ATI RN
Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
A nurse caring for a Hispanic child admitted with diarrhea notices the child is wearing red yarn around the wrist. The nurse compliments the child's "jewelry," knowing it is believed to prevent:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: mal ojo. In Hispanic culture, red yarn around the wrist is believed to protect against mal ojo, or "evil eye." This belief stems from the idea that envy or admiration can lead to negative energy being directed at a person, particularly children, causing harm or illness. By complimenting the child's "jewelry," the nurse is acknowledging and respecting the cultural belief in warding off mal ojo. Summary: - A: Mal ojo is the correct answer as the red yarn is believed to protect against it. - B: Susto is a condition related to fright or soul loss, not associated with red yarn. - C: Bilis refers to bile and is not relevant to the red yarn. - D: Empacho is a digestive illness, unrelated to the red yarn tradition.
Question 2 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 3 of 9
A nurse is informed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has determined that a bomb has been detected and is in the possession of a known terrorist group. The government buildings in the local community are the target. This situation is termed a(n):
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: credible threat. In this scenario, a credible threat refers to a specific and tangible indication that a harmful event may occur. The information provided by the FBI about a bomb in possession of a known terrorist group targeting government buildings is a clear example of a credible threat. This term is specifically used in emergency management to indicate a situation where there is a realistic possibility of harm. A is incorrect because an all-hazards approach involves preparing for and responding to a wide range of potential disasters, not specifically a bomb threat. B is incorrect because a biologic event refers to an outbreak of a biological agent, not a bomb threat. D is incorrect because a natural disaster involves events caused by natural forces, not intentional acts by terrorist groups.
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 novice nurse is stressed due to always being behind with her assignments. She is overheard saying, "No one here worries about checking nasogastric tube placement before they give medications and hang feedings. Skipping that step would save me an extra 30 minutes to be used for charting. If they can do it, so can I." This nurse is experiencing which stage of reality shock?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, "native." In this scenario, the nurse is rationalizing skipping a crucial safety step by justifying it with the actions of others, indicating a lack of understanding regarding the importance of the procedure. The "native" stage of reality shock occurs when individuals start to adopt the norms and behaviors of their workplace without questioning or critically evaluating them. This nurse is displaying a mindset of conforming to unsafe practices to fit in with her colleagues, which aligns with the characteristics of the "native" stage. Incorrect choices: A: "loner" does not apply as the nurse is not isolating herself but rather seeking to emulate the actions of others. B: "rutter" does not fit as this stage involves feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the job, not justifying unsafe practices. C: "change agent" is not relevant as the nurse is not actively seeking to instigate change but rather conforming to existing practices.
Question 6 of 9
If a nurse applies Nightingale's theory to current practice, the nurse's first step will be to evaluate the hospital room's air quality and, second, to:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because Nightingale's theory emphasizes the importance of a clean and well-ventilated environment for patient healing. By arranging for the client to go outside and keeping the room's window blinds open, the nurse is ensuring proper ventilation and exposure to natural light, which can promote healing. This step aligns with Nightingale's focus on the physical environment's impact on health outcomes. A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not directly address the fundamental principle of Nightingale's theory related to environmental factors. Checking the TV volume, consulting a dietitian, or bringing personal items like family photographs do not directly contribute to creating a healing environment based on Nightingale's theory.
Question 7 of 9
During the relief response phase of a disaster resulting from a "dirty bomb":
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because during the relief response phase of a "dirty bomb" disaster, victims are likely to suffer from burns and poisoning due to radiation exposure. Providing treatment for burns and poisoning is crucial to saving lives and preventing further health complications. Choice B is incorrect because emergency plans coordination typically occurs during the preparedness phase, not the relief response phase. Choice C is incorrect as reconstruction usually takes place in the recovery phase, which follows the relief response phase. Choice D is incorrect as collecting food stores is more related to preparedness or immediate response, not specifically during the relief response phase.
Question 8 of 9
A nurse is hoping for a promotion and seeks the help of a coach to improve time management skills. The first task assigned by the coach is for the nurse to list all external distractors that prevent organization and completion of tasks. The nurse would include:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because waiting for the oncoming shift to start walking rounds is an external distractor that can affect time management. The nurse cannot control when the shift starts, leading to potential delays in task completion. Incorrect choices: B: Failure to delegate tasks is an internal issue, not an external distractor. C: Talking with a patient's family member who is a personal friend is a boundary issue, not necessarily an external distractor. D: Thinking about a vacation is also an internal distraction, not an external one. In summary, the correct answer focuses on an external factor that the nurse cannot directly control, affecting time management, while the other choices are related to internal issues or personal boundaries.
Question 9 of 9
Nurses on a unit provide personal hygiene, administer medications, educate the patient and family about treatments, and provide emotional support. These nurses provide patient care based on which nursing delivery system?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Total patient care. Total patient care system involves one nurse being responsible for all aspects of care for a specific patient, including personal hygiene, medication administration, education, and emotional support. This system ensures continuity, individualized care, and better communication between the nurse, patient, and family. Partnership nursing (B) involves collaboration between the nurse and patient, team nursing (C) involves a team of healthcare providers working together, and functional nursing (D) involves dividing tasks among different healthcare professionals, none of which fully align with the comprehensive care provided in total patient care system.