ATI RN
Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
A nurse takes a day to travel to a state park where she can sit by the river alone to reflect over recent events and put things into perspective. She recalls the time she was complimented for her ability to deal with a difficult patient and another time when she was criticized for lack of teamwork. This nurse is improving which source of energy?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse is reflecting on her personal growth and finding meaning in her experiences, indicating a focus on values, purpose, and inner strength, which align with the spiritual source of energy. This choice is correct as it involves connecting with higher values and beliefs to find motivation and resilience. Emotional energy (choice A) focuses on feelings and expression, physical energy (choice C) relates to the body's vitality, and mental energy (choice D) pertains to cognitive abilities and focus. In this scenario, the nurse's focus is on introspection and personal growth rather than emotional, physical, or mental aspects, making choice B the most appropriate.
Question 2 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 3 of 9
Following a terrorist attack, victims are exhibiting posttraumatic stress syndrome, and care providers are exhibiting compassion fatigue. Which federal response system should be initiated?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). This system is designed to provide medical care during disasters, including addressing mental health needs like posttraumatic stress syndrome in victims and compassion fatigue in care providers. NDMS coordinates federal medical response resources and personnel to support communities during disasters. A: Strategic National Stockpile focuses on providing medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies, but does not directly address mental health needs or provide medical care. B: Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) focuses on local response capabilities for mass casualty incidents, but does not have the same scope as NDMS in providing comprehensive medical care. C: Commissioned Corps Readiness Force is a team of healthcare professionals within the U.S. Public Health Service, but it is not specifically designated for disaster medical response like NDMS.
Question 4 of 9
to that provided during the Crimean War?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because it accurately reflects the impact of Florence Nightingale's efforts during the Crimean War on nursing care during the Civil War. Nightingale advocated for sanitary conditions which led to improved housing for soldiers in the Civil War. This is supported by historical evidence. A is incorrect because the emphasis on nursing care differed between the wars, with the Crimean War focusing more on basic care and the Civil War emphasizing sanitary conditions. C is incorrect because black nurses faced discrimination and unequal compensation during both wars, and Mary Seacole's contributions were not widely recognized during the Civil War. D is incorrect because Nightingale did not complete formal nursing training before her work in the Crimean War, and Dix was already an experienced nurse before the Civil War.
Question 5 of 9
Which trend is an effect of the nursing shortage on nursing education?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because the nursing shortage has led to a situation where students may be assigned to preceptors who have not yet developed expertise in the field of interest. This is a direct effect of the shortage as experienced and qualified nurses may not always be available to mentor students. This can impact the quality of education and training students receive, potentially hindering their learning and skill development. Options A, B, and C are incorrect: A: While it is true that devoted qualified nurses may be providing bedside nursing due to the complexity of care required, this does not directly relate to the effect of the nursing shortage on nursing education. B: The increase in the number of applicants and limited enrollment due to financial reasons is a separate issue from the shortage's impact on nursing education. C: The increase in nurses entering graduate school does not necessarily result in a lower faculty/student ratio for nursing students and is not a direct effect of the nursing shortage on nursing education.
Question 6 of 9
A novice nurse notices a patient is pacing the floor and twisting his hands. When the nurse enters the room, the patient stares at her and mumbles, "Can't anyone understand what I want?" while smiling and reaching out to shake the nurse's hand. The nurse recognizes a risk for violence based on which clinical findings? (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because glaring at the nurse indicates potential aggression and hostility, which are red flags for violence risk. Glaring can be a non-verbal sign of anger or frustration, signaling a potential escalation. In contrast, nervousness and twisting of hands (choice B) may indicate anxiety or distress but not necessarily violence. Murmuring when talking (choice C) may suggest communication difficulties but does not directly indicate violence risk. Lastly, a diagnosis of a terminal illness (choice D) is not directly related to the immediate risk of violence in this scenario.
Question 7 of 9
While performing a job search, a nurse reviews the list of Magnet hospitals of the American Nurses Credentialing Center because:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because Magnet hospitals are recognized for their nursing excellence, empowering nurses with autonomy and self-governance. This fosters a positive work environment and improves patient outcomes. Choice A is incorrect because being a Magnet hospital does not guarantee revenue retention, but rather focuses on nursing excellence. Choice C is incorrect as Magnet hospitals do not require all RNs to have a master's degree. They do emphasize ongoing education and professional development, but not at a specific degree level. Choice D is incorrect because Magnet status is not related to the availability of diagnostic equipment but rather on nursing quality and excellence.
Question 8 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 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.