Oregon Certified Nursing Assistant State Practice Exam

______ have to do with the knowledge of right and wrong.

1. Laws

2. Ethics

3. Advance directives

4. Living wills

The correct answer is: Ethics

The concept of ethics is fundamentally centered around the principles of right and wrong behavior. Ethics involves the study and application of moral values and guidelines that dictate how individuals should act in various situations, particularly in professional settings like healthcare. In the context of healthcare, ethical considerations are crucial for ensuring that patient care is not only effective but also respectful, fair, and appropriate. It provides a framework that helps healthcare professionals navigate complex situations involving patient rights, autonomy, and welfare. This is in stark contrast to laws, which are formal rules established by a governing authority to maintain order and protect citizens' rights. While laws can be influenced by ethical principles, they do not encompass the entirety of moral reasoning. Advance directives and living wills are specific documents related to a person's preferences for medical treatment in the event they become unable to communicate these preferences themselves. While they can involve ethical considerations, they are not inherently about the broader concepts of right and wrong; rather, they address specific health care decisions. Therefore, ethics is the correct choice as it directly pertains to the underlying moral values that guide decision-making and behavior within the healthcare environment.