ATI RN
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
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 3 of 9
A graduate is preparing for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) examination. Based on the latest practice survey, the candidate would focus the most amount of time on which content?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Pharmacologic pain management. This is the most important content area to focus on for the NCLEX-RN exam because pain management is a critical aspect of nursing care. Nurses must understand different types of pain, medications used for pain management, side effects, and assessment techniques. Pharmacologic pain management directly impacts patient comfort and quality of care. Rationale: 1. Pain management is a fundamental aspect of nursing care. 2. Pharmacologic pain management knowledge is crucial for safe and effective patient care. 3. NCLEX commonly tests on pharmacological interventions and their implications. 4. Understanding pain management aligns with nursing scope of practice and ethical responsibilities. Other Choices: A: Stages of grief - While important in nursing, this topic is not as high-priority for the NCLEX-RN exam. C: Practices to promote rest and sleep - Important, but not as directly related to pharmacological interventions. D: Prioritization of workload to manage time effectively - Relevant
Question 4 of 9
A nurse is completing the degree requirements for an advanced practice role as a nurse practitioner and is concerned about certification requirements. Which statement concerning certification for advanced practice is true?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because most states require certification for all specialty roles identified as advanced practice. This is crucial for ensuring that nurse practitioners have met specific educational and clinical practice requirements to provide safe and competent care. Explanation for why other choices are incorrect: B: Nurse anesthetists and nurse-midwives are not the only advanced practice roles that require certification in most states. Other roles such as nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists also require certification. C: The increasing number of new advanced practice roles does not necessarily mean that the scope of practice remains unclear in state nurse practice acts. Certification requirements help define the scope of practice for each role. D: Certification is not automatic when applying for an advanced practice license. Nurses must complete specific educational programs and pass certification exams to obtain certification for their chosen specialty role.
Question 5 of 9
A nurse entering the job market wants to be certain that the first position is rewarding and allows for growth as a registered nurse. According to the Hallmarks of the Professional Nursing Environment, the nurse should ask:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because professional development opportunities supported through paid leave and tuition reimbursement are crucial for a nurse's growth. This allows for continuous learning, skill enhancement, and career advancement. It indicates that the organization values its nurses and invests in their development. The other choices, A, C, and D, while important in their own right, do not directly address the nurse's growth and professional development. Choice A focuses on the philosophy of care, not personal growth. Choice C is mainly about compensation, not professional development. Choice D pertains to workforce planning, not individual career advancement.
Question 6 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 7 of 9
When the novice nurse asks, "What will happen if this task is not completed," which skill is being demonstrated?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The novice nurse is demonstrating priority setting by asking about the consequences of not completing a task. This skill involves determining the most crucial tasks to be completed first based on their potential impact on patient outcomes. By understanding the implications of task completion, the nurse can effectively prioritize their workload. Delegation involves assigning tasks to others, organization involves arranging tasks in a systematic way, and clinical skills refer to the technical abilities in providing patient care. These skills are not directly demonstrated by the nurse's question about the consequences of task completion.
Question 8 of 9
A hospital's policy requires that all nurse managers must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing. A BSN nurse new to the hospital has recently been hired as nurse manager for the oncology unit. An RN who has worked on this unit for many years is unable to be promoted to a nurse manager position because of his educational status and has been commenting to physicians and staff, "The new nurse manager has book sense but no leadership abilities." What is the best approach that can be used by the new nurse manager who is attempting to gain the trust and respect of the nursing staff on the unit?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step 1: Acknowledge the clinical expertise of the upset nurse - This shows respect for the upset nurse's experience and expertise. Step 2: Clearly explain the expectations for teamwork - Setting clear expectations fosters a collaborative environment. Step 3: Emphasize open, honest communication - Encouraging open dialogue helps address concerns and build trust among the team. Overall, option D is the best approach as it combines acknowledging the upset nurse's expertise, setting expectations for teamwork, and promoting open communication, which are crucial for gaining trust and respect among the nursing staff. Summary of other choices: A: Sending memos excludes the upset nurse and may create further resentment. B: Transferring the upset nurse does not address the issue and may lead to more conflict. C: Assigning the upset nurse to unrelated committees may isolate them and not address the underlying problem of lack of trust and respect on the unit.
Question 9 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.