ATI RN
Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
Hospitals surveyed nurses who terminated their employment to determine why they chose to leave. One of the most common reasons for leaving was:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: that the nurse/patient ratio prevents safe care. This answer is correct because inadequate nurse/patient ratios have been consistently identified as a major factor contributing to nurse dissatisfaction and burnout. When nurses are responsible for too many patients, they are unable to provide safe and effective care, leading to increased stress and job dissatisfaction. Explanation of other choices: A: Decreased pay for alternative shifts: While decreased pay may be a concern for some nurses, it is not typically cited as one of the most common reasons for leaving a position. C: Most facilities are choosing an all-RN staff, which decreases opportunities for advancement: While this may be a concern for some nurses, it is not as universally impactful as unsafe nurse/patient ratios. D: Agency and foreign nurses are favored by administration over full-time nursing staff: While favoritism may be an issue in some cases, it is not typically cited as one of the most common reasons for nurses leaving their employment.
Question 2 of 9
Health care professionals have been activated to respond to a disaster, and the registered nurse who is coordinating the effort realizes that: (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because in a mass casualty incident, triage principles dictate that care should be prioritized to those with the greatest chance of survival to maximize overall survival rates. This ensures that limited resources are used efficiently. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect: B: Using only community resources first may not be sufficient in a large-scale disaster and could delay the response, leading to unnecessary loss of life. C: State assistance may not be automatically available in every disaster situation and is typically coordinated based on the severity and impact of the disaster. D: Emergency operating plans should be tailored to individual facilities' needs and capabilities, as a one-size-fits-all approach may not be effective in all scenarios.
Question 3 of 9
A nurse is brought in who testifies that a professional with the knowledge and skill of an RN should understand that, before administering this drug, potassium level and pulse level is always checked to prevent such an occurrence. The nurse's testimony as to what constitutes reasonable care is based on:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: the legal definition of standard of care. In healthcare, the standard of care refers to the level of care that a reasonably prudent healthcare professional would provide in similar circumstances. Checking potassium level and pulse before administering a drug is considered standard practice to prevent adverse reactions. The nurse's testimony is based on this standard of care requirement to ensure patient safety and avoid potential harm. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not directly relate to the concept of standard of care in healthcare practice. B pertains to patient consent, C to the doctrine of "the thing speaks for itself," and D to immunity from liability for certain actions.
Question 4 of 9
During a search for the term informatics, when the nurse finds the domain ".edu," the site is affiliated with a(n):
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: educational institution. ".edu" domain is reserved for educational institutions in the United States, indicating that the website is affiliated with an educational organization. Government agencies typically use ".gov" domain (A), commercial sites use ".com" domain (B), and Internet service providers use ".net" domain (D). Therefore, the presence of ".edu" in the domain indicates that the site is associated with an educational institution.
Question 5 of 9
A nurse is informed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has determined that a bomb has been detected and is in the possession of a known terrorist group. The government buildings in the local community are the target. This situation is termed a(n):
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: credible threat. In this scenario, a credible threat refers to a specific and tangible indication that a harmful event may occur. The information provided by the FBI about a bomb in possession of a known terrorist group targeting government buildings is a clear example of a credible threat. This term is specifically used in emergency management to indicate a situation where there is a realistic possibility of harm. A is incorrect because an all-hazards approach involves preparing for and responding to a wide range of potential disasters, not specifically a bomb threat. B is incorrect because a biologic event refers to an outbreak of a biological agent, not a bomb threat. D is incorrect because a natural disaster involves events caused by natural forces, not intentional acts by terrorist groups.
Question 6 of 9
A group of nurses are assembling outside a hospital protesting the use of foreign nurses after several nurses were terminated due to what the hospital called recurring "decreased census." The nurses carry signs with messages asking potential patients to seek care elsewhere. The local newspaper picked up the story, and the hospital is receiving negative press. The nurses are participating in:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: picketing. Picketing involves protesting outside a workplace to draw attention to an issue, such as the use of foreign nurses in this case. The nurses are not actively refusing to work (strike), negotiating work conditions (collective bargaining), or submitting their dispute to a third party for resolution (arbitration). Picketing is the most appropriate term for their actions in this scenario.
Question 7 of 9
The staff on a nursing unit notes that patient satisfaction varies from month to month. They plot the degree of patient satisfaction each month for 1 year to determine when the periods of greatest dissatisfaction are occurring. The staff uses which type of graph?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Time plot. A time plot is the most appropriate graph for displaying data over time to identify trends and patterns. In this scenario, plotting patient satisfaction levels monthly over a year allows the staff to analyze fluctuations and identify periods of greatest dissatisfaction accurately. Summary of other choices: B: Pareto chart - Pareto charts are used to display the frequency of occurrences in a dataset in descending order. It is not suitable for analyzing trends over time. C: Flowchart - Flowcharts are used to represent processes and workflows, not suitable for displaying time-series data. D: Cause-and-effect diagram - Cause-and-effect diagrams are used to identify and analyze potential causes of a problem, not suitable for displaying time-series data.
Question 8 of 9
Hospitals surveyed nurses who terminated their employment to determine why they chose to leave. One of the most common reasons for leaving was:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: that the nurse/patient ratio prevents safe care. This answer is correct because inadequate nurse/patient ratios have been consistently identified as a major factor contributing to nurse dissatisfaction and burnout. When nurses are responsible for too many patients, they are unable to provide safe and effective care, leading to increased stress and job dissatisfaction. Explanation of other choices: A: Decreased pay for alternative shifts: While decreased pay may be a concern for some nurses, it is not typically cited as one of the most common reasons for leaving a position. C: Most facilities are choosing an all-RN staff, which decreases opportunities for advancement: While this may be a concern for some nurses, it is not as universally impactful as unsafe nurse/patient ratios. D: Agency and foreign nurses are favored by administration over full-time nursing staff: While favoritism may be an issue in some cases, it is not typically cited as one of the most common reasons for nurses leaving their employment.
Question 9 of 9
A nursing student scores 95% on the written examination for the adult health course. To be successful in this course, this same student must then perform an indwelling catheter insertion and wound care in a simulated environment meeting core competencies. The student asks, "What are core competencies?" The nursing instructor replies, "Core competencies are:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: those skills necessary for safe, competent nursing practice. Core competencies refer to the essential skills and knowledge required for safe and competent nursing practice. In the scenario provided, the nursing student needs to demonstrate proficiency in indwelling catheter insertion and wound care to meet these core competencies. These skills are crucial for providing quality patient care and ensuring patient safety. Choice A is incorrect because core competencies are not about reducing attrition but rather about ensuring students possess the necessary skills for nursing practice. Choice C is incorrect as core competencies focus on skills required for practice, not on educational remediation. Choice D is incorrect because core competencies are not about improving reading and math skills but about the specific nursing skills needed for practice.