ATI RN
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
The priority intervention to improve work-related quality of life for nurses is to:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: provide safe harbors for unjust or unsafe work assignments. This is the priority intervention because ensuring a safe work environment is crucial for nurses' well-being and quality of life. By addressing unjust or unsafe work assignments, nurses can feel supported and protected, leading to improved job satisfaction and overall quality of life. Option B: improving nurse-physician communications is important but not as critical as ensuring a safe work environment. Option C: requiring professional development courses is beneficial but may not directly address the immediate concerns of nurses' quality of life. Option D: improving vertical working relationships is important, but addressing unsafe work conditions should take precedence for nurses' well-being.
Question 2 of 9
Nurses on a unit met with the nurse manager as part of participatory budgeting. They ask, "What exactly is the difference between fixed and variable costs? Understanding this will help us better understand the budgeting process." The manager provides a definition and asks the staff to list types of direct and indirect cost. Which example would indicate a need for further teaching?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the nurse manager's salary is typically considered a fixed cost, not a variable cost. Fixed costs remain constant regardless of the level of production or activity, while variable costs change in direct proportion to the level of activity. The nurse manager's salary is a fixed cost because it remains the same regardless of how many nurses are employed or how many patients are being cared for. A: Fixed costs such as accreditation fees are correct examples. B: Fixed costs like the cost for the automated medication-dispensing system are also correct examples. D: Variable costs like the salary expense for registered nurses are correct examples. Therefore, choice C would indicate a need for further teaching as it misidentifies the nurse manager's salary as a variable cost when it should be classified as a fixed cost.
Question 3 of 9
An RN is consistently late to work, causing reassignment of patient care and the need for repeated shift reports. The nurse, who receives a warning for repeated tardiness, states, "My husband left me, I have no car, no family close by, and the bus is always late, which makes me late. The nurse manager doesn't care how hard I try to get here, and I am raising a child by myself." The nurse is using which type of logical fallacy?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Appeal to emotion. The nurse is trying to justify their repeated tardiness by appealing to the emotions of the nurse manager, by invoking pity and sympathy. This type of logical fallacy involves using emotional manipulation to distract from the real issue of consistently being late to work. The nurse's personal circumstances are valid but do not excuse the behavior. Summary of other choices: B: Appeal to tradition - This fallacy involves justifying a belief or action based on the fact that it has been done that way in the past. This is not evident in the nurse's response. C: Hasty generalization - Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient evidence. The nurse's explanation is specific to their own situation and not a broad generalization. D: Confusing cause and effect - Mistaking the cause of a situation for the effect or vice versa. The nurse is trying to use their personal circumstances as the cause of being consistently late, rather than taking responsibility for their actions.
Question 4 of 9
In deciding whether to say no to a request that involves a time commitment, the professional nurse must consider:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why choice A is correct: 1. Cost-benefit ratio involves weighing the benefits of saying yes against the costs of the time commitment. 2. Professional nurses must consider the impact on patient care, workload, and personal well-being. 3. By evaluating the cost-benefit ratio, nurses can make informed decisions aligned with professional responsibilities and ethical standards. Summary: Choice A is correct because it emphasizes a systematic approach to decision-making based on evaluating the overall impact of the time commitment. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not address the essential consideration of weighing costs and benefits in decision-making.
Question 5 of 9
The primary focus of the care provider role for the nurse involves:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the primary focus of the care provider role for a nurse is to encourage consumer self-responsibility and emphasize health promotion/maintenance. This involves empowering patients to take control of their own health, promoting wellness, and preventing illness. The other choices are incorrect because: A) using the nursing process is essential but not the primary focus, C) increasing satisfaction among professional nurses is important but not the primary role of a care provider, and D) advancing nursing practice through research is valuable but not the primary responsibility of a care provider.
Question 6 of 9
A staff nurse states, "I really enjoyed having dinner with the Chief of Medical Staff and the President of the hospital. We hope to meet again soon." Which source of power does this nurse possess?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Connection. The nurse's power comes from her ability to network and build relationships with influential individuals like the Chief of Medical Staff and the President of the hospital. This grants her access to information, resources, and opportunities not available to others. This power is based on who she knows rather than her expertise (A), position (B), or ability to offer rewards (D). The nurse's statement implies that her influence stems from her connections, making choice C the most appropriate answer.
Question 7 of 9
A Hispanic patient is visited by several family members and the nurse witnessed one visitor who pinches a piece of skin at the waist. The nurse asks the purpose and learns the "provider" is listening for a snap from the abdominal region, which is then repeated several times. The patient most likely suffers from:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: empacho. Empacho is a traditional Hispanic folk illness characterized by a blockage in the digestive system. In this scenario, the behavior of pinching the skin and listening for a snap in the abdominal region aligns with the common practice associated with empacho diagnosis. The family member is likely trying to detect an abnormal sound, indicating a blockage in the intestines. The other choices (A: mal ojo, B: susto, C: bilis) do not fit the description of the observed behavior and symptoms. Mal ojo refers to the evil eye, susto is a fright-related illness, and bilis pertains to an imbalance of bodily fluids, none of which involve the specific diagnostic behavior described in the scenario.
Question 8 of 9
Which nurse died after deliberately acquiring two bites from yellow fever carrier mosquitoes to enable her to provide care to soldiers with yellow fever during the Spanish-American War?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Clara Maas. Clara Maas died after deliberately acquiring two bites from yellow fever carrier mosquitoes to provide care during the Spanish-American War. This is correct because Clara Maas was a real historical figure known for her selfless dedication to nursing and her sacrifice to help others. Florence Nightingale (A) is renowned for her work in nursing during the Crimean War, but she did not die from acquiring yellow fever. Margaret Hoolihan (B) and Sairy Gamp (D) are fictional characters and not relevant to the historical context of the Spanish-American War.
Question 9 of 9
The Karnofsky prognostication scale is most appropriately used to screen patients with which medical diagnoses?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Karnofsky Prognostication Scale is commonly used in patients with terminal illness, such as AIDS, to assess their functional status and predict their prognosis. Patients with AIDS often experience rapid decline in health, making this scale useful in determining their overall well-being and potential outcomes. Incorrect choices: A: Respiratory diseases - The Karnofsky scale is not commonly used for screening patients with respiratory diseases. B: Cancers - While the Karnofsky scale can be used for cancer patients, it is most commonly associated with terminal illnesses like AIDS. C: Cardiac diseases - The Karnofsky scale is not typically used for screening patients with cardiac diseases.