ATI RN
Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
A group of RNs wish to seek union representation that would protect all workers in the agency including nonlicensed assistive personnel and non-nursing employees such as nutritionists and dietary workers. The type of union being sought is the strongest collective group and is known as a(n):
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: industrial union. Industrial unions represent all workers in a particular industry regardless of their specific job roles, providing collective bargaining power for a broader group. In this scenario, the RNs seeking union representation aim to include nonlicensed personnel and non-nursing employees, making an industrial union the most appropriate choice. A: Occupational union focuses on specific occupational groups, not as inclusive as industrial unions. C: Union shop refers to a workplace where all employees must join the union after being hired, not related to the scope of representation. D: Right-to-work bargaining organization allows employees to choose whether or not to join the union, not the strongest type of union for collective representation.
Question 2 of 9
A nurse manager has calculated that providing 75 hours of direct nursing care per day requires that 120 hours must actually be worked by nursing staff. The manager is involved in: (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: applying productivity metric. The nurse manager is calculating the ratio of direct nursing care hours to total hours worked, which is a productivity metric. This metric helps assess the efficiency of the nursing staff in delivering care. Developing the capital budget (A) involves planning for long-term investments, not daily staffing calculations. Monitoring the labor budget (C) involves tracking expenses related to staff salaries and benefits, but not necessarily productivity metrics. Incremental budgeting processes (D) refer to budgeting based on past budgets with incremental changes, not specific productivity metrics. Therefore, the nurse manager is primarily involved in applying a productivity metric to assess nursing staff efficiency.
Question 3 of 9
A nurse is caring for a patient who is to receive an antibiotic drug that causes severe skin damage when infiltrated. The order reads, "infuse over 1 hour by portacath." The nurse accesses the Personal Digital Assistant for software that lists the steps to access a portacath. The nurse is using:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: point-of-care technology. Point-of-care technology refers to tools and devices that assist healthcare providers in delivering care at the patient's bedside. In this scenario, the nurse is accessing a software application on a Personal Digital Assistant to follow steps for accessing a portacath, which is a form of point-of-care technology. This technology enables quick and accurate access to necessary information, ensuring safe and efficient care delivery. Incorrect choices: A: Electronic health records (EHR) primarily store patient information and medical history but do not provide real-time guidance on procedures like accessing a portacath. C: Data management involves organizing and analyzing healthcare data but does not directly assist in patient care tasks like accessing a portacath. D: Telehealth involves remote healthcare services, which are not relevant to the nurse's immediate task of accessing a portacath.
Question 4 of 9
The informed consent documents must include: (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because informed consent documents must provide participants with an explanation of potential risks and benefits to ensure they fully understand what they are agreeing to. This helps participants make an informed decision about participating. Option B is incorrect because using medical terminology can actually increase misunderstanding; lay terms are recommended. Option C is incorrect as it is essential to include a statement on protecting anonymity and confidentiality to ensure participant privacy. Option D is incorrect as explaining the cost of the study is not a necessary component of informed consent.
Question 5 of 9
A priority action for the nurse who works with culturally diverse clients is completion of a:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: cultural self-assessment. This is important as it helps the nurse understand their own beliefs, values, and biases, which can impact how they interact with culturally diverse clients. By being self-aware, the nurse can better recognize and address any potential cultural misunderstandings or conflicts. A: Taking a sign language course is not the priority as not all culturally diverse clients are deaf or use sign language. C: While cultural client assessment is important, it is secondary to the nurse understanding their own cultural biases first. D: Taking a course on how to speak Spanish is helpful but may not address the broader cultural competence needed to work with diverse clients.
Question 6 of 9
A nurse manager plans the fiscal budget to include salaries for two RNs for two 12-hour shifts with a patient census of 6 in the short-stay observation room. The nurse manager reviews the budget report 3 months later and notes that the salary expenses are higher than was budgeted because of higher-than-planned RN staff salaries. This additional RN staff is necessary to meet patient care needs because the census has remained constant at 10 patients rather than the 6 projected when the budget was developed. The difference between the planned budget and the actual cost is known as:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: variance. In this scenario, the nurse manager planned a budget based on a patient census of 6 but the actual census remained constant at 10, leading to higher-than-planned RN staff salaries. The difference between the planned budget and the actual cost is known as a variance. Variances help identify discrepancies between planned and actual expenses, enabling managers to adjust budgets accordingly. Revenue (A) refers to income generated, not the difference between planned and actual expenses. Monitoring (C) is the process of overseeing and evaluating activities, not specifically related to budget discrepancies. Capital expenditures (D) are long-term investments in assets, not related to budget variances.
Question 7 of 9
The nurse caring for a patient states, "Your blood pressure is dangerously high. Are you taking antihypertensive medicine?" The patient states, "I can't afford my medicine. I have no insurance." The nurse states "I feel really sorry for that patient. I wish it wasn't against policy to give her money." The nurse wants to help and places a note on Facebook that any donations would be appreciated to help a waitress who works at the cafeteria next door to the hospital buy her medications. The nurse posts that "She was so sick last evening when she came to the ED. I can't believe they don't provide insurance. I can't give her money but you all can help." This nurse:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the nurse is at risk for HIPAA violations by sharing patient information on social media. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects patients' privacy and prohibits healthcare providers from disclosing their health information without consent. In this scenario, the nurse shared specific details about the patient's health condition, visit to the ED, and financial situation, which could easily identify the patient. This violates the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the focus should be on the HIPAA violation rather than empathy, policy following, or logical fallacies. The nurse should have found alternative ways to help the patient without compromising their privacy.
Question 8 of 9
When reviewing the literature on the effects of Medicaid on health care for the poor, the nurse researcher found that the poor:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because lacking consistent providers is a common issue among the poor utilizing Medicaid. This impacts continuity of care, leading to fragmented health services and poor health outcomes. Choice A is incorrect as Medicaid does provide some level of access to healthcare. Choice B is incorrect as unnecessary treatments are not a common issue among the poor on Medicaid. Choice D is incorrect as preventive services are underutilized rather than abused by the poor on Medicaid.
Question 9 of 9
Although the media portrayed nursing in a negative light in M*A*S*H through the character of a promiscuous, uncaring nurse, it also provided Americans with a promising glimpse of:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the media in M*A*S*H showed how nurses coped with the horrors of war through humor, highlighting their resilience and adaptability. This is a positive portrayal of nurses as capable and strong individuals. Choices A and B are incorrect as they misrepresent the values and professionalism of nurses. Choice A promotes negative stereotypes, while choice B undermines the importance of compassion in nursing. Choice D is incorrect as the show primarily focused on female nurses, not male nurses.