ATI RN
Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
Students are assigned to write to their state leaders about an issue affecting their community. One student writes about the need among rural community for greater access to acute care services. Which of the following pieces of legislation should the student use as a reference?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hill-Burton Act. This legislation established a program to provide federal grants for the construction of hospitals and healthcare facilities in underserved areas. It specifically addressed the need to improve access to healthcare services, aligning with the student's concern about acute care services in rural communities. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Social Security Act primarily focuses on social insurance programs; C: Sheppard-Towner Act focused on maternal and child healthcare; D: U.S. Civil Service Act pertains to regulations for federal employees, none of which directly address the issue of access to acute care services in rural communities.
Question 2 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 3 of 9
The nurse managers of an organization are meeting with administration to plan the budget. The above graph shows last year's 2011 expenditures, and the team will trend the upcoming budget knowing that, with the slowdown in the economy, patient census will be lower. Which budget approach is being used?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Zero-based. Zero-based budgeting requires starting from scratch each budget cycle, meaning all expenses must be justified regardless of previous budgets. In this scenario, the nurse managers are planning for a budget based on the expectation of lower patient census due to the economic slowdown. This aligns with the zero-based approach as they will need to re-evaluate and justify all expenses to accommodate the changes in patient volume. A: Incremental budgeting involves making adjustments to the previous budget, which is not suitable for significant changes like a decrease in patient census. C: Productivity metrics focus on measuring efficiency and performance, rather than the budgeting approach. D: Capital budgeting is related to long-term investments in assets, which is not the primary focus in this scenario.
Question 4 of 9
Each month data on admission assessments that are based on the following standard are entered: "All patients will be assessed by an RN within 2 hours of admission." The target goal for this standard is 97% compliance. Data are displayed on a graph that shows number and time of admission assessments and compliance variation limits. This pictorial representation is:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: control chart. A control chart is used to display data over time and indicate variations within set limits, making it ideal for monitoring compliance with a standard like "All patients will be assessed by an RN within 2 hours of admission." The control chart allows for easy identification of trends, shifts, or patterns that may indicate a need for corrective action to maintain the 97% compliance goal. A: Pareto chart is used to identify the most significant factors contributing to a problem, not to monitor compliance over time. C: Deployment chart is not a standard tool in quality control or process monitoring. D: A top-down flowchart is used to depict the sequence of steps in a process, not to monitor compliance with a standard over time.
Question 5 of 9
A physician complains to administration that the nurse working last evening is unethical, based on observing the nurse educate the patient about a new medication ordered. The physician demanded the nurse be reprimanded and reminded that only physicians have the educational background to teach patients about new medications. Which comment and action by the administrator would be most effective in changing nurse-physician relationships in this instance?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step 1: The administrator acknowledges the physician's concern to maintain a professional relationship. Step 2: The administrator educates the physician that patient education on medications falls within the nurse's scope of practice. Step 3: The administrator addresses the nurse and physician to ensure both are informed of the resolution. Step 4: This approach promotes mutual understanding and respect between nurse and physician. Summary: Option C is the correct answer as it acknowledges the physician's concern, educates on scope of practice, and fosters communication between both parties. Options A, B, and D are incorrect as they either punish the nurse unjustly, fail to educate the physician, or involve unrelated parties in the decision-making process.
Question 6 of 9
A nurse interested in quality improvement tools performed a search for cause and effect diagrams using www.ishikawa.com. A page opened that provided images and templates for performing fishbone diagrams. Which type of search did the nurse conduct?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Advanced. The nurse conducted an advanced search by specifically looking for cause and effect diagrams on a website dedicated to providing images and templates for fishbone diagrams. This demonstrates a targeted and refined search strategy, indicating a higher level of proficiency in using search tools. The other choices are incorrect because: A) Quick and dirty implies a hasty and superficial search, which was not the case here. C) Brute force suggests an exhaustive and unrefined search method, which was not demonstrated in this scenario. D) Link searching involves following hyperlinks to find information, which was not explicitly stated in the question.
Question 7 of 9
A care provider sacrifices an animal and waves an herb-filled sack over a client who is complaining of painful joints and chest pain with exertion. This ritual represents health care during:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: the prehistoric period. During this time, people relied heavily on spiritual beliefs and rituals for healing. Sacrificing animals and using herbs in rituals to treat ailments was common practice. In contrast, early civilization in Egypt (B) had more advanced medical practices, the Renaissance (C) saw a shift towards scientific medicine, and the Middle Ages (D) had a mix of spiritual and medical practices, but not as primitive as the prehistoric period.
Question 8 of 9
What characteristics are associated with the clinical nurse leader? (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the clinical nurse leader is indeed a generalist prepared at the master's level. They have advanced education and training to lead and coordinate care across various settings. Choice B is incorrect as CNLs focus on care coordination and management rather than direct bedside care. Choice C is incorrect as CNLs prioritize quality care over cost. Choice D is incorrect as CNLs can work in various healthcare settings, not limited to acute care.
Question 9 of 9
The length of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) examination is based on the:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the length of the NCLEX-RN exam is based on the location of testing. This is because different testing centers may have varying procedures, schedules, and regulations that can affect the overall length of the exam. The length is standardized by location to ensure fairness and consistency for all candidates. Incorrect Answers: A: The last four numbers of the candidate's social security number have no relevance to the length of the exam. C: The candidate's educational preparation may impact their readiness for the exam but does not determine the length of the exam. D: The performance of the candidate is assessed during the exam and does not determine the initial length of the exam.