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
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
c. Virtue ethics
d. Care ethics

Nursing Ethics MCQ 2023

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

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

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

Like our Facebook Page: The Nurse

Please Subscribe to get all our posts in your mail inbox

You May Also Like

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing – Click Here

Nursing Research MCQs with Rationales – Click Here