What is the primary goal of patient advocacy in nursing?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: To advocate for patient rights. Patient advocacy in nursing involves ensuring that patients have their rights respected, protected, and upheld. Advocating for patient rights involves empowering patients to make informed decisions about their care, ensuring they receive quality care, and advocating for their best interests. Advocacy goes beyond just providing emotional support or financial assistance, although these may be part of the advocacy process. Ensuring patient safety is important, but the primary goal of advocacy is to uphold and protect the rights of the patient.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The main purpose of a healthcare proxy is to make medical decisions on behalf of the patient when the patient is unable to do so. This includes decisions about treatment options, procedures, and end-of-life care. A healthcare proxy does not manage financial affairs (A), provide legal representation (C), or oversee patient discharge planning (D). These roles are typically carried out by different individuals or entities with specific responsibilities. The core function of a healthcare proxy is to ensure that the patient's medical wishes and best interests are upheld when they are unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Reinforcement. Reinforcement theory views motivation as learning through the use of positive or negative reinforcement to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. By associating certain behaviors with rewards or punishments, individuals learn to be motivated to engage in those behaviors. The other choices, B: Process, C: Operant, and D: Conditioning, are incorrect because they do not specifically focus on motivation as a learned behavior through reinforcement. Process theory emphasizes cognitive processes, Operant theory focuses on shaping behavior through consequences, and Conditioning theory is a general term for learning through associations.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Nominal group technique. The nurse manager used this technique by asking staff to submit written suggestions, which are then voted on collectively. In nominal group technique, group members generate ideas individually, then share and discuss them as a group to reach a decision. This technique encourages equal participation, prevents domination by vocal members, and ensures all ideas are considered fairly. A: Statistical aggregation involves combining data or opinions to reach a numerical result, not individual suggestions. C: Brainstorming is a technique where a group generates ideas freely without immediate evaluation or criticism. D: Delphi method involves gathering input from experts anonymously to reach a consensus, which is different from voting on written suggestions.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Authority. When a task is delegated, the individual needs the authority to make decisions and take actions to complete it effectively. Authority grants the power to make decisions, allocate resources, and enforce actions. Planning (B) involves creating a roadmap for achieving goals, organizing (C) involves arranging resources and tasks, and controlling (D) involves monitoring and ensuring tasks are on track. However, without authority, the delegated individual may face obstacles in executing the task. Therefore, the most essential aspect for successful delegation is granting authority.