A patient with kyphosis is visiting a practitioner of chiropractic medicine for the first time and asks, "How does this therapy work?" The practitioner replies, "I will use my hands along with heat to correct the misalignment of your spine by placing pressure on the nerves that have produced pain. The misalignment of your spine is referred to as:

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Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing Questions

Question 1 of 9

A patient with kyphosis is visiting a practitioner of chiropractic medicine for the first time and asks, "How does this therapy work?" The practitioner replies, "I will use my hands along with heat to correct the misalignment of your spine by placing pressure on the nerves that have produced pain. The misalignment of your spine is referred to as:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: subluxation. Subluxation in chiropractic terms refers to the misalignment of the vertebrae in the spine, which can put pressure on nerves and cause pain. Chiropractors believe that by using manual adjustments, they can correct these subluxations and restore proper alignment, which can alleviate pain and improve overall health. The other choices, B: a sprain, C: a fracture, and D: epicondylitis, do not accurately describe the misalignment of the spine that is being addressed in chiropractic care. Sprain refers to ligament injury, fracture refers to bone breakage, and epicondylitis refers to inflammation of the tendons.

Question 2 of 9

Although a hospital reversed all charges when a client was the victim of wrong site surgery, the court awarded the client $5 million. The client was able to return to work in 6 weeks and had no permanent damages. This monetary compensation is termed:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their wrongful actions. In this case, the hospital's negligence in performing wrong site surgery resulted in harm to the client, even though the hospital reversed the charges. The court awarded $5 million to punish the hospital for their negligence, as the client suffered emotional distress and the potential risk of harm. The other choices are incorrect because: A: res ipsa loquitur is a legal doctrine used to shift the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant in cases where the negligence is obvious. C: vicarious liability holds an employer responsible for the actions of their employees, which is not directly applicable in this scenario. D: immunity refers to protection from legal liability, which is not relevant in a case where the court awarded monetary compensation.

Question 3 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 4 of 9

A large corporation employs nurses all over the United States. Nurses in one agency learned that fellow nurses in another agency are striking because they are required to work 16-hour shifts to cover for nurses who have left due to unsafe staffing practices. The union of the nonstriking agency nurses decides to stop work to support the nurses who are striking; thus, this union:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the union of the nonstriking agency nurses is engaging in a sympathy strike to support their fellow nurses who are striking due to unsafe working conditions. A sympathy strike is legal as long as it is conducted correctly. In this case, the nonstriking agency nurses are showing solidarity with their colleagues to address the issue of unsafe staffing practices. Choice A is incorrect because the union's decision to support the striking nurses does not automatically expose them to a lawsuit. Choice B is incorrect as the union represents only one group of nurses, not both parties. Choice D is incorrect because there is no legal requirement for the union to pay for any losses incurred by the agency during the strike. Overall, the correct answer is C because it accurately reflects the union's action of participating in a sympathy strike to show support for the striking nurses.

Question 5 of 9

A researcher is interested in learning if elderly persons perceive their health to be satisfactory even with comorbidities and chronic illness. A large multisite assistive living facility will be the site. The researcher lists residents in alphabetical order and chooses every third person on the list. To ensure improved generalizability, the researcher is using:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: randomization. Randomization helps ensure improved generalizability by reducing bias and increasing the likelihood that the sample is representative of the population. In this scenario, choosing every third person from an alphabetical list introduces a systematic bias and may not represent the entire population accurately. Triangulation involves using multiple methods or data sources to validate findings, which is not applicable here. Informed consent is a necessary ethical consideration but does not directly impact generalizability. A meta-analysis approach involves combining and analyzing data from multiple studies, which is not relevant to the sampling method in this scenario. Thus, randomization is the best choice to improve generalizability in this study.

Question 6 of 9

A comparison of nursing in the 1980s to nursing in the 1990s reveals that:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because it accurately reflects the shift in focus from tuberculosis in the 1980s to the emergence of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s in the field of nursing. Tuberculosis was a major concern in the 1980s, and the AIDS epidemic became a primary focus in the 1990s. Choice A is incorrect because it discusses preventable diseases caused by unsafe lifestyles, which is not directly related to the comparison of nursing between the two decades. Choice C is incorrect because it mentions a decrease in ambulatory services in the 1980s leading to an increase in public health nurses in the 1990s, which is not supported by the historical context of nursing during those decades. Choice D is incorrect because it suggests that the demand for advanced practice nurses increased in both the 1980s and the 1990s due to economic reasons and national health concerns, which is not specifically relevant to the comparison between nursing in the two decades.

Question 7 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 8 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 9 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.

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