ATI RN
Current Issues in Maternal and Child Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving chemotherapy. What nursing intervention would they provide?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients receiving chemotherapy often experience nausea and vomiting as common side effects. Antiemetics are medications specifically designed to help manage and prevent these symptoms. By administering antiemetics, the nurse can help the patient feel more comfortable and reduce the risk of dehydration and other complications associated with nausea and vomiting. This intervention is crucial in supporting the patient's overall well-being and enhancing their quality of life during chemotherapy treatment.
Question 2 of 5
Which step of the nursing process is being used when the nurse decides whether an ethical dilemma exists?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Analysis is the step of the nursing process being used when the nurse decides whether an ethical dilemma exists. During the analysis step, the nurse gathers and interprets data to make sense of a clinical situation. In the case of ethical dilemmas, the nurse would assess the situation, gather relevant information, and analyze it to determine if there is a conflict in values, beliefs, or principles, which would classify it as an ethical dilemma. Once the nurse identifies the existence of an ethical dilemma through analysis, they can then move on to the planning phase to decide on a course of action.
Question 3 of 5
A medical-surgical nurse is asked to float to a women’s health unit to care for patients who are scheduled for therapeutic abortions. The nurse refuses to accept this assignment and expresses her personal beliefs as being incongruent with this medical practice. The nursing supervisor states that the unit is short-staffed and the nurse is familiar with caring for postoperative patients. In consideration of legal and ethical practices, can the nursing supervisor enforce this assignment?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this situation, the nurse's refusal to accept the assignment is based on personal beliefs that conflict with the nature of the medical practice (therapeutic abortions). According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, nurses have the right to refuse assignments that go against their personal, cultural, or religious beliefs. The nurse in this scenario has expressed a legitimate concern, and the nursing supervisor should respect the nurse's autonomy and should not enforce the assignment. It is essential to balance respecting the nurse's beliefs while also ensuring patient safety and adequate staffing levels.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse working in a labor and birth unit is asked to take care of two high-risk patients in the labor and birth suite: a 34 weeks’ gestation 28-year-old gravida 3, para 2 in preterm labor and a 40-year-old gravida 1, para 0 who is severely preeclamptic. The nurse refuses this assignment telling the charge nurse that based on individual patient acuity, each patient should have one-on-one care. Which ethical principle is the nurse advocating?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Justice is the ethical principle that involves fair and equal distribution of resources and care. In this scenario, the nurse is advocating for justice by asserting that each high-risk patient should receive one-on-one care based on their individual acuity levels. By refusing to take on both patients simultaneously, the nurse is advocating for fairness and equal opportunity for proper care and attention for each patient. This is in line with the principle of justice, which emphasizes the importance of treating all individuals fairly and providing them with the appropriate level of care they need.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse who works in the emergency department (ED) is assigned to a patient who is experiencing heavy vaginal bleeding at 12 weeks’ gestation. An ultrasound has confirmed the absence of a fetal heart rate, and the patient is scheduled for a dilation and evacuation of the pregnancy. The nurse refuses to provide any further care for this patient based on moral principles. What is the nurse manager’s initial response to the nurse?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse manager's initial response should prioritize patient care and safety. In this situation, the patient requires urgent medical attention due to heavy vaginal bleeding and the need for a dilation and evacuation procedure. The nurse's refusal to provide care based on personal moral principles can be considered as patient abandonment, which is a serious ethical and legal issue in healthcare. The nurse manager must advise the nurse to continue providing care for the patient to ensure that the patient's needs are met and to prevent harm resulting from abandonment. The nurse manager should also address the nurse's concerns separately through appropriate channels, such as discussing ethical considerations, providing support, and exploring options for accommodation or transfer if necessary.