Which actions would result in a greater number of nurses entering and staying in practice, given today's state of nursing? (select all that apply)

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Provide incentives for minorities and men to enter nursing. This is because increasing diversity in the nursing profession can help address shortages and improve patient care. Incentives can attract underrepresented groups and address disparities. A, determining why few black women enter graduate school, may address a specific subgroup but not the broader issue of nursing shortages. C, obtaining grant funding for faculty and scholarships, may help improve education opportunities but may not directly address the retention and recruitment of nurses. D, surveying nurses about job satisfaction, is important but may not directly address attracting more nurses into the profession or keeping them in practice.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Contact the elected representative's office by telephone to request support for the bill. This action is the most direct and effective way to influence the passage of the bill. By directly contacting the elected representative, the nurse can advocate for the importance of the bill and provide relevant information to garner their support. This direct communication with the decision-maker holds significant weight in influencing their vote on the bill. A: Explaining the rationale to the school board may be informative, but the school board may not have direct influence on the state legislature. C: Supporting a health advocate to run for election is a long-term strategy and may not have an immediate impact on the passage of the bill. D: Telling all students about the bill may raise awareness but may not directly influence the lawmakers' decisions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: critical pathway. Critical pathways are structured, multidisciplinary care plans that detail essential steps in the care of patients with specific conditions, such as heart failure. They standardize treatment by outlining the sequence and timing of interventions, tests, and medications, helping to improve efficiency and quality of care. Critical pathways guide daily care by providing a roadmap for healthcare providers to follow, ensuring that patients receive appropriate and timely interventions. Explanation of other choices: A: Benchmark - Benchmarks are standards or reference points used for comparison, not a structured care plan like a critical pathway. C: Algorithm - Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving problems, not necessarily a comprehensive care plan like a critical pathway. D: Case management - Case management involves coordinating care and services for individual patients, not a standardized care plan for a specific disease like a critical pathway.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: control group. In this study design, Group 3 serves as the control group to compare the effects of music therapy and life review therapy on memory. The control group does not receive any intervention, allowing researchers to isolate the impact of the therapies. This helps determine if any observed improvements in memory are due to the therapies and not other factors. A pilot study (A) is a small-scale preliminary investigation, not a comparison group. A survey (B) is a data collection method, not a comparison group. A needs assessment (C) is used to determine needs, not a comparison group. Thus, the control group is essential in research to establish causal relationships.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer C: Irregular heartbeat is a significant symptom of hyperkalemia, which can be life-threatening. The nurse should evaluate capillary refill to assess perfusion. High potassium levels can affect cardiac function, leading to arrhythmias. Monitoring capillary refill provides insight into tissue perfusion, helping to assess the severity of the condition and guide appropriate interventions. Summary of Incorrect Choices: A: Drowsiness is not a typical symptom of hyperkalemia. Stimulating the patient every 30 minutes does not address the underlying issue. B: Confusion is not a common symptom of hyperkalemia. Asking the patient to state their name and birthdate does not address the cardiac implications of high potassium levels. D: Muscle cramps may occur with hyperkalemia but are not as critical as irregular heartbeat. Elevating the affected limb is not the priority in this situation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses prepared at the master's level with prescriptive privileges. They are trained to provide comprehensive care, including diagnosing and prescribing medications. A: Clinical nurse leader focuses on improving patient outcomes in a specific unit or department, but they do not have prescriptive privileges. C: Nursing administrator is a managerial role that does not typically involve direct patient care or prescribing medications. D: Certified nurse-midwife is an advanced practice nurse focused on maternal and newborn care, but they do not have prescriptive privileges unless they also hold a nurse practitioner certification.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because it exemplifies the role of mentoring where the experienced nurse provides feedback and guidance to the novice nurse. Mentoring involves a structured and purposeful relationship aimed at professional growth. In this situation, the experienced nurse is directly interacting with the novice nurse, giving specific feedback on a task and showing support and encouragement. This helps the novice nurse improve their skills and knowledge. Option A is incorrect because it describes role modeling, where the novice nurse is observing without direct interaction. Option B is incorrect as it also describes role modeling through observation and mimicry. Option D is incorrect as it does not involve direct feedback or guidance from the experienced nurse to the novice nurse.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: planned variances. Organizations compare actual revenues and expenditures to planned variances to measure budget effectiveness. Planned variances show the differences between the budgeted amounts and the actual results, highlighting areas of over or underperformance. This analysis helps organizations identify reasons for deviations and adjust future budgets accordingly. Explanation for other choices: B: Incremental budgets focus on adjusting previous budgets by a fixed amount, not on comparing actual versus planned amounts. C: Productivity metrics measure the efficiency of resources used, not specifically related to budget effectiveness. D: Expected performance is a vague term that does not directly address comparing actual versus planned financial data.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Open systems. In an open system theory, organizations interact with their environment, adapting to changes and feedback. In this case, the nurse's repeated excessive call-ins affecting shift change demonstrate a lack of consideration for the team and patient care, disrupting the system's functioning. This theory emphasizes the interconnectedness and impact of individual actions on the entire system, refuting the nurse's claim of unfair treatment. Summary: A: Authoritative - Focuses on centralized decision-making authority, not relevant to addressing the nurse's behavior. B: Closed systems - Operate independently without external influences, not applicable as the nurse's actions impact the system. D: Trait - Focuses on individual characteristics, not addressing the systemic impact of the nurse's behavior.