A nurse is reading about positive reinforcement with the goal of increasing staff motivation. Which action would demonstrate positive reinforcement?

Questions 113

ATI RN

ATI RN Test Bank

Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions

Question 1 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 2 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 3 of 9

A client is in extreme pain after he was involved in a motor vehicle accident, and morphine has been ordered every hour for pain. The nurse injects saline into the client's IV line and takes the morphine for herself. The nurse is violating which principle of ethics?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Beneficence. Beneficence is the ethical principle that emphasizes the obligation to act in the best interest of the client and to do good. In this scenario, the nurse is not acting in the best interest of the client by withholding the prescribed medication for personal gain. This action goes against the principle of beneficence as it is causing harm to the client by denying them the necessary pain relief. Summary: A: Autonomy is the right of the client to make their own decisions, which is not the main issue in this scenario. B: Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing overall good for the greatest number of people, which is not directly applicable here. D: Dilemmas do not represent a specific ethical principle being violated in this situation.

Question 4 of 9

According to the Palliative Performance Scale which patient is considered to possess 70% of normal function?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the Palliative Performance Scale assesses functional status in palliative care. A patient with 70% normal function would have a score of 70 on the scale, indicating that they are still able to ambulate but with limitations due to their illness. Choice A is incorrect because inability to hold a job does not directly correlate with functional status. Choice B is incorrect as spending most of the day in bed suggests a lower level of functioning. Choice D is incorrect as being bed bound indicates a more severe impairment in function compared to a patient who can still ambulate with limitations.

Question 5 of 9

Each month data on admission assessments that are based on the following standard are entered: "All patients will be assessed by an RN within 2 hours of admission." The target goal for this standard is 97% compliance. Data are displayed on a graph that shows number and time of admission assessments and compliance variation limits. This pictorial representation is:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: control chart. A control chart is used to display data over time and indicate variations within set limits, making it ideal for monitoring compliance with a standard like "All patients will be assessed by an RN within 2 hours of admission." The control chart allows for easy identification of trends, shifts, or patterns that may indicate a need for corrective action to maintain the 97% compliance goal. A: Pareto chart is used to identify the most significant factors contributing to a problem, not to monitor compliance over time. C: Deployment chart is not a standard tool in quality control or process monitoring. D: A top-down flowchart is used to depict the sequence of steps in a process, not to monitor compliance with a standard over time.

Question 6 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 7 of 9

Registered nurses who are entering the workforce will have expanded leadership responsibilities that include: (select all that apply)

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: serving on interdisciplinary care teams. This is correct because as registered nurses enter the workforce, they are expected to collaborate with other healthcare professionals on interdisciplinary care teams to provide comprehensive patient care. This involves working together with professionals from different disciplines to ensure holistic and effective treatment plans. Explanation for why the other choices are incorrect: B: Being competent to work in several areas independently when dictated by patient census - While nurses may need to be versatile, the emphasis on independent work in various areas does not necessarily reflect expanded leadership responsibilities. C: Attending a meeting to plan advanced training for unlicensed assistive personnel - While important for team collaboration, attending meetings to plan training for support staff does not directly relate to expanded leadership responsibilities. D: Evaluating outcomes of care that are reported to a standing committee - While evaluating outcomes is important, it may not specifically denote expanded leadership responsibilities compared to the collaborative nature of serving on interdisciplinary care teams.

Question 8 of 9

A nursing student scores 95% on the written examination for the adult health course. To be successful in this course, this same student must then perform an indwelling catheter insertion and wound care in a simulated environment meeting core competencies. The student asks, "What are core competencies?" The nursing instructor replies, "Core competencies are:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: those skills necessary for safe, competent nursing practice. Core competencies refer to the essential skills and knowledge required for safe and competent nursing practice. In the scenario provided, the nursing student needs to demonstrate proficiency in indwelling catheter insertion and wound care to meet these core competencies. These skills are crucial for providing quality patient care and ensuring patient safety. Choice A is incorrect because core competencies are not about reducing attrition but rather about ensuring students possess the necessary skills for nursing practice. Choice C is incorrect as core competencies focus on skills required for practice, not on educational remediation. Choice D is incorrect because core competencies are not about improving reading and math skills but about the specific nursing skills needed for practice.

Question 9 of 9

The massage therapist uses kinesthesia, or thinking about how movement is expressed, to correct habits that cause poor posture and limited movement. This type of massage is called:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Feldenkrais method. This method focuses on improving movement patterns through kinesthetic awareness and re-education. It helps correct habits that lead to poor posture and limited movement by increasing awareness of how the body moves. The Alexander technique (A) mainly focuses on improving posture and reducing tension. Healing touch (C) involves energy-based healing practices, not specifically related to movement correction. Reiki (D) is a form of energy healing that aims to promote relaxation and stress reduction, not movement correction. Therefore, the best choice for the given scenario is the Feldenkrais method.

Access More Questions!

ATI RN Basic


$89/ 30 days

ATI RN Premium


$150/ 90 days