Free Nursing Ethics MCQs with Answers
50 Nursing Ethics MCQs from Nursing Management and Ethics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Nursing ethics examines autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, fidelity, veracity, confidentiality and respect for dignity. It covers informed consent, patient advocacy, privacy, refusal of treatment, end-of-life decisions and ethical dilemmas, while distinguishing ethical duties from legal requirements and personal beliefs.
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50 questions · page 2 of 3
- A. Keep the curtain closed because privacy always has priority
- B. Follow the patient's preference while exposing only the needed area
- C. Ask the family to decide whether the curtain should remain open
- D. Leave the curtain open for the entire ward team's convenience
Explanation: Respect for dignity includes involving the patient in reasonable choices about privacy and comfort.
Correct answer: Follow the patient's preference while exposing only the needed area- A. Ask the patient's neighbour to sign the consent form
- B. Proceed because the procedure is recommended by the doctor
- C. Notify the healthcare team and follow the approved surrogate process
- D. Ask the patient to sign quickly before the confusion worsens
Explanation: A confused patient may lack decision-making capacity for that procedure, so the nurse should alert the team and support the legally…
Correct answer: Notify the healthcare team and follow the approved surrogate process- A. Promise absolute secrecy and document nothing
- B. Share the minimum necessary information with the appropriate team
- C. Tell all ward staff so everyone can monitor the patient
- D. Discuss the information with visitors who may know the person
Explanation: Confidentiality is important, but preventing serious harm may require limited disclosure to appropriate professionals.
Correct answer: Share the minimum necessary information with the appropriate team- A. Protecting a patient's information from unauthorised disclosure
- B. Obtaining required consent before an invasive procedure
- C. Using a professional registration number on official records
- D. Supporting a patient's wish to make a respectful personal choice
Explanation: Supporting personal choice and dignity reflects ethical practice, even when no specific law describes every detail of the situation.
Correct answer: Supporting a patient's wish to make a respectful personal choice- A. Say that the treatment has no important side effects
- B. Tell the patient to ask another patient who received it
- C. State that the answer is unknown and obtain reliable information
- D. Avoid answering because discussing side effects may cause fear
Explanation: The nurse should be honest about limitations and obtain accurate information from a reliable source.
Correct answer: State that the answer is unknown and obtain reliable information- A. Require the patient to follow the nurse's preferred routine
- B. Provide safe care while accommodating reasonable cultural practices
- C. Ask the family to replace all nursing care during the admission
- D. Avoid discussing cultural needs to prevent disagreement
Explanation: Respect for dignity requires culturally sensitive care that remains safe and clinically appropriate.
Correct answer: Provide safe care while accommodating reasonable cultural practices- A. Continue the treatment because it was prescribed
- B. Explore the reason, inform the healthcare team, and respect the decision
- C. Ask the family to persuade the patient to continue
- D. Tell the patient that refusal is not allowed after treatment starts
Explanation: A patient with decision-making capacity may withdraw consent after treatment has begun.
Correct answer: Explore the reason, inform the healthcare team, and respect the decision- A. Provide the basic supplies required for equitable care
- B. Ask the patient to bring supplies from home before receiving care
- C. Give supplies only if the patient promises to complain less
- D. Use supplies from another patient without asking permission
Explanation: Justice requires fair access to necessary nursing care regardless of financial status.
Correct answer: Provide the basic supplies required for equitable care- A. Refuse all further care until the patient changes the decision
- B. Explain relevant risks, check understanding, and respect the informed choice
- C. Tell the family to make the decision because the nurse disagrees
- D. Record that the patient is incapable of making healthcare decisions
Explanation: A competent patient may make choices that the nurse considers unwise after receiving understandable information.
Correct answer: Explain relevant risks, check understanding, and respect the informed choice- A. It confirms the patient is receiving the planned care
- B. It allows the nurse to finish the task more quickly
- C. It prevents the patient from asking unnecessary questions
- D. It shows that the nurse has authority over the patient
Explanation: Identity checks protect the patient from errors and show that the person is treated as an individual.
Correct answer: It confirms the patient is receiving the planned care- A. Ask the patient to sign the consent form immediately
- B. Tell the patient that all procedures have some risk
- C. Notify the responsible clinician before the procedure
- D. Explain the complete procedure and obtain consent personally
Explanation: The responsible clinician must provide the required information for informed consent, while the nurse should advocate for the patient by…
Correct answer: Notify the responsible clinician before the procedure- A. Post it if the patient's face is partly covered
- B. Post it after asking the patient's relative for permission
- C. Post it only after removing the hospital name
- D. Decline and keep the patient's information private
Explanation: A patient's request does not remove professional duties about privacy, confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.
Correct answer: Decline and keep the patient's information private- A. Follow the documented decision and inform the healthcare team
- B. Ask the family to decide whether the document should be followed
- C. Provide the treatment because the patient cannot confirm the refusal
- D. Ignore the document until a court gives the nurse written permission
Explanation: A valid advance decision expresses the patient's previously stated wishes when the patient lacks capacity.
Correct answer: Follow the documented decision and inform the healthcare team- A. Tell the patient that hospital routines cannot be changed
- B. Arrange a suitable caregiver when this can be done safely
- C. Refuse all personal care until the patient changes beliefs
- D. Tell the family to provide the required nursing care
Explanation: Respect for dignity includes reasonable accommodation of religious practices while maintaining safe care.
Correct answer: Arrange a suitable caregiver when this can be done safely- A. Document only that the medication was delayed
- B. Wait to see whether the patient develops symptoms
- C. Report the error promptly through the safety process
- D. Ask another nurse to correct the record quietly
Explanation: Honesty, patient advocacy and non-maleficence require prompt reporting, assessment and monitoring even when no harm is immediately…
Correct answer: Report the error promptly through the safety process- A. Provide respectful care and seek support for the discomfort
- B. Allow personal feelings to determine the level of care
- C. Discuss the patient's history with other patients for advice
- D. Ask the patient to leave because the nurse disapproves
Explanation: Professional ethics requires respectful, non-discriminatory care while the nurse seeks supervision if personal reactions affect practice.
Correct answer: Provide respectful care and seek support for the discomfort- A. Accept the money if the patient has waited a long time
- B. Refuse the payment and follow the fair allocation process
- C. Accept the money but share it with the nursing team
- D. Give earlier access if the family member promises secrecy
Explanation: Justice requires fair access based on clinical need and established procedures, not financial influence.
Correct answer: Refuse the payment and follow the fair allocation process- A. Refuse because nursing notes belong only to the hospital
- B. Provide access according to the facility's approved procedure
- C. Allow the patient to photograph every patient's record
- D. Tell the patient to ask a relative to inspect the notes
Explanation: Patients generally have a legitimate interest in information about their care, but access should follow the approved confidentiality and…
Correct answer: Provide access according to the facility's approved procedure- A. Stop the treatment without informing anyone
- B. Tell the patient that the treatment is immoral
- C. Arrange timely alternative care without abandoning the patient
- D. Leave the ward and ask the patient to find another nurse
Explanation: A conscientious concern does not permit abandonment or obstruction of care.
Correct answer: Arrange timely alternative care without abandoning the patient- A. Give the medicine slowly while checking the label
- B. Ask another patient how the medicine is given
- C. Decline the task and notify the nurse in charge
- D. Give the medicine after reading a brief leaflet
Explanation: The nurse must protect the patient from avoidable harm and work within professional competence.
Correct answer: Decline the task and notify the nurse in charge