ATI RN
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing PDF Questions
Question 1 of 9
An experienced nurse working in oncology is shocked to realize that he feels little empathy when a patient explains, "I developed cancer from having to work in the dry cleaning industry since I was only 8 years old to help support my younger siblings during the depression. Now they have all moved away and refuse to help me financially, and it takes everything I have to pay for my chemotherapy medicine." The nurse is experiencing:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue refers to the emotional and physical exhaustion that healthcare providers may experience from caring for patients in distressing situations over a prolonged period. In this scenario, the nurse's lack of empathy despite the patient's heart-wrenching story indicates emotional exhaustion and desensitization, which are common symptoms of compassion fatigue. This nurse has likely become overwhelmed by the emotional toll of consistently supporting patients facing difficult circumstances, leading to a diminished capacity for empathy. Incorrect choices: A: Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. While the nurse may be experiencing emotional exhaustion, the specific lack of empathy in response to the patient's situation aligns more closely with compassion fatigue. C: Reality shock typically refers to the discrepancy between the expectations of a new role and the actual experiences encountered. This term does not accurately describe the nurse's emotional response to the patient's situation. D: Horizontal hostility refers to negative
Question 2 of 9
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 3 of 9
A nurse wants to become an advanced practice nurse and investigates the requirements for a: (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who provide comprehensive healthcare services, including diagnosing and managing common acute and chronic illnesses. They require additional education and certification beyond basic nursing. Nurse executives focus on leadership and management roles in healthcare organizations, not direct patient care. Certified nurse-midwives specialize in providing prenatal, postpartum, and gynecological care to women. Certified registered nurse anesthetists specialize in administering anesthesia but do not provide the same scope of primary care as nurse practitioners.
Question 4 of 9
A hospital recently learned that their scorecard did not meet the national benchmark for patient satisfaction and brought in a professional change agent to determine what their issues were and how they could improve their score. The agent collected data and recommended that nurses participate in interdisciplinary walking rounds and allow the patient and family to be participants. Nurses now round every shift and perform "huddles to update the team" as needed throughout the shift as part of best practices. Random visits are made to nursing units to ensure all nurses are participating and patients are interviewed for their involvement. This stage of Lewin's change is:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: moving. In Lewin's change management model, the process involves three stages: unfreeze, move, and refreeze. In this scenario, the hospital has already identified the need for change (unfreeze) by recognizing the issue with patient satisfaction scores. The change agent's recommendations and the implementation of interdisciplinary walking rounds and involving patients and families in rounds indicate the active phase of making changes and transitioning to new practices (moving). The actions taken, such as rounding every shift, updating the team through huddles, monitoring nurse participation, and interviewing patients, all demonstrate movement towards the desired change. Refreeze would come after the changes have been successfully implemented to stabilize and institutionalize the new practices. The options A (unfreeze) and C (refreeze) are incorrect as the hospital is currently in the implementation phase of change, and option D (resistance) does not apply as there is no indication of significant resistance to the proposed changes in the scenario provided.
Question 5 of 9
A member of a nursing students study group comments, "I wish our instructor would just tell us the important information that we will be tested on in our course and on NCLEX®. Instead, we spend some time early in the class discussing key facts then the most of the time working through case studies, then practicing on the simulator rather than caring for 'real' patients." This teaching-learning style represents:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: practice-based competency. This teaching-learning style focuses on developing practical skills and competencies through hands-on experiences such as case studies and simulator practice. This approach is more effective in preparing nursing students for real-world scenarios and NCLEX® exams compared to just memorizing basic facts (choice A). Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) (choice B) involve structured assessments of clinical skills and are not the primary focus of the teaching style described. Peer-to-peer learning (choice C) emphasizes collaborative learning among students, which may be a component of the teaching style but not the central focus. Practice-based competency (choice D) aligns best with the emphasis on practical application and skill development described in the scenario.
Question 6 of 9
A researcher conducts a survey to determine the perceived health status of elderly persons living independently at home. The same subjects participate in a telephone call in which they describe the lived experience of living with chronic illness. When writing up the research study, the nurse would describe using:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: triangulation. Triangulation involves using multiple data sources or methods to validate findings. In this scenario, the nurse is using both survey data and telephone interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of the elderly persons' health status. This method enhances the study's credibility and reliability by cross-verifying information. A: A control group is not relevant in this context as it involves comparing an intervention group with a control group to assess the impact of an intervention. C: A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study conducted to evaluate the feasibility of a larger study. It is not the appropriate description for using multiple data sources. D: Secondary data analysis involves analyzing existing data collected by someone else. It is not applicable in this case where the researcher is collecting primary data through surveys and interviews.
Question 7 of 9
A nurse is caring for a client who just suffered a stroke and is medicated for pain. The nurse completes the following interventions: places the client on the examining table, completes a thorough history and physical, covers the client with a sheet, places the call button within reach, and goes out in the hall to speak with the client's physician. The client tries to get up to speak with his family and falls, sustaining a hematoma on the head and a broken hip. The nurse's actions reflect:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: negligence. Negligence refers to a failure to provide the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would have provided in a similar situation, resulting in harm to the client. In this scenario, the nurse failed to ensure the safety of the client by leaving them unattended on an examining table, leading to the client falling and sustaining injuries. This breach of duty to provide proper care and supervision constitutes negligence. Choice A (invasion of privacy) is incorrect because it does not relate to the nurse's failure to provide proper care and supervision. Choice B (libel) and Choice C (slander) are also incorrect as they pertain to defamation, which is not applicable in this situation. The nurse's actions primarily reflect negligence due to the failure to provide adequate supervision, resulting in harm to the client.
Question 8 of 9
A nurse performing a history and physical on a newly admitted Hispanic patient learns the patient has just used the services of a savador to:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because a "salvador" is typically a spiritual healer or medium in Hispanic culture who helps communicate with deceased family members. This aligns with the scenario of the patient seeking the services of a salvador to communicate with a family member who recently died. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Determining herbs for hot flashes is typically done by an herbalist or healthcare provider. C: Treating lower back pain usually involves medical professionals like doctors or physical therapists. D: Acupuncture for smoking cessation is typically provided by licensed acupuncturists or healthcare professionals, not a salvador.
Question 9 of 9
A group of nurses are meeting to decide how to staff the upcoming holidays. Each of the four members freely expresses thoughts about fair staffing but is willing to listen to other thoughts and reconsider their first recommendations. The nurses are avoiding conflict and supporting professional communication through:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: supportiveness. In this scenario, the nurses are engaging in a collaborative process, listening to each other's perspectives, and being open to reconsidering their initial recommendations. Supportiveness involves actively encouraging others, showing understanding, and fostering a positive and constructive environment. Empathy (A) involves understanding and sharing others' feelings, which is important but not the primary focus in this context. Positiveness (B) is about having a positive attitude, which is beneficial but does not capture the essence of the nurses' behavior. Accommodation (D) involves making concessions, which is not the main theme in this situation where the nurses are aiming for mutual understanding and collaboration.