ATI RN
Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
The disaster medical assistance team works quickly to contain contaminants from a chemical plant explosion. Afterward, personnel undergo a special process to remove harmful chemicals from equipment and supplies. This removal process is known as:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: decontamination. Decontamination is the process of removing harmful chemicals from equipment and supplies to prevent further exposure and contamination. In this scenario, the disaster medical assistance team is working to contain contaminants first and then proceed with decontamination to ensure the safety of personnel. Containment (choice A) refers to preventing the spread of contaminants, not removing them. Triage (choice C) is the process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their injuries, not removing chemicals. Scene assessment (choice D) involves evaluating the situation to determine the extent of the disaster, not the removal of harmful chemicals.
Question 2 of 9
A patient is ordered a low-protein, low-calorie diet but the patient's family brings fish, lentils, and unleavened bread for a meal to observe a cultural practice. The nurse works with the dietitian to adjust the next few meals to accommodate for this variance. This situation would represent:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: patient-centered care. Patient-centered care involves respecting and responding to individual patient preferences, needs, and values. In this scenario, the nurse and dietitian are adjusting the patient's meals to accommodate cultural practices, showing a commitment to providing care that is respectful and responsive to the patient's cultural beliefs. This approach promotes better patient outcomes and satisfaction. Summary of incorrect choices: A: a sentinel event - This refers to a serious, preventable adverse event, which does not apply in this situation. B: an adverse event - This typically refers to harm caused by medical care, which is not the case here. D: the communication technique of "call-out" - This refers to a technique used in healthcare to alert team members to unsafe situations, which is not relevant to the scenario provided.
Question 3 of 9
A qualitative researcher reviews data collected with a grief support group to develop a theory of how widows and widowers mourn. The researcher is using which qualitative research design?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Grounded theory is the correct answer because it involves developing a theory based on analyzing data collected from participants. In this case, the researcher is reviewing data from a grief support group to identify patterns and themes, ultimately leading to the development of a theory on how widows and widowers mourn. Phenomenology focuses on understanding individuals' lived experiences, not developing theories. Case study involves an in-depth analysis of a single case, not suitable for developing a theory. Hypothesis generation is part of quantitative research, not qualitative research design.
Question 4 of 9
During an admission history and physical, a female patient states, "I use 5000 mg/day of calcium to prevent osteoporosis and to maintain health." The nurse should assess for:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: kidney stones. High calcium intake increases the risk of kidney stones due to excess calcium being excreted in the urine. The nurse should assess for symptoms like flank pain, hematuria, and frequent urination. Excessive bleeding (choice A) is not directly related to high calcium intake. Lower blood sugar (choice C) and jaundice (choice D) are not typically associated with calcium intake.
Question 5 of 9
A nurse entering the job market wants to be certain that the first position is rewarding and allows for growth as a registered nurse. According to the Hallmarks of the Professional Nursing Environment, the nurse should ask:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because professional development opportunities supported through paid leave and tuition reimbursement are crucial for a nurse's growth. This allows for continuous learning, skill enhancement, and career advancement. It indicates that the organization values its nurses and invests in their development. The other choices, A, C, and D, while important in their own right, do not directly address the nurse's growth and professional development. Choice A focuses on the philosophy of care, not personal growth. Choice C is mainly about compensation, not professional development. Choice D pertains to workforce planning, not individual career advancement.
Question 6 of 9
A nurse is preparing to teach a class related to risk factors for cancer to a diverse ethnic group attending a health fair. The nurse should be aware:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it provides accurate information about a specific risk factor related to a particular ethnic group. American-Indian women do have a higher rate of ovarian cancer than the general population, making it crucial for the nurse to be aware of this when teaching about cancer risk factors. A is incorrect as it discusses breast cancer and not ovarian cancer. B is incorrect as it mentions esophageal cancer, which is not the specific focus of the question. D is also incorrect as it makes a general statement about cancer, heart disease, and stroke in ethnic groups without providing specific information about ovarian cancer in American-Indian women.
Question 7 of 9
An elderly person, age 80, is finding it difficult to live alone and the family is considering long-term care. The elderly person is reasonably healthy, with only normal aging declines, and maintains a healthy appetite. All medications are administered orally and require only minimal assistance. She is financially secure with an income based on retirement from both the military and factory from her deceased husband and herself. The family contacts long- term care and is told that, based on this patient's information:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (C): Medicare will pay for home health services should these additional services meet the needs of the individual. 1. Medicare covers home health services for individuals who meet specific criteria, which may include being homebound, needing skilled nursing care, and having a care plan established by a healthcare provider. 2. In this scenario, the elderly person is reasonably healthy and only requires minimal assistance with oral medications, indicating that she may benefit from home health services rather than long-term care. 3. Since the elderly person is financially secure, it is likely that she does not meet the eligibility criteria for Medicaid, which is a need-based program for individuals with limited income and resources. 4. Medicare does not cover long-term care in a nursing home unless specific criteria are met, such as requiring skilled services on a short-term basis. In this case, the elderly person's need for assistance with oral medications does not necessarily qualify as a skilled service for nursing home care. Summary of Incorrect Choices: A
Question 8 of 9
A family requests that no additional heroic measures be instituted for their terminally ill mother who has advance directives in place. The nurse respects this decision in keeping with the principle of:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: autonomy. Autonomy refers to respecting the right of individuals to make their own decisions about their healthcare. In this scenario, the family's request to honor the terminally ill mother's advance directives aligns with the principle of autonomy as it acknowledges her right to make decisions about her own care. Accountability (A) pertains to taking responsibility for one's actions, nonmaleficence (C) involves avoiding harm, and veracity (D) refers to truthfulness. While these principles are important in healthcare, in this specific case, autonomy takes precedence as it respects the patient's wishes.
Question 9 of 9
What are general explanations that scholars use to explain, predict, control, and understand commonly occurring events?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Theories. Theories are comprehensive explanations that scholars use to understand commonly occurring events by organizing and explaining a set of principles or laws. Theories help in predicting and controlling events based on established frameworks. Constructs (B) refer to abstract concepts within theories, systems (C) are organized structures of elements, and propositions (D) are statements that describe relationships between concepts, but they do not provide the comprehensive explanations that theories do.