ATI RN
Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
A novice nurse notices the medication nurse hurriedly gathering medications to be administered for the entire day, removing them from the packages, and placing them in a paper cup with the patient's name and room number on the cup. When one of the patients points at a pill and asks, "What is this?" and "What does this do?" the medication nurse is uncertain, because it has long since been removed from the packaging. The novice nurse speaks to the nurse manager about her observations and describes her concerns. The novice nurse has assumed the role of:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct Answer: C - Change agent Rationale: 1. A change agent is someone who identifies issues or concerns and takes action to implement positive changes. 2. In this scenario, the novice nurse recognized a potential problem with medication administration and spoke to the nurse manager to address it. 3. By seeking to improve medication safety practices, the novice nurse is actively working towards positive change within the healthcare setting. 4. The other choices are incorrect: - A "loner" implies someone who prefers to work alone, which is not relevant to the situation. - "Rutter" and "native" are not recognized terms in this context and do not apply to the nurse's actions.
Question 2 of 9
Time is becoming crucial for the nurse to address issues related to sponsoring programs to include hearing aid costs as part of Medicare coverage. The nurse involved in grassroots political actions realizes that the least timely method of reaching elected officials would be via:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: letter. Writing a physical letter and sending it through traditional mail is the least timely method of reaching elected officials. It takes longer for letters to be delivered and processed compared to other electronic forms of communication like telephone, email, and fax. Elected officials may not receive and respond to letters in a timely manner, especially when time is crucial. Telephone, email, and fax offer quicker and more direct communication, allowing for faster responses and action. Therefore, choosing to reach out to elected officials via a letter would be the least timely method in this scenario.
Question 3 of 9
A nurse believes that humans use creativity and critical thinking to balance their connections with their surroundings. The nurse decides to conduct a study on the basis of this belief. Which nursing theory would be best for this study?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Rogers' science of unitary human beings. This theory emphasizes the interconnectedness between humans and their environment as energy fields. Step 1: The nurse's belief that humans use creativity and critical thinking aligns with Rogers' theory of constant interaction with the environment through energy fields. Step 2: This theory views humans as holistic beings, emphasizing the balance and harmony between individuals and their surroundings. Step 3: Peplau's theory focuses more on interpersonal relations, Roy's on adaptation to stressors, and Orem's on self-care deficits, which are not directly related to the nurse's hypothesis. Therefore, Rogers' theory best fits the study's focus on the dynamic interaction between humans and their environment through creativity and critical thinking.
Question 4 of 9
An RN with excellent assessment and psychomotor skills would derive power on the basis of which source?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Expert. An RN with excellent assessment and psychomotor skills derives power from their expertise in the field. They are respected and trusted for their knowledge and abilities, giving them influence over others. Rewards (A) and coercion (B) are forms of power derived from external factors like incentives or threats, not skills. Legitimate power (D) comes from one's position or title, not necessarily from skills. In this case, the RN's power comes from their expertise, making choice C the most appropriate answer.
Question 5 of 9
A new nurse researcher is interested in tracing the history of nursing research. The researcher learns that nursing research began with:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because Florence Nightingale is widely recognized as the pioneer of modern nursing research. During the Crimean War, she collected and analyzed data on patient care outcomes, demonstrating the importance of evidence-based practice in nursing. This laid the foundation for the development of nursing research as a formal discipline. Choice B is incorrect as nursing research did not start between 1900 and 1940, but rather with Nightingale's work. Choice C is incorrect because the focus of nursing research was not solely on doctorally prepared nurses but on improving patient care in general. Choice D is incorrect as the naturalistic paradigm is just one approach to research and not the starting point for nursing research.
Question 6 of 9
A group of registered nurses with ADN degrees are concerned that the minimum educational standard for licensure as a registered nurse is being raised to the bachelor's (BSN) level. After contacting the American Nurses Association, they learn they will be "grandfathered" in. Under the "grandfather clause," nurses with associate degrees will:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct Answer: B Rationale: 1. The "grandfather clause" typically allows individuals to maintain current status or privileges despite changes in requirements. 2. The clause ensures that nurses with ADN degrees can continue using the title "registered nurse" without needing to upgrade to a BSN. 3. This aligns with the principle of honoring past qualifications while moving forward with new standards. 4. Choice A is incorrect as it introduces additional requirements beyond what the clause typically allows. 5. Choice C is incorrect as it imposes a strict time limit, which is not a common practice under grandfather clauses. 6. Choice D is incorrect as it suggests using a new title, which contradicts the purpose of grandfathering in existing qualifications.
Question 7 of 9
A nurse is reading about positive reinforcement with the goal of increasing staff motivation. Which action would demonstrate positive reinforcement?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because giving spur-of-the-moment recognition to an employee who has accomplished a goal is an example of positive reinforcement. This action immediately follows the desired behavior, increasing the likelihood of it being repeated. This instant feedback helps reinforce the employee's behavior positively. A: Thanking each employee every morning is a form of positive feedback, but it lacks the immediacy of reinforcement. B: Rotating a monthly recognition award does not provide immediate reinforcement for specific behaviors. C: Waiting for an annual review to recognize accomplishments does not provide timely feedback to reinforce desired behaviors.
Question 8 of 9
A nurse is concerned about a trend in the hospital to regularly "float" nurses to different areas of the hospital based on staff shortage regardless of recent experience in caring for the population on the unit. When deciding to accept a staffing assignment in this situation, the nurse considers a "safe harbor." What is meant by "safe harbor"?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because "safe harbor" refers to a legal provision that protects nurses when they feel unsafe accepting a staffing assignment due to lack of recent experience or competency. By invoking safe harbor, nurses can continue caring for patients while an investigation is conducted to ensure patient safety and protect the nurse's license. This process allows nurses to voice concerns without fear of reprisal. Option A is incorrect as it refers to a disaster response plan, unrelated to safe harbor. Option B is incorrect as it discusses patient care teams and infectious diseases, not safe harbor protections. Option C is incorrect because it addresses reporting violence, which is not directly related to safe harbor provisions for staffing assignments.
Question 9 of 9
A nurse providing care at the bedside receives an "alert" that a patient's stat potassium level is 5 and digoxin (Lanoxin) is scheduled. The nurse holds the medication and prevents a possible complication. This feature of the Electronic Health Record is available through which core function of EHR?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Decision support. In this scenario, the nurse received an alert regarding a potential drug interaction between the patient's potassium level and the scheduled digoxin. Decision support in EHR provides real-time clinical guidance to healthcare providers, helping them make informed decisions to improve patient safety. Holding the medication in response to the alert demonstrates the effective use of decision support to prevent adverse drug events. Choices A, C, and D do not directly relate to the situation described and do not involve the clinical decision-making support provided by EHRs.