_____ are behaviors that are desired, based on the morality of the society's views of right and wrong.

• A. Hospital policies
• B. Ethical standards
• C. Legal practice
• D. Patient rights

Answer: (B)

Ethical standards describe behaviors that reflect society’s sense of right and wrong and the professional values nurses are expected to uphold. They guide how you act when there isn’t a clear rule, helping ensure patient care is respectful, fair, and focused on welfare, autonomy, and dignity. This sets apart ethics from hospital policies (internal guidelines), legal practice (what the law requires), and patient rights (the legal entitlements patients have). For instance, maintaining confidentiality and seeking informed consent align with ethical standards because they honor patient welfare and autonomy, even as they also intersect with laws and policies.