Nursing Elites

1. A discharge planning nurse works with a wide variety of families when organizing care for older adults after their discharge from the hospital. Which of the following relationship structures would the nurse consider to be a family? Select all that apply.

• A. Mr. E and his partner, Mr. S, who live together in an apartment
• B. Mr. R and his new 'lady friend,' who began cohabiting 2 months ago
• C. Mrs. B and her daughter, son-in-law, and widowed sister, all of whom share a house
• D. Mr. R, who is estranged from his children and has lived with his brother, a bachelor, for several years

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. While not traditional nuclear family structures, all of the given relationships and living arrangements constitute family units. Mr. E and his partner, Mr. S, who live together in an apartment, form a family unit. Choice B is not considered a family as it describes a relatively new and non-committal relationship. Choice C describes a traditional family structure with Mrs. B, her daughter, son-in-law, and widowed sister sharing a house, which also constitutes a family unit. Choice D describes a situation where Mr. R is estranged from his children and living with his bachelor brother, which can also be considered a family unit but is not as inclusive as the relationship described in choice A.

2. How does guardianship differ from power of attorney?

• A. The court appoints a guardian; an individual grants a power of attorney to someone else to make decisions on his or her behalf.
• B. Guardianship is legally binding whether or not an individual is competent; power of attorney applies only to the incompetent.
• C. Courts monitor the actions of those executing a power of attorney, but guardians are free to act on behalf of another as long as standards of 'reasonable prudence' are met.
• D. Guardianship stays in effect for one calendar year and must be renewed annually; power of attorney stays in effect until one or both parties choose to revoke it.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The key difference between guardianship and power of attorney is that the court appoints a guardian to make decisions on behalf of an individual who is deemed incompetent, while an individual grants a power of attorney to someone else to make decisions on their behalf when they are competent. Choice B is incorrect because both guardianship and power of attorney can apply to individuals who are competent or incompetent. Choice C is incorrect as guardians, like those with power of attorney, must act in the best interest of the individual they represent, and the level of oversight can vary. Choice D is incorrect as guardianship and power of attorney do not have fixed time limits; they remain in effect until revoked or ended by the appropriate legal process.

3. Nurse M obtains a signature on an informed consent form from Mr. Y, who is later shown to have a fluctuating level of mental competency. In this case, what is Nurse M's most likely legal position?

• A. Freedom from liability because Mr. Y signed the form
• B. Possibly liable for a violation of Mr. Y's rights
• C. Liable unless a malpractice insurance policy is in effect
• D. Not liable because no family member had a durable power of attorney

Correct answer: B

Rationale: An informed consent may be considered invalid if the patient does not fully understand what he or she is signing. Patients with a fluctuating level of mental function are incapable of granting legally sound consent. Nurse M could be held liable for a violation of Mr. Y's rights as he did not have the capacity to provide informed consent. The presence of an insurance policy and the legal status of family members are irrelevant in this context and do not absolve Nurse M of potential liability.

4. A nurse is working in an assisted living facility that has a culturally diverse older adult population. Which statement by the nurse best demonstrates cultural sensitivity?

• A. We need to ensure that both the minority population and the majority population have their health needs met.
• B. It's important to remember that minority groups do not usually express their pain explicitly.
• C. We need to build our knowledge of clients who belong to cultural and ethnic groups that we're not familiar with.
• D. We need to teach all clients that their health problems are not necessarily the result of punishment.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best demonstration of cultural sensitivity by the nurse is reflected in choice C. Building a knowledge base around cultural and ethnic groups is a crucial component of providing culturally sensitive care. Choice A creates an inaccurate dichotomy between 'minority' and 'majority' populations, which is not a culturally sensitive approach. Choice B incorrectly generalizes that minority groups do not usually express their pain explicitly, which is not true for all cultural groups. Choice D suggests imposing a different belief system on clients, which is not culturally sensitive and can undermine trust and rapport with older adult clients.

5. To minimize liability, what action should nurses take when accepting telephone orders from physicians?

• A. Ask the physician to follow up with a faxed, written order
• B. Clearly communicate the most likely diagnosis to the physician
• C. Have another staff member talk with the physician and audiotape the conversation
• D. Accept only written orders or those communicated orally, in person

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The best action for nurses to take when accepting telephone orders from physicians to minimize liability is to ask the physician to follow up with a faxed, written order and ensure it is signed within 24 hours. This approach helps ensure clarity, accuracy, and documentation of the physician's orders, reducing the risk of misinterpretation or errors. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Communicating a diagnosis is outside the nurse's scope of practice and should be done by the physician. Involving another staff member to audiotape the conversation can introduce legal and practical issues. Accepting only written or orally communicated orders in person may not always be practical or feasible in urgent situations where telephone orders are necessary.

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