Deck 7: Management Techniques and Problem Solving Skills for Health Unit Coordinating

Question 1

The HUC must have organizational skills and must know the importance of certain tasks over others.Which of these tasks would have the highest priority?

A)Transcribing preoperative and postoperative orders
B)Carrying out orders as directed during a patient code
C)Notifying the admitting department of a pending discharge
D)Transcribing stat orders

Answer 1

Carrying out orders as directed during a patient code

Question 2

The Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR )provides information about:

A)medications,including names,uses,doses,and adverse effects.
B)laboratory tests,specimens,amounts needed,and expected reference values.
C)disaster procedures.
D)employment policies.

Answer 2

medications,including names,uses,doses,and adverse effects.

Question 3

Nursing unit 4A has three lumbar puncture (LP)trays.Yesterday,there were five.Central services received a patient charge for one,meaning that a patient was not charged for an LP tray.This would be brought to the nursing unit's attention on the:

A)standard supply list.
B)change-of-shift report.
C)central services department discrepancy report.
D)supply needs sheet.

Answer 3

central services department discrepancy report.

Question 4

The most efficient method for tracking patients and their activities is to use a:

A)census worksheet.
B)change-of-shift report.
C)scorecard.
D)surveillance camera.

Question 5

An ineffective method of responding to a visitor's complaint regarding his wife's care from the previous day (your day off)would involve:

A)listening carefully and attentively to what the person is saying.
B)refraining from eating or chewing gum while communicating.
C)asking pertinent objective questions and gathering as many facts as possible.
D)responding with statements such as,"I was not here yesterday," or "I'm not responsible for things like that."

Question 6

The wear and tear of day-to-day living with the feeling that one is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole is known as:

A)crisis stress.
B)stress for success.
C)perennial stress.
D)stress management.

Question 7

It would not be necessary to write which of the following pieces of patient information on the nursing unit census worksheet?

A)Pending patient discharge
B)No information,no publication (NINP)order
C)Do not resuscitate (DNR)order
D)Regular diet order

Question 8

Cumulative injuries occur:

A)as the result of crisis stress.
B)as the result of not wearing protective wear.
C)as the result of not washing hands frequently.
D)over time as the result of repetitive motion activity.

Question 9

When the EMR with CPOE is used,patient documents faxed from an outside facility are:

A)stored in folders identified with the appropriate patient ID label.
B)sent to the health information management system.
C)scanned into the appropriate patient's EMR.
D)sent to the appropriate patient's doctor's office.

Question 10

The HUC should maintain certain supplies within reaching distance of the work area.Items that would be important to have within reach would be:

A)a coffee pot and/or filled coffee cup.
B)an otoscope.
C)a crash cart.
D)frequently used forms.

Question 11

The telephone in a patient room is not functioning properly.The HUC would notify the:

A)director of nurses.
B)nurse who is in charge of the patient's care.
C)HIMS department.
D)maintenance department.

Question 12

A patient was charged for two knee immobilizers,even though only one was used.The correction will be reflected on a:

A)central services department charge slip.
B)central services department credit slip.
C)reusable equipment credit slip.
D)change-of-shift report.

Question 13

When returning from a break,the HUC should:

A)check the computers to see if he or she is still logged on.
B)check each chart that is out of the rack for new orders,send pharmacy copies as required,and transcribe stat any orders.
C)finish transcribing orders that were started prior to taking a break.
D)leave for a cup of coffee if everything is quiet on the unit;chances are there will not be time for another break when admissions start arriving.

Question 14

A structured group activity used in quality improvement that allows three to 10 people to tap into the creativity of the group to identify new ideas is called:

A)change-of-shift report.
B)CPR.
C)ergonomics.
D)brainstorming.

Question 15

A doctor is requesting information regarding the date a patient was discharged and the name of the rehab facility to which the patient was sent.The HUC would find this information in the:

A)nursing unit communication book.
B)admission,discharge,and transfer (ADT)log book.
C)inpatient patient label book.
D)PDR.

Question 16

The five-step problem-solving model is frequently used to find both the cause of and the solution to a problem.The following problem was discussed at a staff meeting: During shift change report,patient call lights go unanswered for an unacceptable length of time.This fits within which step of the five-step problem-solving model?

A)Identify which employee should be written up for objectionable behaviors.
B)Identify and analyze the problem.
C)Evaluate the plan after it has been in place for a given time.
D)Identify alternative plans for a solution.

Question 17

An effective time management technique for an HUC to use is:

A)engaging in conversation with everyone who enters the nursing unit,to keep posted about various happenings.
B)working on as many tasks at once as is possible.It is not important to complete one task,such as a new set of orders,before moving to the next task.
C)not trying to plan for the rush periods,because it is not possible to predict how busy the nursing unit can become.
D)taking breaks as assigned to maintain effectiveness and reduce stress.

Question 18

A practical suggestion for avoiding common workplace injuries is to:

A)increase exercise by encouraging situations that would require constant bending over to complete tasks.
B)shift one's weight in the chair infrequently.
C)bend over with legs straight,and twist while lifting a heavy item.
D)stand,walk,and stretch your back and legs at least every hour.

Question 19

Ergonomics is concerned with:

A)exercise programs for optimal health.
B)human factors in the design and operation of machines and the physical environment.
C)dietary programs for hospitalized patients.
D)computer programs for the EMR.

Question 20

Chart tracking is useful in which of the following situations?

A)While the patient is having blood drawn for a complete blood (cell)count (CBC)
B)During the patient's bed bath
C)While the patient is out of the hospital on a pass
D)When the patient leaves the nursing unit for treatment or a procedure

Question 21

The HUC has just arrived on the nursing unit.Which of the following tasks would take top priority?

A)Obtaining a laboratory result for the doctor
B)Ordering a stat CBC
C)Relaying a message to a patient's nurse that the patient is now in recovery
D)Transcribing a patient's routine orders

Question 22

During a medical emergency,a code or crash cart is required and would be located:

A)on each nursing unit or between nursing units.
B)in central supply.
C)in the pharmacy.
D)in the office of the director of nurses.

Question 23

A visitor approaches the nursing station when the HUC is extremely busy.The best response by the HUC would be to:

A)stop and assist the visitor immediately.
B)ignore the visitor until there is time to offer assistance.
C)tell the visitor that there is no time to offer assistance.
D)immediately acknowledge the visitor and provide assistance as soon as possible.

Question 24

A nurse asks the HUC to find out how much blood is required to perform a laboratory test ordered on a patient.The HUC would find this information in the:

A)laboratory manual (computerized or hard copy)
B)disaster manual (computerized or hard copy)
C)PDR (computerized or hard copy)
D)hospital formulary (computerized or hard copy)

Question 25

Reusable equipment that has been discontinued would be placed in the:

A)central supply closet.
B)clean utility room.
C)dirty utility room.
D)hall.

Question 26

The EMR with CPOE was newly implemented,and the doctors,along with all hospital staff,were informed by administration that all doctors' orders must be typed into the patient's EMR by the patient's doctor without exception.A week later,a doctor on staff insisted on handing the HUC a set of orders.The best response by the HUC would be:

A)"Could I assist you with the computer system?"
B)"What do you expect me to do with these orders?"
C)"You have to type these into the patient's EMR yourself."
D)"I will try to scan these orders into the patient's EMR,but I'm really not supposed to."

Question 27

Supplies stored on a nursing unit vary depending on the:

A)staff doctor's choice.
B)specialty of the nursing unit.
C)staff nurses' choice.
D)cost of supplies.

Question 28

A requirement of The Joint Commission (TJC)that improves quality at every level of every department for every function of the health care organization is:

A)CQI
B)ADT
C)CSD
D)NINP

Question 29

Finding diagnostic test results (including the most current)when EMR or paper charts are used is similar because both:

A)require that the testing department be called.
B)require that the doctor be called.
C)may be located on the computer.
D)may be located on the patient's chart.

Question 30

An HUC approached by a doctor requesting information regarding the transfer destination of a patient discharged 2 days earlier would find the information quickly by:

A)calling the HIMS department and asking them to look in the patient's chart.
B)looking in the ADT log book
C)locating the patient's nurse to provide the information.
D)locating the case manager to provide the information.

Question 31

The hospital department responsible for repairing communication equipment is the:

A)maintenance department.
B)central service department.
C)HIMS department.
D)general maintenance department.

Question 32

The HUC would use a notepad or memory sheet to:

A)record difficult-to-remember phone and pager numbers.
B)assist the HUC to remember difficult procedures.
C)list the tasks that the HUC is unable to complete momentarily.
D)list routine phone numbers.

Question 33

The purpose of a central supply discrepancy report is to:

A)determine the correct cost of items charged to patients.
B)find errors that are made by central services technicians in stocking supplies.
C)recapture items not charged to a patient but missing from the supply closet.
D)determine the quantities of supplies to be stocked on the unit.

Question 34

Saying no tactfully when asked to do additional work if there truly is not time is:

A)cause for dismissal.
B)a stress management technique.
C)cause to receive a written reprimand.
D)aggressive behavior.