ATI RN
Current Issues in Maternal and Child Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
A medical-surgical nurse is asked to float to a women’s health unit to care for patients who are scheduled for therapeutic abortions. The nurse refuses to accept this assignment and expresses her personal beliefs as being incongruent with this medical practice. The nursing supervisor states that the unit is short-staffed and the nurse is familiar with caring for postoperative patients. In consideration of legal and ethical practices, can the nursing supervisor enforce this assignment?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this situation, the nurse's refusal to accept the assignment is based on personal beliefs that conflict with the nature of the medical practice (therapeutic abortions). According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, nurses have the right to refuse assignments that go against their personal, cultural, or religious beliefs. The nurse in this scenario has expressed a legitimate concern, and the nursing supervisor should respect the nurse's autonomy and should not enforce the assignment. It is essential to balance respecting the nurse's beliefs while also ensuring patient safety and adequate staffing levels.
Question 2 of 5
A patient who is 6 months pregnant has sought medical attention, saying she fell down the stairs. Which scenario would cause an emergency department nurse to suspect that the woman has been battered?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this scenario, the emergency department nurse would be most likely to suspect that the woman has been battered based on the presence of injuries on various parts of her body that are in different stages of healing. This pattern of injuries, known as the "battered woman syndrome," is a red flag for domestic violence. The varying stages of healing indicate that the injuries are not from a single accidental fall down the stairs but rather from repeated incidents of physical abuse. Additionally, the fact that the injuries are in different locations on the body further suggests that they are not the result of a single traumatic event. This situation warrants further investigation and intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of the pregnant woman and her unborn child.
Question 3 of 5
What nursing intervention would the nurse include in the preoperative care plan for a patient scheduled for an outpatient lumpectomy of a fibroadenoma?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: It is essential to advise the patient to avoid food or drink for at least 2 hours before surgery to reduce the risk of aspiration during the procedure. An empty stomach helps prevent vomiting and aspiration of stomach contents that could potentially lead to respiratory complications during the surgical procedure. This is a crucial preoperative nursing intervention to ensure patient safety and preparation for the lumpectomy surgery. Administering pain and antiemetic medications, arranging for transportation home, and reviewing discharge instructions are important aspects of care but do not directly impact the patient's safety during the procedure like fasting before surgery does.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse who works in the emergency department (ED) is assigned to a patient who is experiencing heavy vaginal bleeding at 12 weeks’ gestation. An ultrasound has confirmed the absence of a fetal heart rate, and the patient is scheduled for a dilation and evacuation of the pregnancy. The nurse refuses to provide any further care for this patient based on moral principles. What is the nurse manager’s initial response to the nurse?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse manager's initial response should prioritize patient care and safety. In this situation, the patient requires urgent medical attention due to heavy vaginal bleeding and the need for a dilation and evacuation procedure. The nurse's refusal to provide care based on personal moral principles can be considered as patient abandonment, which is a serious ethical and legal issue in healthcare. The nurse manager must advise the nurse to continue providing care for the patient to ensure that the patient's needs are met and to prevent harm resulting from abandonment. The nurse manager should also address the nurse's concerns separately through appropriate channels, such as discussing ethical considerations, providing support, and exploring options for accommodation or transfer if necessary.
Question 5 of 5
What hormonal medication can be used in a premenopausal patient without the concurrent use of ovarian suppression?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Tamoxifen is a hormonal medication that can be used in premenopausal patients without the concurrent use of ovarian suppression. It is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that acts by blocking estrogen receptors in breast tissue, thereby inhibiting the growth of hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells. Tamoxifen is commonly prescribed for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Unlike aromatase inhibitors (e.g., letrozole and exemestane) which require ovarian suppression in premenopausal patients, tamoxifen can be used as monotherapy in premenopausal patients due to its different mechanism of action. Elacestrant is a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) and not commonly used in clinical practice for this indication.