After an explosion at a factory one of the employees approaches the nurse and says 'I am an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) at the local hospital.' Which of these tasks should the nurse assign first to this worker who wants to help care for the wounded workers?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Palpate pulses. This task should be assigned first because assessing the pulses can provide crucial information about the injured workers' circulation and perfusion status. By palpating pulses, the unlicensed assistive personnel can quickly identify any signs of compromised circulation or potential life-threatening conditions. This immediate assessment is essential for prioritizing care and determining the urgency of further interventions. Other choices are incorrect because: A: Getting temperatures can be important but not as immediately critical as assessing pulses for circulatory status. B: Taking blood pressure may provide valuable information, but assessing pulses gives a more direct indication of perfusion. D: Checking alertness is important, but assessing pulses should be the priority for immediate life-saving interventions.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Review the events leading up to each medication administration error. This strategy is the most critical initial step in addressing medication administration errors. By conducting a thorough review of the events leading up to each error, the committee can identify root causes and contributing factors, allowing for targeted interventions to prevent similar errors in the future. This approach aligns with the principles of continuous quality improvement (CQI) by focusing on understanding the underlying issues before implementing solutions. Choice A: Providing an inservice on medication administration to all nurses may be beneficial, but without understanding the specific factors contributing to errors, the impact may be limited. Choice B: Requiring staff nurses to pass a medication administration examination focuses on individual competency, which is important but not as effective as addressing system issues that contribute to errors. Choice D: Developing a quality improvement program for nurses involved in errors is necessary but should come after identifying and addressing the root causes of errors through a comprehensive review process.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Data saturation. In qualitative research, data saturation is the point where new data no longer brings additional insights or changes in themes. This principle guides sample size determination as it ensures enough data is collected to reach this saturation point, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under study. Effect size (A) is more relevant in quantitative research, while the number of variables (B) and sub-group analysis (D) are factors that may influence the complexity of the study but are not directly related to determining sample size in qualitative research.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Minimize selection bias. Random assignment in an RCT helps ensure that participants in the experimental and control groups are similar at baseline. This minimizes the risk of selection bias, where certain characteristics of participants influence study outcomes. Choice A is incorrect because the purpose of random assignment is not specifically to test treatment effectiveness but to minimize bias. Choice C is incorrect because random assignment does not directly increase sample size. Choice D is incorrect because providing a baseline measurement is not the primary purpose of random assignment in an RCT.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Step 1: Reviewing the events leading up to each medication administration error is the most crucial first step. It allows the committee to understand the root causes of the errors, identify patterns or common factors contributing to errors, and develop targeted interventions to prevent future errors. Step 2: Providing an inservice on medication administration to all nurses (Choice A) is important but should come after understanding the specific issues causing errors. Step 3: Requiring staff nurses to demonstrate competency by passing an examination (Choice B) is not the most effective initial strategy as it focuses on individual performance rather than systemic issues. Step 4: Developing a quality improvement program for nurses involved in errors (Choice D) is important but should follow the analysis of the errors to ensure the program's effectiveness in addressing the identified issues.