Patient Advocacy Quiz: Ethical Nursing Practice

1. A patient from a different cultural background requests a specific healing practice not part of the treatment plan. How should the nurse respond?

Dismiss the request as not evidence-based

Listen, assess safety, and integrate if possible while supporting autonomy

Report to the physician that the patient is noncompliant

Encourage the patient to follow only the medical plan

2. Which situation most clearly requires the nurse to act as a patient advocate?

A patient asks for extra pillows

A patient receives a medication order that contradicts their documented allergy

A patient requests to change rooms

A patient wants to know visiting hours

3. A patient discloses being abused at home but asks the nurse not to tell anyone. What should the nurse do?

Honor the patient's request completely

Explain mandatory reporting laws while maintaining compassion and safety planning

Document only without reporting

Tell the family immediately

4. Which action demonstrates advocacy for a patient's dignity?

Discussing the patient's condition loudly in public hallways

Ensuring privacy during care and respectful communication

Making assumptions about the patient's preferences

Limiting the patient's access to their medical records

5. Patient advocacy includes ensuring informed consent. True or False?

True

False

6. A patient refuses a prescribed medication but does not understand the side effects. What is the nurse's primary advocacy responsibility?

Administer the medication as ordered by the physician

Explain the medication's purpose, side effects, and alternatives before respecting refusal

Document the refusal and inform the charge nurse only

Suggest the patient discuss with family before deciding

7. Which principle is central to patient advocacy in nursing?

Physician authority above all

Patient autonomy and right to self-determination

Institutional policies over patient needs

Cost-effectiveness of care

8. A patient is discharged without understanding their discharge instructions. What advocacy action should the nurse take?

Assume the patient will figure it out

Ensure understanding, provide written materials, and verify comprehension

Give instructions only to family members

Document that instructions were given

9. A nurse can override a patient's decision if the nurse believes it is medically wrong. True or False?

True

False

Submit

12. Patient advocacy in NCLEX contexts includes addressing which of the following?

Only medical treatment decisions

Patient rights, safety, communication, and ethical concerns

Only financial issues

Only family preferences

Submit

15. A vulnerable patient cannot communicate their wishes due to sedation. What is the nurse's advocacy role?

Make decisions based on what seems best medically

Involve family or surrogate decision-makers and ensure their voice is heard

Follow only the physician's orders without consultation

Wait until the patient can communicate again

16. Which action best demonstrates patient advocacy when a patient's pain is not adequately controlled?

Wait for the patient to complain again at the next assessment

Advocate for reassessment and communicate concerns to the prescriber

Increase comfort measures without involving the care team

Document pain levels but avoid escalating the issue

17. A nurse observes a colleague using harsh language with a confused elderly patient. What should the nurse do?

Say nothing to avoid conflict

Address the concern privately with the colleague first

Report directly to hospital administration

Document only and move on

Submit

Patient Advocacy Quiz: Would You Speak Up?

1. A patient from a different cultural background requests a specific healing practice not part of the treatment plan. How should the nurse respond?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Which situation most clearly requires the nurse to act as a patient advocate?

3. A patient discloses being abused at home but asks the nurse not to tell anyone. What should the nurse do?

4. Which action demonstrates advocacy for a patient's dignity?

5. Patient advocacy includes ensuring informed consent. True or False?

6. A patient refuses a prescribed medication but does not understand the side effects. What is the nurse's primary advocacy responsibility?

7. Which principle is central to patient advocacy in nursing?

8. A patient is discharged without understanding their discharge instructions. What advocacy action should the nurse take?

9. A nurse can override a patient's decision if the nurse believes it is medically wrong. True or False?

10. A nurse notices a patient is being pressured to sign a consent form without understanding it. The appropriate advocacy action is to ____.

11. When a patient cannot advocate for themselves, the nurse becomes their ____.

12. Patient advocacy in NCLEX contexts includes addressing which of the following?

13. A patient requests to leave the hospital against medical advice. The nurse should ____.

14. A patient expresses fear about an upcoming procedure. The nurse's advocacy response should include ____.

15. A vulnerable patient cannot communicate their wishes due to sedation. What is the nurse's advocacy role?

16. Which action best demonstrates patient advocacy when a patient's pain is not adequately controlled?

17. A nurse observes a colleague using harsh language with a confused elderly patient. What should the nurse do?

18. Advocating for patients sometimes requires the nurse to ____.

19. A nurse suspects a colleague is impaired and may endanger patients. This is an example of advocacy for ____.

20. When a patient questions a treatment decision, the nurse's best response is to ____.