Which of the following strategies is most effective for reducing medication errors on a nursing unit?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Using barcoding technology for medication administration. This strategy is most effective for reducing medication errors because it helps ensure the right medication is given to the right patient at the right time. Barcoding technology allows nurses to scan both the patient's wristband and the medication label to verify accuracy before administration, reducing the risk of errors due to human factors. A: Increasing the nurse-to-patient ratio may help with workload distribution but does not directly address medication errors. B: Providing ongoing education is important but may not be as effective as implementing technological solutions like barcoding. D: Increasing the use of PRN medications may actually increase the risk of errors if not managed properly. In summary, using barcoding technology for medication administration is the most effective strategy as it directly addresses the root cause of medication errors by ensuring accurate medication administration.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Attendance. This is because being consistently late for work due to unreliable transportation directly impacts one's ability to be present at work on time, affecting attendance. It is not voluntary (B) as the individual is not choosing to be late, nor is it related to motivation (C) as it is an external factor beyond their control. It is also not involuntary (D) as the lateness is a result of a specific issue rather than a lack of intention.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Effective time management is crucial for nurses to complete their responsibilities within a shift. Identifying tasks in order of priority allows the nurse to focus on the most critical client needs first, ensuring safety and quality care while optimizing workflow. This strategy aligns with nursing principles like the ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) framework or Maslow's hierarchy, which guide prioritization based on urgency and importance. Completing documentation at shift's end risks inaccuracies due to memory lapse and delays handoff, while delegating all tasks is impractical and exceeds the scope of assistive personnel, potentially compromising care. Avoiding breaks can lead to fatigue, reducing efficiency and increasing errors. Prioritizing tasks enables the nurse to allocate time effectively, address high-priority issues promptly, and complete documentation contemporaneously, reducing the need to stay late while maintaining professional standards.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Callous doesn't fit supporters, unlike nurturing, sensitive, or caring. Nurse managers value supporters like empathetic RNs contrasting with harshness. It's critical in healthcare for morale, aligning leadership with team support.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The primary goal of patient education is to empower patients to take control of their health. This helps them make informed decisions, manage their conditions effectively, and improve their overall well-being. By educating patients, healthcare providers enable them to actively participate in their own care, leading to better health outcomes. Choice A (To enhance clinical skills) is incorrect as patient education focuses on empowering patients rather than improving the skills of healthcare providers. Choice B (To ensure patient safety) is also incorrect as while patient education contributes to patient safety, the primary goal is to empower patients to manage their health. Choice D (To improve patient compliance) is not the primary goal of patient education, although improved compliance may be an outcome of patient empowerment.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B (as soon as possible) because individuals with type 2 diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy, a complication that can lead to vision loss. Early detection through a dilated eye exam allows for timely intervention to prevent or slow down progression. Choice A (every 2 years) may not be frequent enough for early detection. Choice C (when the patient is 39 years old) is not specific to the individual's diabetes diagnosis. Choice D (within the first year after diagnosis) is too delayed for optimal monitoring. Thus, scheduling a dilated eye exam as soon as possible is crucial for early detection and management of diabetic retinopathy.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Encouraging innovation. Transformational leadership involves inspiring and motivating followers to think creatively, embrace change, and strive for continuous improvement. By encouraging innovation, transformational leaders empower their team to challenge the status quo, adapt to new situations, and drive growth and success. This approach fosters a culture of creativity and openness to new ideas, leading to organizational transformation and long-term success. Now, let's analyze why the other choices are incorrect: A: Maintaining the status quo goes against the essence of transformational leadership, which is about driving change and growth. C: Focus on short-term goals is more aligned with transactional leadership, where the emphasis is on achieving immediate results rather than long-term vision and innovation. D: Top-down communication is characteristic of traditional, hierarchical leadership styles, whereas transformational leadership emphasizes open and collaborative communication to inspire and engage followers.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: WIN means what's important now' not A, B, C. Nurse leaders like prioritizing use this, contrasting with trivia. In healthcare, it's focus, aligning leadership with urgency.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: HIPAA mandates protecting client health information, restricting disclosure to those not directly providing care unless authorized. Responding I am sorry, but you'll need to ask your father for that information' upholds confidentiality, redirecting the son to the client the information's owner respecting autonomy and privacy without hostility. Giving the medication name breaches confidentiality, offering specifics only the client can share. A blunt I can't tell you' lacks tact, potentially straining relations, while deferring to the provider shifts responsibility unnecessarily. The chosen response balances legal duty with professionalism, reinforcing the client's control over their data, a cornerstone of trust in nurse-client interactions.