Nursing Ethics Quiz: What Would You Do?

1. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. What is your primary ethical obligation?

Administer the transfusion to save their life

Respect their autonomy and document their refusal

Convince them to change their mind

Consult only with the physician, not the patient

2. Which principle requires nurses to act in the patient's best interest?

Autonomy

Beneficence

Justice

Fidelity

3. A colleague discloses confidential patient information in the break room. What should you do?

Say nothing to avoid conflict

Address it privately and report if necessary

Spread the information to others

Wait and see if anyone complains

4. Informed consent requires that patients understand which of the following?

Only the treatment name

Risks, benefits, alternatives, and consequences of refusing

Only what the physician decides to tell them

The cost of treatment only

5. A patient asks you to keep a medication error secret from the doctor. How do you respond?

Agree, since it was minor

Report it immediately for patient safety

Report it only if the patient is harmed

Discuss it with the patient's family first

6. Which law protects patient privacy and medical record confidentiality?

ADA

HIPAA

OSHA

CMS

7. A terminally ill patient asks about physician-assisted death. What is your role?

Provide information on legal options in your jurisdiction

Refuse to discuss it

Encourage them to choose death

Pressure them toward continued treatment

8. True or False: Nurses can override patient wishes if they believe it is in the patient's best interest.

True

False

9. Which ethical principle is violated when a nurse discharges a patient without ensuring safe housing?

Autonomy

Non-maleficence

Justice

Beneficence

10. A nurse suspects a colleague is impaired at work. What is the appropriate action?

Ignore it unless a patient is harmed

Report to management or the state board

Confront the colleague privately and drop it

Tell other staff members

Submit

12. True or False: A nurse can share patient information with family members without explicit patient consent.

True

False

13. When a patient lacks decision-making capacity, who typically makes medical decisions?

The nurse alone

The physician alone

A designated surrogate or legal guardian

The hospital administrator

14. A nurse witnesses verbal abuse of a patient by a physician. This represents a breach of which duty?

Duty to the physician

Duty to advocate for the patient

Duty to maintain hierarchy

Duty to stay silent