ATI RN
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing PDF Questions
Question 1 of 9
What was the purpose of the Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002 aimed to address the nursing shortage by focusing on nurse retention and safety enhancement grants. This legislation provided funding for programs to support nurses in their roles, improve working conditions, and ultimately retain experienced professionals in the field. This choice aligns with the primary goal of the act and its intended impact on the nursing workforce. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the main purpose of the Nurse Reinvestment Act. Choice A is not mentioned in the act and does not address the broader issue of nursing shortage. Choice B promotes unlicensed caregivers, which goes against the act's focus on professional nurses. Choice D is specific to pediatric nursing training grants and does not encompass the Act's comprehensive approach to nurse retention and safety enhancement.
Question 2 of 9
A nurse is removing a saturated dressing from an abdominal incision and must cut the tape to remove the dressing. The nurse accidentally cuts the sutures holding the incision, and evisceration occurs. In quality improvement, this incident is best identified as a:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: sentinel event. A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological harm to a patient. In this scenario, the accidental cutting of sutures leading to evisceration constitutes a serious harm to the patient, making it a sentinel event. This event requires immediate investigation, analysis, and implementation of preventive measures to ensure patient safety. A: Root cause refers to the underlying reason for a problem, not the event itself. C: Variation in performance is related to inconsistencies in processes, not a specific critical incident like evisceration. D: Causal factor is a contributing element to an event, but it does not capture the severity and significance of a sentinel event like evisceration.
Question 3 of 9
A nurse wants to become an advanced practice nurse and investigates the requirements for a: (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who provide comprehensive healthcare services, including diagnosing and managing common acute and chronic illnesses. They require additional education and certification beyond basic nursing. Nurse executives focus on leadership and management roles in healthcare organizations, not direct patient care. Certified nurse-midwives specialize in providing prenatal, postpartum, and gynecological care to women. Certified registered nurse anesthetists specialize in administering anesthesia but do not provide the same scope of primary care as nurse practitioners.
Question 4 of 9
A nurse is part of the policy committee for a hospital. The committee is provided with statistics indicating that patients participating in a satisfaction survey felt they lacked sufficient information about new drugs started while hospitalized and continued after discharge. In addition, charts noted high recidivism rates. The committee recommended that a formalized patient education plan be instituted to reconcile all medications and provide patient information about new medications. The committee is using which component of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2011 message?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Policy is based on data, which provides the groundwork for decision making. This is the correct answer because the scenario describes the policy committee using statistics about patient satisfaction and recidivism rates to make recommendations for a patient education plan. By utilizing data, the committee is following the IOM 2011 message of basing decisions on evidence and information. A: Nurses achieving higher levels of education is not directly related to the scenario and the committee's decision-making process. B: The requirement of a master's degree for nurses on policy committees is not mentioned in the scenario and is not relevant to the decision-making process described. C: Comparing nurse pay to physicians' pay is not relevant to the scenario or the IOM 2011 message of using data for decision making.
Question 5 of 9
Political action committees (PACs) are established for the purpose of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: financially supporting candidates. PACs are established to raise and spend money to support candidates for political office. They can donate funds to candidates' campaigns, run independent expenditure campaigns, and engage in other activities to influence elections. This is the primary purpose of PACs. Other choices are incorrect: B: While PACs may aim to persuade policymakers to support certain policies, their main function is to support candidates financially. C: While lobbying legislators is a common activity PACs engage in, their main purpose is to financially support candidates. D: Recommending health care policy is not the primary purpose of PACs, as their main role is to support political candidates.
Question 6 of 9
A nurse holds a license in one state but wishes to practice in a second state that is not participating in a nurse licensure compact agreement. The nurse is granted licensure on payment of a fee but does not retake the licensure examination. The nurse obtains licensure in the second state:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: by licensure and by endorsement. When a nurse holds a license in one state and wishes to practice in another state not participating in a compact agreement, they can typically obtain licensure in the second state through endorsement, which allows them to practice without retaking the licensure examination. This process involves the second state recognizing the nurse's credentials from the original state and granting them a license upon payment of a fee. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because: B: Mandatory continuing education is a requirement for maintaining licensure but not typically for obtaining initial licensure in a new state. C: Being "grandfathered" usually refers to exempting individuals from new requirements based on previous qualifications, which is not applicable in this scenario. D: Sunset legislation refers to laws that automatically expire unless reauthorized, which is not relevant to the process of obtaining licensure in a new state.
Question 7 of 9
A nurse interested in an entry level position as a registered nurse prepares the cover letter. A correctly written cover letter might include:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer A: The correct answer is A because it emphasizes alignment with the organization's values, specifically community outreach. This shows the nurse has researched the organization and tailored their cover letter accordingly, demonstrating genuine interest in the position. It also indicates a willingness to contribute to the organization's mission, which is appealing to employers. Summary of Incorrect Choices: B: This choice focuses too much on unrelated degrees and certifications, which may not be relevant to the nursing position. It does not address the specific needs of the organization. C: While work-life balance is important, this choice does not demonstrate a clear connection to the organization or the nursing position. D: This choice includes personal information that is not relevant to the job application and does not highlight any qualifications or interest in the organization.
Question 8 of 9
A patient wants to reduce health care costs by being a model for making wise decisions that both promote health and reduce cost. Which statement by the patient would indicate a need for further teaching?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because asking for the brand name drug Tylenol instead of the generic acetaminophen would likely increase healthcare costs without providing any additional benefit. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol, so choosing the brand name would be more expensive without improving health outcomes. This decision does not align with the goal of reducing healthcare costs while promoting health. Choice B is correct as looking up information on urinary tract infection prevention shows the patient is proactively seeking knowledge to improve health outcomes. Choice C is correct as getting health measurements at a health fair demonstrates an interest in monitoring health status. Choice D is correct as seeking advice from a pharmacist for allergies is a cost-effective and health-promoting decision.
Question 9 of 9
Throughout the history of health care in our nation, one particular piece of federal legislation provided funds for hospital construction. As the number of hospitals rapidly increased, the need for nurses to staff hospitals also increased, and the shift from community-based nursing care to hospital-based nursing care began. This fundamental piece of legislation was the:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hill-Burton Act. The Hill-Burton Act, passed in 1946, provided federal funds for hospital construction, leading to a significant increase in the number of hospitals. This increase in hospital facilities created a higher demand for nurses to staff them, thereby initiating the shift from community-based nursing care to hospital-based care. The Sheppard-Towner Act (A) focused on maternal and child health programs, not hospital construction. The Veterans Bill (C) primarily addresses healthcare benefits for veterans. The Access to Health Care Bill (D) is a generic term and does not refer to a specific piece of legislation related to hospital construction or nursing staffing.