Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is discussing the responsibility of caring for clients with clostridium difficile infection. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

• A. Have family members wear a gown and gloves when visiting.
• B. Clean contaminated surfaces in the client's room with a bleach solution.
• C. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when leaving the client's room.
• D. Assign the client to a room with a private bathroom.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When caring for clients with clostridium difficile infection, it is important to prevent the spread of the bacteria. Having family members wear a gown and gloves when visiting helps reduce the risk of transmission. Cleaning contaminated surfaces with a bleach solution, not phenol, is recommended to effectively kill the C. difficile spores. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not sufficient, as it may not be effective against C. difficile spores. Assigning the client to a room with a private bathroom is more beneficial than a negative airflow system, as it helps prevent the spread of bacteria to other clients.

2. Which of the following are essential components of strategic planning? (Select all that apply.)

• A. Values
• B. Vision & Mission statements
• C. Reengineering
• D. A & B

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Values and vision and mission statements are indeed essential components of strategic planning. Values help define the organization's core beliefs and principles, guiding its decisions and actions. Vision and mission statements articulate the organization's goals, purpose, and direction, serving as a roadmap for strategic planning and decision-making. Reengineering is not a core component of strategic planning; it involves the redesign of processes to improve performance, efficiency, and quality. Therefore, option C is incorrect. The correct answer is D because both values and vision and mission statements play crucial roles in shaping an organization's strategic planning process.

3. The unit manager of a 32-bed medical-surgical unit allows the staff nurses to do self-governance for scheduling, client care assignments, and committee work. The manager would be considered which type of leader?

• A. Autocratic
• B. Democratic
• C. Bureaucratic
• D. Laissez-faire

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Laissez-faire. In a laissez-faire leadership style, the manager exerts very little control and allows the staff to have a high degree of autonomy in decision-making and problem-solving. This type of leader provides guidance when needed but largely leaves the decision-making process to the staff. Autocratic leadership (choice A) is characterized by centralizing decision-making authority, democratic leadership (choice B) involves shared decision-making, and bureaucratic leadership (choice C) relies on adherence to rules and procedures.

4. What is the primary goal of a root cause analysis (RCA) in healthcare?

• A. To assign blame for errors
• B. To prevent future errors by identifying underlying causes
• C. To improve patient satisfaction
• D. To analyze the financial impact of errors

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'To prevent future errors by identifying underlying causes.' Root cause analysis (RCA) in healthcare aims to delve deep into the factors contributing to an error to prevent its recurrence. Choice A is incorrect as RCA focuses on identifying system issues, not blaming individuals. Choice C is incorrect as while improving patient satisfaction may result from the process, it is not the primary goal. Choice D is incorrect as the main focus of RCA is not financial analysis but rather improving patient safety.

5. Penalties should be __________ .

• A. Determining the employee's awareness of the policy
• B. Describing the staff nurse's behavior that violated the policy
• C. Progressive
• D. Confrontation

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Penalties for policy violations should be progressive. This means that the disciplinary actions should escalate based on the severity or frequency of the violation. For minor infractions, like smoking in an unauthorized area, a progressive approach may include oral warnings, written warnings, suspension, and termination if the behavior persists. In contrast, major violations, such as theft, may warrant immediate and severe consequences like suspension or termination. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not address the concept of progressively escalating penalties based on the violation's severity or recurrence.

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