ATI RN
Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
The nurse manager meets with upper management to share strategic goals agreed upon by her staff for their individual nursing unit as the first step to begin budget negotiations. One strategic goal is that staff will have access to technology that will allow them to incorporate point-of-care devices for all RNs. The second goal is to improve RNs' ability to recognize critical indicators that a patient's health status is deteriorating through advanced health assessment skills. During the meeting the manager discusses the strategy options and selecting the one that works for the unit. Which type of budget development is used?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Participatory. In participatory budget development, input is gathered from various levels within the organization, such as staff and managers. In this scenario, the nurse manager met with her staff to establish strategic goals before budget negotiations, indicating a participatory approach. This allows for staff buy-in and ownership of the goals. A: Iterative budget development involves refining a budget through multiple rounds of review, which is not explicitly mentioned in the scenario. B: Top-down budget development is characterized by decisions made by upper management without input from lower levels, contradicting the scenario where staff provided input. D: Zero-based budgeting starts from scratch without considering previous budgets, which is not evident in the scenario where goals were established based on staff input. In summary, the participatory budget development is the appropriate choice in this scenario as it aligns with the collaborative approach taken by the nurse manager and her staff in setting strategic goals before budget negotiations.
Question 2 of 9
A nursing unit is comparing team nursing to the partnership model and finds that:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the leadership abilities of the RN are crucial in both team nursing and the partnership model. In team nursing, the RN coordinates care provided by team members. In the partnership model, the RN collaborates with a partner to deliver care effectively. Choice A is incorrect because the presence of an RN is essential in both models to ensure the delivery of safe and high-quality care. Choice C is incorrect because the RN's role in teaching how to apply the nursing process is not specific to team nursing or the partnership model but is a general nursing responsibility. Choice D is incorrect because in team nursing, the RN is responsible for coordinating care for the patient, including working with the family or significant others, rather than solely caring for the patient while others work with the family.
Question 3 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 4 of 9
Nursing in the 1990s was characterized by:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: a focus on preventable diseases. In the 1990s, nursing shifted towards preventative care due to the rise in chronic diseases. Nurses focused on educating patients on disease prevention strategies and promoting healthy lifestyles. This shift was in response to the increasing healthcare costs associated with treating preventable illnesses. A: Men leaving nursing to enter the armed services is irrelevant to the characterization of nursing in the 1990s. B: Traditional 8-hour shifts leading to nurse burnout and compassion fatigue may have been a challenge in the 1990s, but it does not characterize the entire nursing profession during that time. D: There was actually an increase in nursing research during the 1990s, so this choice is incorrect.
Question 5 of 9
A researcher is interested in learning if elderly persons perceive their health to be satisfactory even with comorbidities and chronic illness. A large multisite assistive living facility will be the site. The researcher lists residents in alphabetical order and chooses every third person on the list. To ensure improved generalizability, the researcher is using:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: randomization. Randomization helps ensure improved generalizability by reducing bias and increasing the likelihood that the sample is representative of the population. In this scenario, choosing every third person from an alphabetical list introduces a systematic bias and may not represent the entire population accurately. Triangulation involves using multiple methods or data sources to validate findings, which is not applicable here. Informed consent is a necessary ethical consideration but does not directly impact generalizability. A meta-analysis approach involves combining and analyzing data from multiple studies, which is not relevant to the sampling method in this scenario. Thus, randomization is the best choice to improve generalizability in this study.
Question 6 of 9
Positive time management skills include:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: scheduling daily activities. This is because positive time management skills involve planning and organizing tasks to effectively utilize time. By scheduling daily activities, individuals can prioritize tasks, set goals, and allocate time efficiently. This helps in achieving productivity and reducing stress. Choice A (maintaining an open-door policy) is incorrect as it pertains to communication style, not time management. Choice B (retaining all paperwork) is not directly related to time management but rather to organization. Choice C (returning all telephone calls immediately) is also not a direct indicator of effective time management as it focuses on communication responsiveness rather than overall time utilization.
Question 7 of 9
Although a hospital reversed all charges when a client was the victim of wrong site surgery, the court awarded the client $5 million. The client was able to return to work in 6 weeks and had no permanent damages. This monetary compensation is termed:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their wrongful actions. In this case, the hospital's negligence in performing wrong site surgery resulted in harm to the client, even though the hospital reversed the charges. The court awarded $5 million to punish the hospital for their negligence, as the client suffered emotional distress and the potential risk of harm. The other choices are incorrect because: A: res ipsa loquitur is a legal doctrine used to shift the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant in cases where the negligence is obvious. C: vicarious liability holds an employer responsible for the actions of their employees, which is not directly applicable in this scenario. D: immunity refers to protection from legal liability, which is not relevant in a case where the court awarded monetary compensation.
Question 8 of 9
The nurse caring for a patient states, "Your blood pressure is dangerously high. Are you taking antihypertensive medicine?" The patient states, "I can't afford my medicine. I have no insurance." The nurse states "I feel really sorry for that patient. I wish it wasn't against policy to give her money." The nurse wants to help and places a note on Facebook that any donations would be appreciated to help a waitress who works at the cafeteria next door to the hospital buy her medications. The nurse posts that "She was so sick last evening when she came to the ED. I can't believe they don't provide insurance. I can't give her money but you all can help." This nurse:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the nurse is at risk for HIPAA violations by sharing patient information on social media. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects patients' privacy and prohibits healthcare providers from disclosing their health information without consent. In this scenario, the nurse shared specific details about the patient's health condition, visit to the ED, and financial situation, which could easily identify the patient. This violates the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the focus should be on the HIPAA violation rather than empathy, policy following, or logical fallacies. The nurse should have found alternative ways to help the patient without compromising their privacy.
Question 9 of 9
When an RN is asked to accept an assignment that he or she may not be qualified to perform, the nurse should:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why Answer D is correct: 1. Ensures patient safety: RN should only accept assignments they are qualified for to provide safe care. 2. Upholds professional standards: Accepting only familiar assignments aligns with nursing scope of practice. 3. Legal and ethical responsibility: RN must prioritize patient well-being over external pressures. 4. Promotes personal growth: RN can seek additional training for unfamiliar assignments. Summary: - A: Incorrect. Accepting based on power dynamics disregards patient safety and professional ethics. - B: Incorrect. Patient safety should be the primary concern over workload. - C: Incorrect. Past handling may not guarantee appropriateness. Focus should be on personal qualification.