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
A state is devastated by a tornado killing many people, destroying communication systems, utility services, homes, and medical facilities. The state requests immediate assistance from the U.S. Congress and from surrounding states. The affected state should first contact the:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). 1. EMAC is a mutual aid agreement among states for disaster response. 2. It allows affected states to request and receive assistance from other states. 3. It facilitates coordination and deployment of resources quickly in emergencies. 4. IOM focuses on health research, Red Cross on humanitarian aid, and Strategic National Stockpile on medical supplies, but they do not provide the immediate multi-sectoral assistance needed in this scenario.
Question 3 of 9
One of the major trends that currently influences nursing education and practice is:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: increased technology in the field of critical care. This trend is shaping nursing education and practice by improving patient care, enhancing efficiency, and requiring nurses to adapt to new technologies. The advancements in critical care technology have revolutionized the way healthcare is delivered and have become essential in providing high-quality patient care. This trend highlights the importance of nurses staying current with the latest technologies to deliver optimal care. Choice B is incorrect because there is actually an expanding scope of practice for nurses as they take on more responsibilities and roles in healthcare. Choice C is incorrect as incivility and disregard of others' rights would not be considered a major trend shaping nursing education and practice. Choice D is incorrect as international programs increasing diversity in nursing education and practice would not result in a decrease in ethnicity.
Question 4 of 9
A nurse is preparing a scholarly publication on the prevalence of hepatitis A worldwide. The most efficient and effective means of conducting an Internet search to gather information for this publication is to use:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: MEDLINE database. MEDLINE is a reputable database that provides access to a vast array of peer-reviewed medical literature, making it an excellent resource for scholarly publications. Here's the rationale: 1. Credibility: MEDLINE contains high-quality, peer-reviewed articles from reputable medical journals, ensuring the information obtained is reliable and accurate. 2. Specificity: The database is focused on medical research, including studies on hepatitis A, providing targeted and relevant information for the nurse's publication. 3. Efficiency: Search results in MEDLINE are organized and easily accessible, allowing the nurse to efficiently gather information without sifting through irrelevant sources. 4. Up-to-date: MEDLINE is regularly updated with the latest research findings, ensuring the nurse has access to the most current information on hepatitis A. In summary, using MEDLINE is the best choice for the nurse as it offers credible, specific, efficient, and up-to-date information compared to the other options.
Question 5 of 9
Which component of budgeting might normally be addressed in the annual performance evaluation for a nurse manager?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step 1: Managing variances in nursing overtime costs and supply usage is crucial for a nurse manager's performance evaluation as it demonstrates their ability to control expenses effectively. Step 2: This component directly relates to the nurse manager's responsibility in budgeting and financial management. Step 3: Analyzing and managing variances show the nurse manager's skill in monitoring and adjusting budgetary allocations to meet targets. Step 4: Other choices are not directly related to the nurse manager's core responsibilities in budgeting or evaluating performance. Step 5: Labor budget costs for overtime and benefits (Choice A) and predicting revenues (Choice C) are important but not as directly tied to performance evaluation as managing variances in costs. Step 6: Providing qualitative analysis for variances in the capital budget (Choice D) is not typically a key aspect of a nurse manager's evaluation, as it focuses more on long-term investments rather than day-to-day operational budgeting.
Question 6 of 9
Which statement is true regarding health care for minorities?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why answer A is correct: 1. Federal legislation such as the Affordable Care Act has expanded Medicaid coverage and provided subsidies for health insurance. 2. This legislation has helped reduce the number of minorities lacking health insurance. 3. Consequently, fewer minorities than members of the general population now lack health insurance. 4. Therefore, the statement that federal legislation has resulted in fewer minorities lacking health insurance is true. Summary of why other choices are incorrect: B. This choice incorrectly attributes the lack of seeking health care by minorities solely to higher costs and lower wages, overlooking the impact of legislation. C. This choice makes a sweeping generalization about Mexican Americans without considering the broader context of health care access for minorities. D. This choice relies on stereotypes about Asians and does not take into account the complexities of the health care system and insurance coverage.
Question 7 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 8 of 9
During a seminar on ethics, the educator realizes that more information is needed when a participant describes which situation as a violation of the ethical principle of autonomy?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because denying the older person with Alzheimer's disease the right to ambulate violates their autonomy by restricting their freedom to make choices about their own body and movement. Autonomy is the ethical principle that respects an individual's right to make decisions about their own health and well-being. In this situation, the person should have the autonomy to decide whether or not they want to ambulate, even if they have advanced Alzheimer's disease. Choice B is incorrect because the mentally competent adult has the right to refuse medical treatment based on their beliefs, which is an expression of autonomy. Choice C is incorrect because the mentally competent visitor has the right to refuse examination, which is also an expression of autonomy. Choice D is incorrect because the mentally competent adult has the right to refuse a local anesthetic, which is also an expression of autonomy.
Question 9 of 9
An elderly person, age 80, is finding it difficult to live alone and the family is considering long-term care. The elderly person is reasonably healthy, with only normal aging declines, and maintains a healthy appetite. All medications are administered orally and require only minimal assistance. She is financially secure with an income based on retirement from both the military and factory from her deceased husband and herself. The family contacts long- term care and is told that, based on this patient's information:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (C): Medicare will pay for home health services should these additional services meet the needs of the individual. 1. Medicare covers home health services for individuals who meet specific criteria, which may include being homebound, needing skilled nursing care, and having a care plan established by a healthcare provider. 2. In this scenario, the elderly person is reasonably healthy and only requires minimal assistance with oral medications, indicating that she may benefit from home health services rather than long-term care. 3. Since the elderly person is financially secure, it is likely that she does not meet the eligibility criteria for Medicaid, which is a need-based program for individuals with limited income and resources. 4. Medicare does not cover long-term care in a nursing home unless specific criteria are met, such as requiring skilled services on a short-term basis. In this case, the elderly person's need for assistance with oral medications does not necessarily qualify as a skilled service for nursing home care. Summary of Incorrect Choices: A