ATI RN
Contemporary Issues in Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
Patients with heart failure have extended lengths of stay and are often readmitted shortly after they have been discharged. To improve quality of care, a type of "road map" that included all elements of care for this disease and that standardized treatment by guiding daily care was implemented. This road map is referred to as a(n):
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: critical pathway. Critical pathways are structured, multidisciplinary care plans that detail essential steps in the care of patients with specific conditions, such as heart failure. They standardize treatment by outlining the sequence and timing of interventions, tests, and medications, helping to improve efficiency and quality of care. Critical pathways guide daily care by providing a roadmap for healthcare providers to follow, ensuring that patients receive appropriate and timely interventions. Explanation of other choices: A: Benchmark - Benchmarks are standards or reference points used for comparison, not a structured care plan like a critical pathway. C: Algorithm - Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving problems, not necessarily a comprehensive care plan like a critical pathway. D: Case management - Case management involves coordinating care and services for individual patients, not a standardized care plan for a specific disease like a critical pathway.
Question 2 of 9
Which factors would be considered in the first steps in developing an effective patient classification system? (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In developing a patient classification system, planned procedures are crucial as they determine resource allocation, staffing needs, and patient acuity. Understanding the procedures aids in categorizing patients accurately based on care requirements. Ethnic diversity, clinical competency, and educational level are not primary factors in this initial step as they do not directly impact patient classification. Ethnicity does not determine care needs, staff competency should already be ensured, and nurse education level is not the sole determinant of patient classification. Hence, A is the correct choice for developing an effective patient classification system.
Question 3 of 9
An RN with a diploma preparation wants to participate in decisions about health care and decides the first step is to obtain a BSN. The nurse enrolls in a nursing program offering self-scheduling and a self-paced curriculum. This nurse is taking advantage of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (A - educational mobility): 1. Educational mobility refers to the ability to move between different levels of education in nursing. 2. The nurse with a diploma seeking a BSN is utilizing educational mobility by advancing to a higher level of education. 3. Choosing a program with self-scheduling and a self-paced curriculum allows for flexibility, facilitating educational mobility. Summary of Incorrect Choices: B: Traditional nursing programs typically have fixed schedules and structured curricula, not aligned with self-paced learning. C: Training for advanced practice nursing involves pursuing education beyond a BSN to become an advanced practice nurse, not directly related to obtaining a BSN. D: Credit by examination allows students to earn credits based on prior knowledge, but it does not specifically relate to pursuing a BSN for educational mobility.
Question 4 of 9
A nurse is interested in learning how reminiscence therapy can improve memory in cognitively intact persons over the age of 65 years. Findings from three groups are compared. Group 1 receives music therapy, Group 2 receives life review therapy, and Group 3 does not receive therapy, but data are collected from all three groups and compared. Group 3 is known as the:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: control group. In this study design, Group 3 serves as the control group to compare the effects of music therapy and life review therapy on memory. The control group does not receive any intervention, allowing researchers to isolate the impact of the therapies. This helps determine if any observed improvements in memory are due to the therapies and not other factors. A pilot study (A) is a small-scale preliminary investigation, not a comparison group. A survey (B) is a data collection method, not a comparison group. A needs assessment (C) is used to determine needs, not a comparison group. Thus, the control group is essential in research to establish causal relationships.
Question 5 of 9
A patient is admitted for a hysterectomy, and the RN develops and implements the plan of care but also delegates to the LPN/LVN the responsibility of administering oral medications. While off duty, this RN receives a call requesting a change in the plan of care because the patient has developed deep vein thrombosis. The nurse who originally planned the care is practicing which type of nursing care delivery?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Primary nursing care delivery. In primary nursing, one nurse assumes 24-hour responsibility for planning, implementing, and evaluating the care of a patient. In this scenario, the RN developed and implemented the plan of care and delegated specific tasks to the LPN/LVN. The RN remains responsible for the overall care even while off duty, as evidenced by receiving a call regarding a change in the plan of care. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Modular nursing involves a team of healthcare providers working together, sharing responsibilities, and providing care collectively. C: Team nursing involves a team of healthcare providers with different levels of expertise working collaboratively to deliver patient care. D: Functional nursing divides tasks among different team members based on their skill sets, which is not the case in the scenario provided.
Question 6 of 9
An older adult client was admitted to the hospital with the condition classified as "pneumonia." Reimbursement was based on a predetermined fixed price. This classification system is referred to as:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: diagnosis-related groups (DRGs). This classification system assigns a fixed price to specific diagnoses or procedures, such as pneumonia, for reimbursement purposes. DRGs aim to standardize payment based on patient diagnosis and treatment, promoting efficiency and cost containment in healthcare. B: Subjective symptom management is not a classification system for reimbursement but rather a method of addressing patient symptoms. C: Acuity classification system refers to determining the level of care a patient needs based on severity, not reimbursement. D: Organized managed care involves coordination of healthcare services and providers, not specific classification for reimbursement.
Question 7 of 9
A nursing student planning to apply for licensure knows that being charged with which offense would result in a minor criminal offense?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Solicitation of illegal drugs. This offense typically results in a minor criminal offense because it involves attempting to purchase or obtain illegal drugs, which is considered a less serious crime compared to the other choices. Stealing a car (B) is a major criminal offense, as it involves theft of property. Failing to report elder abuse (C) is a serious offense as it neglects the duty to protect vulnerable individuals. Billing Medicare for services not rendered (D) is a form of fraud and can result in severe consequences. Therefore, the solicitation of illegal drugs is the least serious offense among the options provided.
Question 8 of 9
The nurse who organizes screenings for employees, assesses the work environment for hazards, and teaches health-promoting activities is employed in the field of:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: occupational health. Occupational health nurses focus on promoting and maintaining the health and safety of workers in various industries. They conduct screenings, assess workplace hazards, and provide education on health-related topics. Infection control (choice A) mainly involves preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings. Informatics (choice C) involves the use of technology to manage and analyze health data. Transportation specialization (choice D) focuses on transportation-related health and safety issues. Therefore, the most appropriate choice for the described role is occupational health.
Question 9 of 9
A nurse realizes that much time is wasted during shift report when coworkers discuss personal items such as recent movies or department store sales. Which statement would help with time management during this critical interaction?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because it directly addresses the issue of time management during shift report by focusing on the essential tasks that need to be discussed. By starting with revisions to the plan of care and scheduled activities for the next shift, the nurse ensures that the most critical information is covered efficiently. This approach helps prioritize the discussion and prevent unnecessary time spent on non-essential topics. Option A is incorrect because limiting the discussion to just one movie does not address the overall time management issue during shift report. Option B is incorrect because discussing department store sales while walking between patient rooms may still lead to distractions and inefficiencies in the report. Option C is incorrect as it focuses on what went wrong during the shift rather than addressing the need for efficient time management during the report. The correct answer, D, is the most effective choice as it directly tackles the issue of time wasted during shift report by emphasizing the essential tasks that need to be covered.