1.A nurse informs the patient's health care provider that the patient is refusing potentially lifesaving

surgery. In this situation, which ethical principle is the nurse using?

Beneficence

Nonmaleficence

Autonomy

Justice

Autonomy

Using the principle of autonomy allows individuals to have the right to determine their own actions and 

make their own choices. Calling the health care provider to report the patient's refusal of surgery 

demonstrates the nurse's use of autonomy to guide practice. Beneficence is frequently described as "the 

doing of good." Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm. A description of justice includes patients with 

the same diagnosis and health care needs receiving the same care.

2.On a medical unit, several patients are being treated for Hepatitis B infection. One of the patients 

contracted Hepatitis B through using infected needles associated with heroin use. Another of the 

patients contracted Hepatitis B through a blood transfusion following a car accident. Several of the 

employees on the unit treat the patient who used heroin rudely and delay their attention to the 

patient's requests. The nurse intervenes and reminds the staff to use which ethical principle?

Justice

Nonmaleficence

Beneficence

Autonomy

Justice

Justice describes providing patients with the same diagnosis and health care needs the same care. By 

delaying attention to the patient's requests and treating the patient rudely, the staff is not using the 

principle of justice. Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm. Beneficence is frequently described as 

"the doing of good." Autonomy means that individuals have the right to determine their own actions 

and the freedom to make their own decisions.

3. A nurse is providing patient teaching for a patient undergoing chemotherapy. The nurse is explaining 

that the chemotherapy will cause some unpleasant side effects, such as nausea and hair loss. In this 

situation, the nurse is using which ethical principle?

Beneficence

Nonmaleficence

Autonomy

Justice

Nonmaleficence

Nonmaleficence involves the duty to do no harm. Although the patient will experience nausea and hair 

loss (harm), the treatment will eventually produce good for the patient. Beneficence is frequently 

defined as the "doing of good." Autonomy means that individuals have the right to determine their own 

actions and the freedom to make their own decisions. Justice means that the same care is provided to 

patients with similar diseases and health care needs.

4.A nurse is on duty in the emergency room when the nurse is notified that a school bus has been struck 

by a train. Immediately the nurse reports to the triage area and begins the task of determining the 

severity of injuries, so that the most critical patients receive care first. Which ethical theory is the nurse 

putting into action?

Utilitarianism

Act deontology

Rule deontology

Virtue ethics

Utilitarianism

Utilitarian ethics states that "what makes an action right or wrong is its utility, with useful actions 

bringing about the greatest good for the greatest number of people." By triaging the patients according 

to the severity of the injury, the nurse will be able to save the lives of more patients, thus doing the 

greatest good for the greatest number of people. Act deontologists determine the right thing to do by 

gathering all the facts and then making a decision. Rule deontologists emphasize that principles guide 

our actions. Virtue ethics are tendencies to act, feel, and judge that develop through appropriate 

training but come from natural tendencies.