A nurse working in a factory performs routine hearing tests for employees. The factory uses 90 dB as the safe limit for an 8-hour day's exposure to machine noise rather than 85 dB as recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The nurse is functioning in the role of:

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Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing Questions

Question 1 of 9

A nurse working in a factory performs routine hearing tests for employees. The factory uses 90 dB as the safe limit for an 8-hour day's exposure to machine noise rather than 85 dB as recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The nurse is functioning in the role of:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: occupational health nurse. This is because an occupational health nurse specializes in promoting health and safety in the workplace, including monitoring employees' exposure to occupational hazards like noise. By conducting hearing tests and recognizing the discrepancy between the factory's safe noise level and OSHA's recommendation, the nurse is fulfilling the role of an occupational health nurse. Choice A (quality management) is incorrect as it involves ensuring high-quality care and services, not specifically focused on workplace health and safety. Choice B (informatics nurse specialist) is incorrect as it pertains to using technology and data to improve healthcare outcomes, not directly related to workplace health monitoring. Choice D (case manager) is incorrect as it involves coordinating care for individual patients, not overseeing workplace health and safety practices.

Question 2 of 9

An interdisciplinary team is evaluating the hospital's care of patients admitted with a myocardial infarction (heart attack) compared to national standards. The team analyzes the hospital's clinical indicator, which would be: (select all that apply)

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: aspirin order within 24 hours of discharge. This is a key clinical indicator for evaluating care of heart attack patients as aspirin is a standard treatment to prevent further cardiac events. It is crucial for patient safety and adherence to national guidelines. Choice B is incorrect as patient teaching on smoking cessation, although important, is not a direct clinical indicator for evaluating care of heart attack patients. Choice C is incorrect as beta blocker administration upon arrival is important for heart attack patients, but it is not specific to evaluating the hospital's care compared to national standards. Choice D is incorrect as employer support for stress modification is not a clinical indicator relevant to evaluating care of heart attack patients.

Question 3 of 9

A nurse would like to obtain background information and learn the political platform of a candidate who is running for national office. The nurse should contact the:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: American Nurses Association Nurses Strategic Action Team (N-STAT). Rationale: 1. N-STAT is a strategic action team within the American Nurses Association, which is a reputable organization representing nurses' interests. 2. N-STAT focuses on political advocacy and provides information on political platforms of candidates running for national office. 3. Contacting N-STAT would provide the nurse with accurate and relevant information about the candidate's political platform. Summary of other choices: A: National Registry for Candidates - Not a known entity, unlikely to provide specific political platform information. C: National League of Nurses - Focuses on nursing education and standards, not political platforms. D: National Council of State Boards of Nursing - Focuses on regulatory aspects of nursing practice, not political platforms.

Question 4 of 9

When deciding whether and when a task should be completed, a nurse must:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: ask, "What will happen if I don't complete the task now?" This is the best approach as it helps prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. By considering the consequences of not completing a task immediately, the nurse can focus on critical tasks first to ensure patient safety and efficient workflow. Choice A is incorrect because completing all tasks as they are thought of without prioritizing can lead to neglecting important tasks and compromising patient care. Choice B is incorrect as procrastination is not a professional or effective way to manage tasks in a healthcare setting. Choice D is incorrect as viewing large projects holistically is important, but it doesn't address the immediate need to prioritize individual tasks.

Question 5 of 9

A nonprofit organization that distributes to governmental agencies, the public, business, and health care professionals knowledge related to health care for the purpose of improving health is the:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Institute of Medicine. The Institute of Medicine is known for disseminating knowledge related to health care through government agencies, the public, business, and health care professionals to improve health outcomes. The organization conducts research and provides evidence-based recommendations to address health care challenges. A: Institute for Safe Medication Practices focuses specifically on promoting safe medication practices, not a broad range of health care knowledge dissemination. C: National Committee for Quality Assurance primarily focuses on accrediting and certifying health care organizations based on quality standards, rather than broadly distributing health care knowledge. D: The Joint Commission is responsible for accrediting health care organizations and institutions, ensuring they meet quality and safety standards, but not specifically for distributing health care knowledge to various stakeholders.

Question 6 of 9

Which functions can be delegated only to another RN with appropriate experience and training? (select all that apply)

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because nursing judgment related to withholding medication based on vital signs requires critical thinking, clinical knowledge, and experience. This decision-making process involves assessing the patient's condition, interpreting vital signs, and determining if medication should be given or withheld to ensure patient safety. This function cannot be delegated to someone without the appropriate training and expertise. A: Assessment of skin integrity on the third day of hospitalization can be delegated to other healthcare team members such as LPNs or nursing assistants, as long as they have been trained and deemed competent. B: Evaluation of patient teaching related to turn, cough, and deep breathing exercises can be delegated to other healthcare team members, as long as they have the appropriate training and supervision. D: The statement that RNs do not delegate to other RNs is incorrect. RNs can delegate certain tasks to other RNs based on their scope of practice and level of experience. It is not limited to LPNs or unlicensed assistive personnel.

Question 7 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 8 of 9

Nurses caring for the victims of a mass casualty incident:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because prioritizing care based on the greatest chance of survival maximizes the number of lives saved in a mass casualty incident. This approach follows the principle of triage, which aims to allocate resources efficiently. Choice A is incorrect as it pertains to coordination rather than immediate patient care. Choice B is incorrect as it is not the primary role of nurses during a mass casualty incident. Choice C is incorrect as determining a credible threat is the responsibility of security and law enforcement, not nurses.

Question 9 of 9

An advanced practice nurse inputs into a computer software program the following clinical manifestations: open wound with tibia exposed, petechial hemorrhage, and temporary loss of consciousness. The computer diagnosis of fat emboli is generated by a system known as:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: decision support. In this scenario, the nurse inputs clinical manifestations into a computer program to assist in generating a diagnosis. Decision support systems use algorithms and data to provide healthcare professionals with evidence-based recommendations or diagnoses. In this case, the system likely recognized the combination of clinical signs as indicative of fat emboli. Telehealth (B) involves remote healthcare services, not diagnosis. Robotic technology (C) and biometric technology (D) are not directly related to clinical diagnosis like decision support systems are.

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