Family-Centered Care and Pediatric Ethics Practice Questions
11 free Family-Centered Care and Pediatric Ethics practice questions for the NCLEX Exam. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which ethical principle is most relevant when parents and healthcare providers disagree about a child’s treatment plan?
- A Fidelity
- B Autonomy
- C Justice
- D Beneficence
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence guides the healthcare team to act in the best interest of the child while considering family perspectives.
When parents decline a blood transfusion for their child for religious reasons, the nurse should:
- A Respect the refusal without notifying anyone
- B Seek a court order if the child's life is at risk
- C Administer the transfusion covertly to the child
- D Transfer the child's care to another facility
Correct answer: Seek a court order if the child's life is at risk
When refusal endangers the child’s life, nurses have an ethical and legal obligation to advocate for the child’s best interest, potentially involving legal intervention.
A nurse reassures a child that they will not be left alone during surgery. This supports which ethical principle?
- A Justice
- B Nonmaleficence
- C Fidelity
- D Autonomy
Correct answer: Fidelity
Fidelity refers to keeping promises and commitments, building trust with the child and family.
When implementing family-centered care, which of the following should be avoided?
- A Providing choices in the child's daily routine
- B Limiting parents to set visiting hours only
- C Encouraging family presence during procedures
- D Including parents in discharge planning
Correct answer: Limiting parents to set visiting hours only
Restricting family involvement contradicts the principles of family-centered care, which emphasize active participation.
A nurse must perform a painful procedure on a child. What is the most ethical approach?
- A Distract the child and perform it without warning
- B Provide honest, age-appropriate information
- C Defer the procedure until the child is asleep
- D Let parents perform the procedure
Correct answer: Provide honest, age-appropriate information
Ethical care includes respecting the child’s right to information and preparation, consistent with veracity and beneficence.
A nurse discusses the child’s progress with a family in the hallway. This violates which ethical principle?
- A Autonomy
- B Justice
- C Confidentiality
- D Fidelity
Correct answer: Confidentiality
Patient information must be shared privately to maintain confidentiality and trust.
A parent expresses guilt about a child’s chronic illness. The best nursing response is:
- A “Tell me more about what makes you feel responsible.”
- B “You really should not feel that way at all.”
- C “This is a medical issue and not your fault.”
- D “Let us focus on the treatment plan instead.”
Correct answer: “Tell me more about what makes you feel responsible.”
Open, empathetic communication supports family-centered care and emotional well-being.
Which scenario best reflects shared decision-making in pediatric ethics?
- A The physician decides treatment without family input
- B The nurse includes both parents in care discussions
- C The child's wishes are deliberately set aside
- D The team postpones all discussion until discharge
Correct answer: The nurse includes both parents in care discussions
Shared decision-making ensures collaboration among healthcare providers, families, and, when appropriate, the child.
In pediatric ethics, the principle of assent refers to:
- A Formal legal consent given by a minor
- B The child's voluntary agreement to care
- C Physician authorization for the treatment
- D Decision-making done by the parents alone
Correct answer: The child's voluntary agreement to care
Assent involves seeking the child’s understanding and agreement appropriate to their developmental level, fostering respect and participation.
The nurse ensures that both parents in a same-sex partnership are included in their child’s care. This supports which ethical principle?
- A Justice
- B Veracity
- C Nonmaleficence
- D Fidelity
Correct answer: Justice
Justice involves treating all families fairly and without discrimination, ensuring equitable care.
A nurse observes that a parent refuses to allow the child to express pain. The most ethical action is to:
- A Respect the parent's stated preference
- B Support the child's expression and educate the parent
- C Ignore the issue and move on
- D Document the situation and take no further action
Correct answer: Support the child's expression and educate the parent
The nurse has an ethical duty to advocate for the child’s rights and comfort while educating parents to promote compassionate family-centered care.