A new mother is experiencing pain after delivering an infant with Down syndrome. The staff nurse states, "I don't think she is really hurting. Let the next shift give the pain medication." The team leader notices the staff nurse looks agitated and anxious and asks about any concerns in providing care to this new mom. The staff nurse admits having a stillborn infant with Down syndrome. This is an example of which component of communication?

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Contemporary Issues in Nursing Questions

Question 1 of 9

A new mother is experiencing pain after delivering an infant with Down syndrome. The staff nurse states, "I don't think she is really hurting. Let the next shift give the pain medication." The team leader notices the staff nurse looks agitated and anxious and asks about any concerns in providing care to this new mom. The staff nurse admits having a stillborn infant with Down syndrome. This is an example of which component of communication?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Past experiences. In this scenario, the staff nurse's past experience of having a stillborn infant with Down syndrome is influencing her perception and behavior towards the new mother. This past experience is shaping her emotions, thoughts, and actions, demonstrating how personal experiences can impact communication in healthcare settings. This highlights the importance of self-awareness and reflection to understand how past experiences can influence interactions with patients. Incorrect choices: A: Personal perception - While personal perception plays a role in communication, the key factor in this scenario is the staff nurse's past experience, not just her perception. C: Filtration - Filtration refers to the process of selectively interpreting information. In this case, the staff nurse's behavior is more influenced by her past experience rather than selective filtering of information. D: Preconceived idea - While the staff nurse may have preconceived ideas about individuals with Down syndrome due to her past experience, the primary focus is on her past experience itself rather

Question 2 of 9

A nurse moves from California to Arkansas and due to having 20 years of experience as a registered nurse is immediately placed in charge of the telemetry unit. The staffing consists of LPNs and two unlicensed assistive personnel. The RN is unsure of the scope of practice of the LPNs and reviews the nurse practice act for Arkansas, which lacks clarity on some tasks. The RN should:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: contact the state board of nursing to determine legal scope of practice for LPNs. This is the most appropriate action because the state board of nursing is the authoritative body that governs nursing practice within a specific state. By contacting the board, the RN can get accurate and up-to-date information on the legal scope of practice for LPNs in Arkansas. This ensures compliance with state regulations and avoids any potential legal issues. A: Querying the state nursing association may provide some insight, but the state board of nursing is the official entity that regulates nursing practice. B: Asking the LPNs about their tasks may not provide a comprehensive understanding of their legal scope of practice and could lead to misunderstandings. D: Referring to California's nurse practice act is irrelevant as each state has its own regulations, and assuming consistency across states can lead to incorrect assumptions.

Question 3 of 9

During orientation, a novice nurse sits and "virtually spends" the first few paychecks, envisioning the money going into a personal bank account. In the dream state, the nurse smiles and knows that the pain of nursing school was worth it. Which phase of reality shock is the nurse experiencing?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The nurse is experiencing the "Honeymoon" phase of reality shock. In this phase, individuals feel excited, optimistic, and idealistic about their new role and workplace. The nurse's positive visualization of enjoying the benefits of their hard work during orientation aligns with the honeymoon phase. This phase is characterized by a sense of satisfaction, fulfillment, and a belief that the sacrifices made, such as enduring nursing school, were worth it. The nurse's emotional state of smiling and feeling content reflects the honeymoon phase. Other choices are incorrect: B: Shock or rejection - This phase involves feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and doubting one's abilities. The nurse's positive emotions do not align with this phase. C: Recovery - This phase involves adjusting and finding ways to cope with the challenges of the new role. The nurse is not in a phase of recovery as they are not struggling or adapting to the new environment. D: Resolution - This phase involves accepting the reality of the new role and moving forward

Question 4 of 9

Nurses can combat the nursing shortage by:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because advocating for funds to pay for nursing education and a safer work environment addresses the root causes of the nursing shortage. By securing funding for education, more individuals can enter the nursing profession. Creating a safer work environment enhances nurse retention. A is incorrect because while unions can negotiate for better benefits, it doesn't directly address the shortage by increasing the number of nurses. B is incorrect because reducing the requirements for foreign nurses may compromise the quality of care and does not address the shortage of local nurses. C is incorrect because working more hours with a higher nurse/patient ratio can lead to burnout and compromise patient safety, exacerbating the nursing shortage.

Question 5 of 9

Which of the following statements concerning the Institute of Medicine (IOM) competencies is correct?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the IOM competencies aim to improve healthcare by addressing both individual and system-based approaches. This is crucial as it recognizes that improving healthcare requires a comprehensive approach that involves changing both individual behaviors and systemic structures. A: Each competency is mutually exclusive - This is incorrect as the competencies are designed to work together, not in isolation. B: The competencies focus on individual efforts to reduce errors - This is incorrect as the competencies also emphasize the importance of systemic changes to prevent errors. C: Physicians lead the team to achieve each competency - This is incorrect as the competencies are meant to be achieved collaboratively by a multidisciplinary team, not solely led by physicians.

Question 6 of 9

When reading about nursing as a career, a student is interested in learning about violence in the profession. Which statement accurately reflects violence in health care and the profession of nursing?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because nurses play a crucial role in advocating for violence prevention programs to create a safe work environment. Nurses can raise awareness, implement policies, and support victims. Incorrect answers: A: Trust in nursing doesn't prevent violence. Violence can still occur due to various factors. C: Verbal assault is recognized as a form of violence in the nursing profession. D: Evaluating all nurses for the risk of committing violence may not be feasible or effective in preventing violence.

Question 7 of 9

A nurse hopes to improve time management skills using the ABC prioritization approach. Which tasks would be prioritized as "B"? (select all that apply)

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because reviewing the dress code policy to give feedback before an appointment in the morning is time-sensitive and directly impacts the nurse's professional responsibilities. This task falls under the "B" category in the ABC prioritization approach, which prioritizes tasks that are important but not urgent. This task requires attention before the morning appointment to ensure professionalism and compliance. Tasks A, C, and D are not prioritized as "B" because they are either more urgent or less important compared to reviewing the dress code policy before the morning appointment. Task A is important but not urgent as the time sheet is not due immediately. Task C is categorized as "A" as it involves a critical patient situation that requires immediate attention. Task D is categorized as "C" as it is important and time-sensitive, needing completion before discharge in 2 hours.

Question 8 of 9

During height and weight assessments at a school's health fair, a child admits to drinking a cup of coffee with his mother every morning, and another child reports enjoying a morning cup of coffee on the commute to school. These two children are both below average on the height chart, and the nurse states, "Drinking coffee stunts a child's growth." This logical fallacy is referred to as:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: confusing cause and effect. The nurse's statement implies that drinking coffee causes the children to be below average in height, which is a logical fallacy. Height is determined by genetics, nutrition, and overall health factors, not by drinking coffee. The nurse is mistakenly attributing the children's height to their coffee consumption without considering other relevant factors. This error in reasoning is known as confusing cause and effect. A: Appeal to common practice is when an argument is justified based on the fact that many people do it, which is not relevant to the coffee consumption issue. C: Ad hominem abusive is attacking the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself, which is not the case here. D: Red herring is when irrelevant information is used to distract from the main issue, which is not the case in this scenario.

Question 9 of 9

A patient is admitted with pneumoniThe case manager refers to a plan of care that specifically identifies dates when supplemental oxygen should be discontinued, positive-pressure ventilation with bronchodilators should be changed to self-administered inhalers, and antibiotics should be changed from intravenous to oral treatment, on the basis of assessment findings. This plan of care is referred to as a:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: clinical pathway. A clinical pathway is a detailed plan of care that outlines specific interventions and treatments based on assessment findings to guide patient care in a structured manner. In this case, the plan includes specific dates for discontinuing supplemental oxygen, changing ventilation methods, and transitioning antibiotics. A. Patient classification system: This refers to categorizing patients based on certain criteria for resource allocation and staffing levels, not specific care plans. C. Patient-centered plan of care: While patient-centered care focuses on individual preferences and needs, it does not necessarily include the structured timeline and interventions outlined in a clinical pathway. D. Diagnosis-related group (DRG): DRGs are used for billing and payment purposes based on specific diagnoses, not for detailed care plans like the one described in the question.

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