ATI RN
Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 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.
Question 2 of 9
When preparing the education section of a resume:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because listing education in reverse chronological order helps emphasize recent and relevant qualifications first. It showcases academic progression and achievements. A is incorrect as high school is typically not included. B is incorrect as including all colleges, even without a degree, can clutter the resume. C is incorrect as omitting the university address may limit the employer's ability to verify information.
Question 3 of 9
A certified oncology nurse notices that a novice nurse is unsure of decision making and lacks technical skills. The novice nurse gains confidence by sharing and learning with the experienced nurse. This relationship continues and builds, allowing the novice nurse to become more confident. This relationship is known as:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: mentoring. Mentoring involves an experienced individual guiding and supporting a less experienced individual to help them develop skills, confidence, and knowledge. In this scenario, the certified oncology nurse is providing guidance and support to the novice nurse, helping them gain confidence and improve decision-making and technical skills. Mentoring fosters a personalized and supportive relationship that allows for growth and development. Summary of other choices: B: Role modeling involves observing and emulating behaviors of others, but it does not necessarily involve the direct guidance and support seen in mentoring. C: Preceptorship typically refers to a structured program where a more experienced individual (preceptor) guides a less experienced individual (preceptee) for a specific period, which is more formalized than the relationship described in the scenario. D: Socialization refers to the process of adapting to the norms and values of a group or society, which is not directly related to the mentorship relationship described in the scenario.
Question 4 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.
Question 5 of 9
A nurse gives Dilantin intravenously with lactated Ringer's solution containing multivitamins. The drug precipitates and obstructs the only existing line. When the team leader informs the nurse that these drugs cannot be mixed, the nurse states, "Everyone just pushes the medicine slowly. No one checks for compatibility. There isn't even a compatibility chart on the unit." Which type of logical fallacy has influenced the nurse?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Appeal to common practice. The nurse's argument that "everyone just pushes the medicine slowly" and that "no one checks for compatibility" is based on the common practice in the unit rather than on scientific evidence or guidelines. This logical fallacy assumes that just because something is commonly done, it must be correct. In this case, the nurse is disregarding the importance of checking drug compatibility and following proper protocols. Incorrect choices: A: Ad hominem abusive - This choice involves attacking the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself, which is not evident in the scenario. C: Appeal to emotion - This choice would involve using emotions to manipulate the audience rather than relying on logic or evidence, which is not the case in the scenario. D: Appeal to tradition - This choice would involve arguing that something is right or good because it has been done that way for a long time, which is not explicitly stated in the scenario.
Question 6 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 7 of 9
The staff on a nursing unit notes that patient satisfaction varies from month to month. They plot the degree of patient satisfaction each month for 1 year to determine when the periods of greatest dissatisfaction are occurring. The staff uses which type of graph?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Time plot. A time plot is the most appropriate graph for displaying data over time to identify trends and patterns. In this scenario, plotting patient satisfaction levels monthly over a year allows the staff to analyze fluctuations and identify periods of greatest dissatisfaction accurately. Summary of other choices: B: Pareto chart - Pareto charts are used to display the frequency of occurrences in a dataset in descending order. It is not suitable for analyzing trends over time. C: Flowchart - Flowcharts are used to represent processes and workflows, not suitable for displaying time-series data. D: Cause-and-effect diagram - Cause-and-effect diagrams are used to identify and analyze potential causes of a problem, not suitable for displaying time-series data.
Question 8 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 9 of 9
As a patient's condition moves toward their impending death, which nursing intervention demonstrates how the focus of palliative care change?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because as a patient approaches death, the focus of palliative care shifts towards providing comfort and symptom management to improve their quality of life. Identifying and addressing the patient's comfort needs becomes crucial in ensuring a peaceful and dignified end-of-life experience. A: While discussing spiritual needs can be important, the primary focus shifts towards physical comfort in the final stages of life. B: Educating the patient about physical changes is important, but it may not be the priority as the focus shifts towards comfort care. C: Advance care planning is essential but may have already been addressed before the patient reaches the impending death stage.