A group of new graduate nurses is asked to speak to a group of politicians to describe the current state of professional nursing and how best to alleviate the nursing shortage. Which statements accurately portray professional nursing today and tomorrow? (select all that apply)

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the current trend in nursing education shows an increasing number of registered nurses (RNs) attaining a bachelor's degree compared to an associate degree or diploma. This shift is supported by research indicating that BSN-prepared nurses have better patient outcomes. Choice B is incorrect because while there is indeed a trend towards more outpatient and home health care, it does not necessarily mean that more RNs practice in these settings than in acute care. Choice C is incorrect as nurse practitioner is the most popular advanced practice specialty, not nurse anesthesia. Choice D is incorrect as it makes a broad and unsubstantiated statement based on ethnicity, which does not accurately represent the trends in nursing education and graduate studies.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: an aging nursing workforce. This is because as nurses age, many are retiring or reducing their work hours, leading to a shortage of experienced nurses in the workforce. This issue is further exacerbated by the increasing demand for healthcare services due to population growth and aging populations. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Movement of nurses into acute care settings may shift the distribution of nurses but does not directly cause a shortage. B: The use of unlicensed assistive personnel may impact the workload of RNs but is not the primary cause of the nursing shortage. C: While Baby Boomers may have contributed to the overall number of nurses, it does not directly explain the current shortage.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because a patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease may have impaired decision-making capacity due to cognitive decline. Patients with Alzheimer's may struggle to understand, remember, and evaluate information needed to make informed decisions. Choice A shows the patient's curiosity, not necessarily a lack of capacity. Choice C indicates family involvement but does not directly address the patient's capacity. Choice D reflects anxiety about decision-making, not necessarily incapacity.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Charge nurses are typically considered part of the nursing staff, not part of the management team. Step 2: Since charge nurses are not considered part of the management team, they are eligible to be represented by the union. Step 3: Being part of the union means the charge nurse can benefit from collective bargaining activities and have a voice in workplace decisions. Step 4: Choice A is correct as it aligns with the general understanding of charge nurses' roles and their eligibility for union representation. Summary: Choice B is incorrect because charge nurses are not typically considered part of the management team, so union participation would not necessarily be a conflict of interest. Choice C is incorrect because union representation does not automatically mean filing grievances that will be arbitrated. Choice D is incorrect because charge nurses can participate in collective bargaining activities related to unfair labor practices if they are represented by the union.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: A nurse grouping patients with specific criteria to determine staffing needs aligns with a patient classification system. This system helps allocate appropriate staff levels based on patient acuity and needs for safe and effective care. It focuses on matching patient needs with staff expertise to ensure quality care. Choices B, C, and D do not directly relate to determining staffing levels based on patient criteria. B refers to billing, C to coordination of care, and D to specific care plans.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (2000) mandates that employers must document how and where a sharps injury occurred, including the brand of device involved. This helps in identifying patterns of injuries and evaluating the effectiveness of safety devices. Choice A is incorrect because the Act does not specifically mention nurses in managerial positions evaluating safe needle devices. Choice B is incorrect as there is no requirement for registered nurses to pass a test after sustaining a needle stick. Choice C is incorrect as the Act sets federal standards for safe needle devices, not leaving it up to individual states to determine.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because being concise and limiting the resume to a single page is important in grabbing the attention of potential employers and ensuring that the most relevant information is highlighted. It shows professionalism and respect for the employer's time. Option A is incorrect as correction fluid may make the resume look messy. Option B is incorrect as using a single line to cross through an error and inserting initials is not standard practice in resume writing. Option C is incorrect as limiting margins to one half inch can make the resume look cluttered and difficult to read.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Policy is based on data, which provides the groundwork for decision making. This is the correct answer because the scenario describes the policy committee using statistics about patient satisfaction and recidivism rates to make recommendations for a patient education plan. By utilizing data, the committee is following the IOM 2011 message of basing decisions on evidence and information. A: Nurses achieving higher levels of education is not directly related to the scenario and the committee's decision-making process. B: The requirement of a master's degree for nurses on policy committees is not mentioned in the scenario and is not relevant to the decision-making process described. C: Comparing nurse pay to physicians' pay is not relevant to the scenario or the IOM 2011 message of using data for decision making.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: model. In this scenario, the nurse used visual representation to illustrate the relationships among concepts in Peplau's theory. A model is a simplified representation of a real-world system that helps understand complex relationships. By listing concepts and drawing lines to denote relationships, the nurse created a visual model to clarify the interconnections between elements. A hypothesis (A) is a testable prediction, not a visual representation. A construct (C) is an abstract concept, not a visual representation of relationships. A variable (D) is a measurable factor that can change, not a visual representation of relationships.