Deck 16: Economics in the Health Care Delivery System

Question 1

What is the nurse's fiscal responsibility to the patient?

A)To provide the best health care that the patient can afford
B)To provide the best health care that the insurance company will allow
C)To use the most cost-efficient resources to provide maximum health care to the patient
D)To use the most efficient method of providing nursing care to patients whose resources are limited

Answer 1

To use the most cost-efficient resources to provide maximum health care to the patient

Question 2

A case manager is educating a patient on health care insurance.Which statement by the patient shows that the teaching has been effective?

A)"All health care is covered by insurance."
B)"Insurance does not cover inpatient hospital stays."
C)"All health care coverage is the same."
D)"All health insurance companies have rules about what services will be covered."

Answer 2

"All health insurance companies have rules about what services will be covered."

Question 3

The nurse would identify which of the following as an example of a strategy that represents fiscally responsible clinical nursing practice?

A)Begin discharge planning as soon as it is evident when a patient will be discharged.
B)Encourage patients to consider being admitted the evening before a major surgical procedure.
C)Use unlicensed personnel as much as possible in the delivery of nursing care.
D)Accurately document the current status of a patient with regard to the patient's ongoing needs.

Answer 3

Accurately document the current status of a patient with regard to the patient's ongoing needs.

Question 4

Which actions by the nurse demonstrate fiscal responsibility to the patient? (Select all that apply.)

A)Discharging a patient home with prescriptions and no health insurance to cover the cost
B)Assessing the patient's resources and determining his/her ability to pay for prescriptions
C)Setting the patient up for Meals on Wheels
D)Giving the patient information on free support groups
E)Calling local churches to see what services they can offer the patient

Question 5

A nurse manager is preparing a presentation on health care economics for unit staff.How would the nurse manager explain the definition of economics as it relates to health care to the staff?

A)Economics refers to how the health care system is going to care for the older segment of the population.
B)Health care is a limited resource;economics refers to how this resource is going to be allocated.
C)Health care economics refers to the budgeting and financial management of the institution providing the care.
D)Economics is the balance of the utilization of health care services and the monies obtained for the services provided.

Question 6

The case manager is educating the nurse about health care costs.The case manager knows that the education has been effective when the nurse states

A)"Health care costs are increasing because demand is decreasing."
B)"Health care costs are steadily decreasing."
C)"The aging population requires more health care services,causing the costs to increase."
D)"The aging population requires fewer health care services,causing the costs to decrease."

Question 7

A nurse is educating a group of students about health care economics.Which statement would the students make if the teaching were effective?

A)"Extrinsic factors include the cost of prescription drugs."
B)"Extrinsic factors include the age of the population."
C)"Extrinsic factors include the demand for health care."
D)"Extrinsic factors include employer-paid health insurance."

Question 8

What is the most important way that a nurse can be fiscally responsible to the employing institution?

A)By providing quality,safe nursing care
B)By considering patient needs and prioritizing appropriately
C)By accurately documenting the patient's condition
D)By maintaining accurate charges for supplies used in patient care

Question 9

The nurse has an adequate understanding of productive time when stating that

A)"productive time is the amount of time the nurse is available to give care to patients."
B)"productive time is the amount of time the nurse is attending a continuing education activity."
C)"productive time is counted when the nurse is not directly giving bedside care,such as going to lunch and taking a break."
D)"productive time is counted when the physician is at the patient's bedside."

Question 10

A nurse is educating a coworker on the intrinsic factors and cost of health care.The nurse knows that the teaching has been effective when the coworker lists the following intrinsic factor as the major cause of increased cost:

A)The population of those over 65 years of age is predicted to more than double.
B)The new medical technology available has increased the cost of health care.
C)There are increasing labor costs in the total hospital spending budget.
D)The staff nurse does not understand the responsibility of economics and money management.

Question 11

Which of the following statements indicates the nurse's understanding of fiscal responsibility?

A)"Fiscal responsibility should be a concern for all nurses."
B)"Fiscal responsibility is only a concern for the department manager."
C)"Fiscal responsibility is only a concern for the hospital administrators."
D)"Fiscal responsibility is not a concern for the nursing staff."

Question 12

Which statement is true about patient acuity assessments for an in-patient unit?

A)This type of assessment measures all the needs of patients.
B)The assessments provide an absolute formula for unit staffing.
C)The best assessments use hours per patient day to determine nursing needs.
D)Assessments that use admission,discharge,and transfer data are often more accurate.

Question 13

To provide quality care,the Affordable Care Act of 2010

A)reduced the number of patients accepted into Medicaid.
B)kept the Medicaid system the same.
C)made changes to slow growth in spending.
D)increased Medicaid spending to ensure adequate patient care.

Question 14

Which statement by the nurse shows understanding of the Rand Health Insurance Experiment?

A)"When consumers were required to pay a 25% co-payment,there was a considerable decline in the use of health care services."
B)"There was an increase in the use of health care services when consumers were required to make a co-payment."
C)"If the health care cost is being paid by insurance companies,the consumer is not concerned about the cost."
D)"The implementation of the Oregon Health Policy for reimbursement of the cost of health care services led to the Rand Health Insurance Experiment."

Question 15

The nurse manager receives the budget variance report for the assigned nursing unit.What other critical information must the nurse manager consider to evaluate this report?

A)Projection of costs in the operating budget
B)The amount of money allocated to meet expected costs
C)Figures on which a zero-based budget were determined
D)Planning needs for unit staffing based on patient acuity

Question 16

Which statement by the nurse indicates understanding of the major factors influencing the increase in health care costs?

A)"Health care expenditures are exceeding the cost of the gross domestic product (GDP)in excess of 17.4%."
B)"Older adult patients consume more of the health care product than they can afford to finance."
C)"The cost of prescription drugs is soaring so rapidly that the majority of people cannot afford them."
D)"Because of the limited payment of Medicare,institutions are not being reimbursed at the same level of expenditures."

Question 17

The nurse has an adequate understanding of capital budget when stating

A)"A capital budget is part of the expected expenses of the unit."
B)"A capital budget is used to purchase or replace equipment costing more than $5000."
C)"A capital budget is used to pay for nurses to work in the hospital."
D)"A capital budget is used to purchase lunch for employees."

Question 18

Which statement by the nurse is accurate regarding the current health care Americans receive?

A)"The distribution of services is efficient across the population."
B)"The distribution of care is even across the population."
C)"Access to care related to income is improving."
D)"Many Americans receive care that causes harm."

Question 19

What action can nurses take to be fiscally responsible?

A)Let patients determine if the cost of medications fits into their budget.
B)Allow nurses to work on the unit when the census drops.
C)Use proper hand hygiene.
D)Document minimally on each patient.

Question 20

It is important for the nurse to understand strategies that promote a fiscally responsible clinical practice.From the following listing,select those strategies that would achieve a fiscally responsible clinical practice.(Select all that apply.)

A)Completes charge slips or scans bar code of nursing supplies used when changing a surgical dressing
B)Participates in the annual hospital fund-raising activity
C)Visits the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to understand what services are provided during an inpatient visit
D)Immediately reports any development of a patient medical complication to the health care provider
E)Volunteers to participate in a hospital program initiative to reduce central line- associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
F)Completes a patient's discharge plan on the morning of discharge

Question 21

Which action by the nurse shows fiscal responsibility to the employing organization?

A)Wash hands after each patient contact.
B)Turn patients every 2 hours.
C)Round on patients per policy.
D)Toilet patients frequently to prevent falls.
E)Use resources of the institution wisely.

Question 22

Which actions by the nurse show fiscal responsibility to the payer of care? (Select all that apply.)

A)Understand Medicare and Medicaid insurance coverage.
B)Efficiently and effectively use resources to provide patient care.
C)Document minimally in the patient chart.
D)Select interventions that are cost effective.
E)Document the patient's plan of care.

Question 23

A new graduate is preparing for a job interview.Which questions would be appropriate to ask the manager in regard to health care economics? (Select all that apply.)

A)How is the acuity of patients factored into staffing?
B)What is the turnover rate on this unit?
C)How long are the breaks for staff on this unit?
D)What is the overtime rate on this unit?
E)What are the budgeted hours per patient day on this unit?

Question 24

Which actions by the nurse demonstrate fiscal responsibility to the employing organization? (Select all that apply.)

A)Only bringing needed supplies into a patient's room
B)Accurately documenting the patient's condition
C)Minimally documenting in the patient's chart
D)Taking breaks as scheduled
E)Remaining healthy and able to function on the job