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 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 3 of 9
Nurses, physicians, and social workers finalize the plan of care and coordinate discharge for a homeless person who will need wound care and follow up over the next 4 weeks. Each member contributes based on his or her area of expertise but also recognize other members' strengths. Which of the QSEN competencies are being demonstrated?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Teamwork and collaboration. This is demonstrated as the nurses, physicians, and social workers work together to finalize the care plan and coordinate discharge for the homeless person. Each member contributes based on their expertise, recognizing and utilizing the strengths of other team members. This showcases effective communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making, which are key aspects of teamwork and collaboration. Summary of other choices: A: Quality improvement - Not directly related to the collaborative effort described in the scenario. B: Evidence-based practice - While important, this choice does not specifically address the interprofessional collaboration demonstrated in the scenario. D: Patient-centered care - While important in overall patient care, this choice does not specifically address the teamwork and collaboration among the healthcare professionals in this scenario.
Question 4 of 9
Which patient's decision-making capacity should be a concern for the palliative care nurse?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because a patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease may have impaired decision-making capacity due to cognitive decline. Patients with Alzheimer's may struggle to understand, remember, and evaluate information needed to make informed decisions. Choice A shows the patient's curiosity, not necessarily a lack of capacity. Choice C indicates family involvement but does not directly address the patient's capacity. Choice D reflects anxiety about decision-making, not necessarily incapacity.
Question 5 of 9
During orientation, an RN learns that LPN/LVNs in the facility receive additional training to perform some tasks such as hanging continuously infusing intravenous fluids that have no additives. It is important for the RN to understand that:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (B - LPN/LVNs are licensed, and accountability for their own practice rests with each LPN/LVN): 1. LPN/LVNs are licensed professionals, accountable for their own scope of practice as outlined by the state nursing board. 2. Accountability ensures that LPN/LVNs are responsible for their actions and decisions in providing patient care. 3. LPN/LVNs must adhere to the state's nursing practice act and regulations, ensuring safe and competent care delivery. Summary of Incorrect Choices: A: The health care facility cannot override the state practice act as licensure requirements are set by the state nursing board. C: UAPs, although important in the care team, do not have the same level of accountability as licensed nurses. D: The nurse practice act and state regulations related to delegation are essential in guiding delegation practices, but they do not necessarily override organization policies.
Question 6 of 9
When preparing a portfolio, the nurse should include: (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because including copies of diplomas awarded by colleges/universities provides evidence of the nurse's education and qualifications. This helps to showcase the nurse's academic achievements and credibility to potential employers. Choice B (copies of college transcripts) may not be necessary as diplomas are a more concise representation of education attainment. Choice C (personal photograph) is not typically required in a professional portfolio and may introduce bias in the selection process. Choice D (letters of recognition for scoring high on national achievement tests) are not essential for demonstrating nursing skills and qualifications relevant to the job.
Question 7 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 8 of 9
The primary purpose of licensure for RNs is to:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for choice C: 1. Licensure ensures RNs meet minimum standards to practice. 2. Protects the public from incompetent or unqualified nurses. 3. Ensures RNs adhere to ethical and legal standards. 4. Maintains accountability and promotes safe patient care. Summary: A: Incorrect, as licensure is not primarily about title protection. B: Incorrect, as while RNs demonstrate knowledge, licensure is broader. D: Incorrect, as enhancing recognition is not the primary goal of licensure.
Question 9 of 9
A male nurse hired to work in the emergency department is observed throwing a contaminated needle into the trash can. The team leader reprimands the nurse for not appropriately disposing of sharps. The nurse states, "You don't care that I threw the needle in the trash. You just want an all-female staff," putting the team leader in a defensive position. This communication technique is known as:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: red herring. In this scenario, the male nurse deflects the issue of improper sharps disposal by accusing the team leader of having ulterior motives related to gender discrimination. This is a classic example of a red herring, where the nurse introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue. The nurse's response does not address the concern raised about sharps disposal but instead shifts the focus to an unrelated accusation. The other choices are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the communication technique used in the scenario. A straw man involves misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack, slippery slope is a form of logical fallacy, and confusing cause and effect refers to a mistaken understanding of the relationship between two events.