Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - Ethics, Standards, and Nursing Frameworks Related

Review Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - Ethics, Standards, and Nursing Frameworks related questions and content

A 22-year-old patient with schizophrenia is refusing his antipsychotic medication. He states, 'I don?t like the dopey way it makes me feel. I feel like I?m walking under water when I take it.' The nurse explains to him, 'Your schizophrenia is caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain, and this medication helps fix that chemical imbalance. You need to take it so your symptoms will get better.' This conversation reflects a conflict between which two types of ethical principles?

  • A. Autonomy and justice
  • B. Paternalism and veracity
  • C. Justice and nonmaleficence
  • D. Autonomy and beneficence
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The patient?s refusal of medication reflects autonomy (self-determination), while the nurse?s insistence on medication to improve symptoms reflects beneficence (acting for the patient?s benefit). This creates an ethical conflict, as the nurse?s approach prioritizes the patient?s well-being over their right to choose. The other options do not accurately capture this dynamic: justice involves fairness, paternalism involves overriding autonomy, veracity involves truthfulness, and nonmaleficence involves avoiding harm.