Chapter 12: Quality of Care: From Quality Assurance and Improvement to Cultures of Patient Safety -

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The common denominator of all quality assurance programs is standards.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Process standards are focused on nursing roles and activities to meet patient care goals. Examples of process standards include the nursing process, communication between nurses and patients, and nursing activities.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Most instruments have demonstrated little more than face validity, raising questions about the value of results in quality assessment programs using inadequately tested instruments.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A limitation of quality assurance programs is the retrospective focus on achievement of standards. Considerable emphasis of quality-monitoring activities occurred after the fact when it was least possible to make necessary changes.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The foundation of quality assurance programs- achieving predetermined standards in the clinical setting- was seen as somewhat arbitrary. Administrators and program directors established the level to which each standard was to be achieved. Critical standards were expected to be achieved $100\%$ of the time, while less critical standards, perhaps $80\%$ to $90\%$ of the time.