ATI RN
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing PDF Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient is admitted with coronary artery disease and is scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). According to the clinical pathway the patient should be extubated and discharged from critical care the day after surgery. During surgery the patient's oxygen saturation decreased drastically as a result of chronic tobacco abuse. Subsequently, the patient remained on the ventilator an additional 2 days postoperatively. According to the clinical practice guideline for CABG, this situation represents a:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: variance. In this scenario, the patient's extended time on the ventilator deviates from the expected clinical pathway of extubation and discharge the day after surgery. Variances are deviations from established protocols or guidelines. This situation highlights a deviation from the standard practice and requires further evaluation to understand the reasons for the delay in extubation. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Patient outcome refers to the result of care received by the patient, not the deviation from the expected process. C: Goal represents the desired outcome or target to achieve, not the deviation from the pathway. D: Standard is the established protocol or guideline to follow, not the deviation from it.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse groups patients with criteria such as "high risk for falls," "infection protocols," and "special communication needs" to determine the mix and number of staff needed on a telemetry unit. The nurse is using:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rationale: A nurse grouping patients with specific criteria to determine staffing needs aligns with a patient classification system. This system helps allocate appropriate staff levels based on patient acuity and needs for safe and effective care. It focuses on matching patient needs with staff expertise to ensure quality care. Choices B, C, and D do not directly relate to determining staffing levels based on patient criteria. B refers to billing, C to coordination of care, and D to specific care plans.
Question 3 of 5
While participating in a task force to proactively plan for nursing care delivery over the next 20 years, a nurse learns that dramatic changes will occur as a result of: (select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: the increase in the number of minimally invasive procedures being performed for disease treatment. This is because advancements in medical technology have led to a shift towards less invasive procedures, impacting how nursing care is delivered. Minimally invasive procedures often require specialized care and monitoring, necessitating changes in nursing practice. Choice B is incorrect as care provided for patients over an extended period in acute care settings is not a significant factor driving dramatic changes in nursing care delivery over the next 20 years. This scenario is more related to the current healthcare system rather than future changes. Choice C is incorrect as the reduction in the number of nurses and healthcare professionals available to provide care is unlikely to be a driving force for dramatic changes. In fact, efforts are being made to address the nursing shortage through various initiatives. Choice D is incorrect as widespread illiteracy and decreased self-efficacy of the aging patient population, while important considerations for nursing care, are not the primary factors driving dramatic changes in
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is removing a saturated dressing from an abdominal incision and must cut the tape to remove the dressing. The nurse accidentally cuts the sutures holding the incision, and evisceration occurs. In quality improvement, this incident is best identified as a:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: sentinel event. A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological harm to a patient. In this scenario, the accidental cutting of sutures leading to evisceration constitutes a serious harm to the patient, making it a sentinel event. This event requires immediate investigation, analysis, and implementation of preventive measures to ensure patient safety. A: Root cause refers to the underlying reason for a problem, not the event itself. C: Variation in performance is related to inconsistencies in processes, not a specific critical incident like evisceration. D: Causal factor is a contributing element to an event, but it does not capture the severity and significance of a sentinel event like evisceration.
Question 5 of 5
An organization's emergency preparedness task force meets to discuss how it should react in case of a terrorist attack and develops a disaster evacuation plan that details how each department will assist individuals in reaching safety. This type of diagram is referred to as a:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: deployment chart. A deployment chart is used to illustrate how resources or personnel are allocated and utilized during an emergency or disaster situation. In this case, the organization's emergency preparedness task force is detailing how each department will assist individuals in reaching safety, which aligns with the purpose of a deployment chart. It helps visualize the specific roles and responsibilities assigned to each department during an evacuation. A: Pareto chart is used for prioritizing actions based on the 80/20 rule. B: Control chart is used for monitoring process variations over time. C: Top-down flowchart is used to represent the sequence of steps in a process hierarchy. In summary, the other choices are incorrect because they do not specifically address the allocation of resources and responsibilities during an emergency evacuation scenario, which is the primary function of a deployment chart.