ATI RN
Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
A nurse is having difficulty managing assignments at work, which results in a feeling of "failure" and tasks that are not completed or that are not completed satisfactorily. The mentor suggests some tips for time management. These include: (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why choice B is correct: 1. Planning for tomorrow today allows the nurse to set clear goals and prioritize tasks in advance. 2. By planning ahead, the nurse can allocate time efficiently, reducing the feeling of overwhelm. 3. This approach fosters better organization and focus, enhancing productivity and task completion. 4. Planning helps in identifying potential obstacles and developing strategies to overcome them. 5. Ultimately, effective planning leads to better time management and a sense of accomplishment. Summary of why other choices are incorrect: A: Focusing on activities rather than objectives can lead to a lack of direction and prioritization. C: Making the last hours most productive neglects the importance of consistent time management throughout the day. D: Maintaining a log of time spent can be helpful but does not address the proactive approach of planning ahead for better time management.
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 at a school notices that several students have "blisters" on their bodies. Further investigation reveals that a terrorist incident has occurred, causing smallpox. If the chemical, biologic, radiologic, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) agent categories are used, this incident would be classified as:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: biologic. Smallpox is a viral disease caused by the variola virus, making it a biological agent. The virus spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets or contact with infected bodily fluids. The term CBRNE encompasses various types of agents used in terrorism incidents. In this case, the incident involving smallpox falls under the biologic category due to its viral nature, as opposed to chemical (A), radiologic (C), or nuclear (D) agents. Chemical agents involve toxic substances, radiologic agents involve radiation, and nuclear agents involve nuclear materials. In summary, the smallpox incident is categorized as biologic due to the nature of the variola virus.
Question 4 of 9
A comparison of nursing in the 1980s to nursing in the 1990s reveals that:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because it accurately reflects the shift in focus from tuberculosis in the 1980s to the emergence of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s in the field of nursing. Tuberculosis was a major concern in the 1980s, and the AIDS epidemic became a primary focus in the 1990s. Choice A is incorrect because it discusses preventable diseases caused by unsafe lifestyles, which is not directly related to the comparison of nursing between the two decades. Choice C is incorrect because it mentions a decrease in ambulatory services in the 1980s leading to an increase in public health nurses in the 1990s, which is not supported by the historical context of nursing during those decades. Choice D is incorrect because it suggests that the demand for advanced practice nurses increased in both the 1980s and the 1990s due to economic reasons and national health concerns, which is not specifically relevant to the comparison between nursing in the two decades.
Question 5 of 9
A researcher calculated the risk-to-benefit ratio and concluded that no harmful effects were associated with a survey of college sophomores. The researcher was applying the principles of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: beneficence. Beneficence refers to the ethical principle of maximizing benefits and minimizing harm in research. In this scenario, the researcher calculated the risk-to-benefit ratio and concluded that no harmful effects were associated with the survey of college sophomores. By considering the well-being of the research participants and ensuring that the benefits outweigh any potential risks, the researcher demonstrated the application of beneficence. Summary: Choice A is correct because it aligns with the ethical principle of beneficence in research. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not directly relate to the consideration of risks and benefits in research involving human participants.
Question 6 of 9
The nurse who is responsible for following the patient from admission through discharge or resolution of illness while working with a broad range of health care providers is called a:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: case manager. A case manager is responsible for coordinating care for a patient from admission to discharge, collaborating with various healthcare providers. This role involves managing the patient's overall care plan, ensuring continuity and efficiency. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Nurse manager focuses on managing nursing staff and unit operations, not individual patient care. C: Coordinator of patient-centered care delivery may oversee care coordination but does not necessarily follow the patient throughout the entire care journey. D: Team leader in team nursing care delivery is focused on leading a specific nursing team, not managing the patient's entire care process.
Question 7 of 9
A person who is covered by Medicaid moves from one state to another and asks the nurse at the health department why the benefits changed. The correct response by the nurse is:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: "Medicaid is funded by both state and federal governments, but benefits vary from state to state." Rationale: 1. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program, meaning it is funded by both levels of government. 2. States have flexibility in designing and administering their Medicaid programs, leading to variations in benefits across states. 3. When an individual covered by Medicaid moves to a different state, they may experience changes in benefits due to these state-specific variations. Summary: A: Incorrect. While local governments may have some influence, Medicaid is primarily funded by both state and federal governments. B: Incorrect. The federal government does provide funding for Medicaid, but states also contribute, and benefits do vary across states. C: Incorrect. State benefits under Medicaid are not solely determined by the present economy; they are influenced by various factors and state policies.
Question 8 of 9
Nurses in a unionized hospital are paid "compensatory pay" when working holidays equal to the number of hours worked with no extra compensation. Although they have suggested changes during the annual survey of employee satisfaction, management refuses to consider another system for compensatory pay. A trained member listened to both nurses and management to make recommendations that were not legally binding. This type of settlement is termed:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: mediation. In this scenario, a trained member listened to both parties (nurses and management) and made recommendations that were not legally binding. Mediation involves a neutral third party facilitating communication and negotiation between conflicting parties to help them reach a mutually acceptable resolution. It is non-binding, unlike binding arbitration, where a decision is imposed on the parties. Picketing involves organized striking by employees to protest against employer practices. Grievance is a formal complaint process within an organization. Mediation is the appropriate term for this non-binding settlement process in this context.
Question 9 of 9
A student is planning to enroll in prerequisite courses after graduating from high school and is researching options for nursing programs. During a career fair the student compares different types of nursing education programs and discovers that:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because master's programs, like the one for clinical nurse leaders, indeed provide entry into practice with a focus on interdisciplinary and bedside nursing care for complex client populations. This choice stands out as it specifically addresses the advanced level of education and specialization required for handling complex cases. Choice A is incorrect because diploma programs typically focus on basic nursing skills rather than specialization in complex client populations. Choice B is incorrect as most practicing RNs nowadays graduate from associate's or bachelor's degree programs, not diploma programs. Choice C is incorrect because baccalaureate programs emphasize a broader education including leadership, research, and critical thinking skills rather than just technical and hands-on nursing skills.