Question 1

The nurse is caring for a patient receiving morphine who states the morphine is no longer working. The nurse notifies the health care provider and requests that an increase in dosage or a different medication be given. Which of these is the nurse demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is demonstrating advocacy by acting on behalf of the patient's needs and well-being, in this case by communicating with the health care provider to adjust the pain management plan. Advocacy involves supporting and promoting the interests of others, particularly patients in the healthcare context.

Question 2

The nursing staff is meeting to discuss a patient's desire for all life support measures, even though the patient has end-stage renal disease. Once a list of all possible actions is generated, what should the staff do next?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

A nurse manager has to make a decision about scheduling and asks the nurses on the unit before making a decision. This demonstrates which style of leadership?

Accepted Answer

Asking the nurses for their input before making a decision is characteristic of a democratic leadership style, where the leader makes decisions based on the input of each team member. This style values the team's input and fosters collaboration.

Question 4

Which action by the nurse demonstrates adherence to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

Accepted Answer

Logging out of a computer after documenting patient care ensures that unauthorized individuals cannot access protected health information, adhering to HIPAA's privacy and security rules.

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient newly admitted and notes a stage III pressure ulcer. For the hospital to receive payment for services rendered for this patient, which action must the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Documenting the ulcer and the interventions provided is essential for the hospital to receive payment for services rendered, as it demonstrates that the care needed was due to a condition not present at the time of admission.

Question 6

A health care administrator is reviewing material submitted to the legislature on tort reform. What should the administrator explain to nurse leaders about this legislation?

Accepted Answer

Tort reform typically aims to limit the liability for damages that organizations and individuals may face. This can include capping the amount of damages that can be awarded in lawsuits, which directly impacts organizational liability.

Question 7

The LPN/LVN is contemplating whether delegation is appropriate. Which would help the LPN/LVN make this decision?

Accepted Answer

The Nurse Practice Act provides guidelines on the scope of practice and delegation for LPNs/LVNs, helping them determine what tasks can be appropriately delegated.

Question 8

A patient with malnutrition refuses to ingest animal protein products, because it is against religious teachings. What should the nurse do to support this patient's beliefs while ensuring the patient's health status?

Accepted Answer

Respecting the patient's religious beliefs while ensuring they receive proper nutrition is crucial. Consulting a dietitian to find non-animal-based protein sources supports the patient's dietary restrictions and promotes their health.

Question 9

The nurse is informed of several victims of gang violence being brought by ambulance to the emergency department. Which injury should the nurse prepare to report to the authorities?

Accepted Answer

Gunshot wounds are considered serious injuries that often result from criminal activity or violence. Healthcare professionals are typically required by law to report gunshot wounds to the authorities to aid in criminal investigations and ensure public safety.

Question 10

During a patient care conference, the health care providers (HCPs) are reviewing potential outcomes based on individual interventions. Which bioethical theory is being demonstrated during this care conference?

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism is the bioethical theory being demonstrated, as it focuses on the outcomes or consequences of interventions to ensure the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Question 11

The nurse is assessing an unresponsive older adult who lives with her daughter and notes multiple pressure ulcers and bruises all over. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

The most appropriate action for the nurse in this situation is to notify the authorities of suspected abuse. Nurses have a legal and ethical obligation to report suspected abuse to protect the patient. This ensures that the situation is investigated by the appropriate authorities who have the means to intervene and provide the necessary protection and care for the victim.

Question 12

The nurse is caring for a patient with liver failure who is unconscious. The patient's girlfriend of 12 years has been making health care decisions. The patient is still legally married, and his wife whom he has not seen in 20 years shows up and wants to take over in making medical decisions. Which action should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

In situations where there is a conflict regarding who should make healthcare decisions for an unconscious patient, especially when legal and ethical considerations are involved, consulting an ethics committee is the appropriate action. This ensures that decisions are made in the patient's best interest, considering legal, ethical, and hospital policy guidelines.

Question 13

Which task is most appropriate for the licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) to delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

Accepted Answer

Feeding a patient who needs assistance with eating is a task that falls within the scope of practice for unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). This task does not require the clinical judgment or advanced skills of a licensed nurse.

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a patient who begins to exhibit difficulty swallowing. Which discipline will the nurse likely include in the patient's care?

Accepted Answer

A speech pathologist is trained to assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults, including difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).

Question 15

An LPN/LVN delegates oral care to a UAP. The patient never receives the oral care. Who is held accountable?

Accepted Answer

The LPN/LVN is held accountable because they are responsible for ensuring that the tasks they delegate are completed appropriately.

Question 16

The nurse is caring for a patient with end-stage renal failure who wishes to stop dialysis treatment. Which response by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

The best response is to respect the patient's autonomy and decision-making capacity, even in the face of life-threatening conditions. It is important to communicate the patient's wishes to their healthcare provider for further discussion and planning.

Question 17

Before leaving a patient's room, the nurse says that pain medication will be provided within 15 minutes. The nurse returns in 10 minutes with the pain medication. Which ethical principle did the nurse demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Fidelity refers to the principle of keeping one's promises or commitments. In this scenario, the nurse promised to provide pain medication within 15 minutes and fulfilled this promise by returning in 10 minutes, thus demonstrating fidelity.

Question 18

The nurse is caring for a famous actor. The press approaches the nurse leaving work and asks about the actor. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Patient confidentiality is a fundamental part of nursing ethics and is legally protected under laws like HIPAA in the United States. Nurses are obligated to protect their patients' privacy and cannot disclose any information about a patient's condition or treatment to unauthorized individuals, including the press.

Question 19

The nurse suspects a patient is a victim of human trafficking. Which characteristic supports this suspicion?

Accepted Answer

A characteristic that supports the suspicion of human trafficking is when an individual is accompanied by someone who answers all questions for them and refuses to leave the room. This behavior can indicate control and manipulation, common in trafficking situations.

Question 20

The nurse notices a colleague place a hydrocodone tablet in their pocket prior to leaving the hospital. Which action should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Notifying the nurse manager is the appropriate action because it follows the hospital's chain of command and ensures that the incident is investigated and handled according to hospital policy and legal requirements.

Quiz 3: Issues in Nursing Practice