patient based on their medical
history. What should the nurse do?

a. Administer the medication as ordered.

b. Hold the medication and notify the physician of the contraindication.

c. Administer the medication at a lower dose.

d. Consult with another physician to confirm the order.

2. Which of the following is an ethical principle that guides nursing practice?

a. Autonomy

b. Utilitarianism

c. Virtue

d. Care

3. What is the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses?

a. A set of legal rules that nurses must follow

b. A set of moral values that nurses must uphold

c. A set of professional standards that nurses must adhere to

d. A set of ethical frameworks that nurses must apply

4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is refusing treatment for their condition. The patient’s
family is pressuring the nurse to persuade the patient to accept treatment. What should the nurse
do?

a. Persuade the patient to accept treatment to satisfy the family’s wishes.

b. Respect the patient’s autonomy and allow them to refuse treatment.

 c. Seek a court order to force the patient to accept treatment.
d. Consult with another nurse to determine the best course of action.
5. Which of the following is an example of an ethical dilemma in nursing?

a. A nurse has to decide whether to report a colleague who made a medication error

b. A nurse has to decide whether to follow a patient’s advance directive or a family’s request

c. A nurse has to decide whether to accept a gift from a grateful patient

d. A nurse has to decide whether to join a union or not

6. What is moral distress in nursing?

a. The feeling of being unable to act according to one’s moral values

b. The feeling of being uncertain about what is morally right

c. The feeling of being conflicted between two or more moral values

d. The feeling of being harmed by someone else’s immoral actions

7. Which of the following is an example of applying the principle of justice in nursing practice?

a. Providing equal access to health care for all patients regardless of their social
status(Justice is an ethical principle that means treating people fairly and equitably. In
nursing practice, justice means providing equal access to health care for all patients
regardless of their social status, race, gender, religion, or any other factor. Option B is an
example of applying the principle of autonomy, option C is an example of applying the
principle of beneficence, and option D is an example of applying the principle of veracity)

b. Providing individualized care for each patient according to their needs and preferences

c. Providing compassionate care for all patients regardless of their diagnosis or prognosis

d. Providing truthful information to all patients regardless of their ability to understand

8. Which ethical framework is based on the idea that the right action is the one that produces the
best or least harm for the greatest number?

a. Deontology
 b. Utilitarianism(Utilitarianism is an ethical framework that is based on the idea that the
right action is the one that produces the best or least harm for the greatest number. It focuses
on the consequences or outcomes of actions rather than the intentions or motives behind
them. Deontology is an ethical framework that is based on the idea that the right action is the
one that follows a universal duty or rule regardless of consequences. Virtue ethics is an ethical
framework that is based on the idea that the right action is the one that reflects a good
character or virtue rather than a rule or outcome. Care ethics is an ethical framework that is
based on the idea that the right action is the one that fosters caring relationships rather than
abstract principles.)

c. Virtue ethics

d. Care ethics

9. What is informed consent in nursing practice?

a. The process of obtaining permission from a patient to perform a specific procedure or

treatment

b. The process of providing information to a patient about the risks and benefits of a specific
procedure or treatment

c. The process of ensuring that a patient understands and agrees to a specific procedure or
treatment

d. The process of respecting a patient’s right to refuse or withdraw from a specific procedure
or treatment

10. Which of the following is an example of an ethical issue related to confidentiality in nursing
practice?

a. A nurse shares a patient’s medical record with another nurse who is not involved in the
patient’s care

b. A nurse discusses a patient’s condition with the patient’s family without the patient’s
consent

c. A nurse reports a suspected case of child abuse to the appropriate authorities without the
parent’s consent

d. A nurse refuses to disclose a patient’s HIV status to another health care provider who is at
risk of exposure(Confidentiality is an ethical principle that means protecting the privacy and
personal information of patients. In nursing practice, confidentiality means respecting the
right of patients to control who has access to their medical records, diagnosis, prognosis, or
any other sensitive information. However, confidentiality may be breached in some situations
where there is a legal obligation or moral duty to protect others from harm. Option D is an
example of an ethical issue related to confidentiality because it involves balancing the right of
patients to privacy and the right of health care providers to safety. Options A and B are
examples of violating confidentiality without any justification. Option C is an example of
breaching confidentiality with legal justification.)

11. Which ethical framework emphasizes caring as both an emotion and an action that guides
moral decision making?

a. Deontology

b. Utilitarianism

c. Virtue ethics

d. Care ethics(Care ethics is an ethical framework that emphasizes caring as both an

emotion and an action that guides moral decision making. It focuses on the relationships
between people rather than abstract principles or rules. It also recognizes the diversity and
complexity of human situations rather than applying universal standards or outcomes. Care
ethics is especially relevant for nursing practice because it reflects the core values and goals of
nursing as a caring profession.

12. Which of the following best describes moral uncertainty?

a. A situation where nurses have no ethical guidance or rules to follow

b. A situation where nurses have conflicting ethical guidance or rules to follow

c. A situation where nurses have doubts or uncertainties about the ethical course of
action(Moral uncertainty refers to a situation where nurses have doubts or uncertainties about
the ethical course of action to take. It occurs when there is a lack of clarity or ambiguity in
ethical guidelines or principles, making it difficult to determine the right course of action.)

d. A situation where nurses are unable to make ethical decisions due to lack of knowledge or
experience

13. Which of the following best defines moral conflict?

a. A situation where there is a clear ethical course of action to take

b. A situation where nurses have doubts or uncertainties about the ethical course of action
 c. A situation where nurses have to choose between two or more conflicting ethical
principles or values(Moral conflict refers to a situation where nurses have to choose between
two or more conflicting ethical principles or values. It can arise when two or more ethical
principles or values are in conflict, and the nurse must make a decision that upholds one value
while compromising another.)

d. A situation where nurses are unable to make ethical decisions due to lack of knowledge or
experience

14. Which of the following is an example of moral injury in nursing?

a. A nurse who is uncertain about the ethical course of action to take in a patient’s care

b. A nurse who experiences emotional distress after making an ethical decision

c. A nurse who is forced to act in a way that violates their ethical values(Moral injury refers
to a situation where a nurse experiences emotional distress or moral suffering as a result of
acting or witnessing actions that go against their ethical values. An example of moral injury in
nursing would be a nurse who is forced to act in a way that violates their ethical values, such
as participating in a procedure they believe is morally wrong.

d. A nurse who experiences cognitive dissonance when faced with ethical dilemmas

15. What is the focus of virtue ethics?

a. The consequences of actions

b. The moral rules or principles that guide actions

c. The character traits and virtues that enable individuals to act ethically(Virtue ethics
focuses on the character traits and virtues that enable individuals to act ethically. It
emphasizes the importance of cultivating virtues such as honesty, integrity, and compassion to
guide ethical decision making, rather than relying solely on moral rules or principles.)

d. The social and cultural context of ethical decision making

16. Which of the following is a potential benefit of using virtue ethics in nursing practice?

a. It provides clear and objective guidance for ethical decision making

b. It emphasizes the importance of following established ethical rules and principles

 c. It encourages nurses to develop character traits that enable ethical behaviorA potential
benefit of using virtue ethics in nursing practice is that it encourages nurses to develop
character traits that enable ethical behavior, such as honesty, integrity, and compassion. By
focusing on these traits, virtue ethics can help nurses cultivate a moral compass that guides
their decision making, even in situations where there may be no clear rules or principles to
follow.

d. It emphasizes the importance of individual autonomy in ethical decision making

1. Which role provides care and comfort for a person together with preserving the dignity of human
beings?
A. Communicator
B. Care Provider
C. Change agent
D. Manager
E. Leader

2. Which role involves inspiring and influencing others to take action and make decisions?
A Researcher
B. Care Provider
C. Communicator
D. Counselor
E. Leader

3. Which role facilitates understanding and collaboration of nursing actions with their clients and other
members of the health care team?
A. Leader
B. Communicator
C. Teacher
D. Researcher
E. Manager

4. Which role Involves "planning, giving directions, developing staff, monitoring operations, giving
rewards fairly, and representing both staff members and administrations as needed?
A. Manager
B. Leader
C. Care Provider
D. Teacher
E. Change agent

5. Which role defends the client's right to be treated equally without any harm, intentionally or
unintentionally?
A. Teacher
B. Manager
C. Client Advocate
D. Change Agent
E .Researcher

6. Which role helps the client learn the state of their well-being and the therapies that are recommended to
them to alleviate their health conditions?
A. Teacher
B. Manager
C. Client Advocate
D .Change Agent
E. Care Provider

7. Which role involves investigation of the scope of nurses to improve the nursing practice?
A. Teacher
B. Manager
C. Client Advocate
D. Change Agent
E. Researcher

8. Which role includes helping clients to cope with the stress brought on by their health conditions and
also facilitating the client's growth in all aspects: physical, emotional, psychological, and even spiritual?
A. Change Agent
B. Counselor
C. Researcher
D. Teacher
E. Client Advocate

9. Which role describes a nurse who has mastery in a certain practice of nursing? (e.g., medical-surgical
nursing, pediatric-geriatric nursing, college health nursing, etc)
A. Nurse Generalist
B. Care Provider
C. Nurse Practitioner
D. Change agent
E. Nurse Clinician

10. Which role describes assessing the client's motivations and capacity for change, identifying the
problem, determining alternatives, and exploring possible alternate outcomes?
A. Manager
B. Change Agent
C. Nurse Clinician
D. Nurse Generalist
E. Care Provider
11. Which role performs direct nursing actions in specialty areas? They may or may not have advanced
education preparation as long as they are certified by a government body to perform such duties.
A. Nurse Clinician
B. Care Provider
C. Nurse Generalist
D. Change Agent
E. Nurse Specialist

12. Which role requires advanced educational or nursing practice and must be certified by a government
body that they may practice so?
A. Nurse Specialist
B. Nurse Clinician
C. Nurse Practitioner
D. Nurse Generalist
E. Change Agent

13. Which role requires one to have a master's degree in nursing and must have specialization in a
particular field of nursing?
A. Change Agent
B. Nurse Generalist
C. Nurse Practitioner
D. Nurse Specialist
E. Nurse Clinician