Nursing Elites

1. When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• A. Educate the family not to push the button for the client while the client is asleep.
• B. Explain to the client that vital signs will be monitored regularly due to being on a PCA pump.
• C. Instruct the client to push the button only when pain is above a 7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
• D. Adjust the basal rate and decrease the lock-out interval time if the client's pain level is too high.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, it is essential to adjust the settings if their pain level is not adequately controlled. Increasing the basal rate and shortening the lock-out interval time can help manage the client's pain more effectively. This adjustment should be made by the healthcare provider based on the client's pain assessment and response to the current settings. It is crucial to individualize the PCA pump settings to optimize pain management for each client. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because educating the family not to push the button, explaining vital sign monitoring, and setting a specific pain level for button pushing are not direct actions the nurse should take to adjust the PCA pump settings for effective pain management.

2. The staff in the emergency department has presented the nurse leader with a suggestion for streamlining the triage process, cutting down on wait times. Which of the following qualities does the leader specifically need to implement the suggestion?

• A. Courage
• B. Integrity
• C. Energy
• D. Initiative

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Initiative is the correct quality needed in this situation. The staff has provided a suggestion for improvement, and the leader must take the initiative to implement it. Courage, integrity, and energy are valuable qualities as well but in this context, the most essential quality is initiative to drive the change forward and improve the triage process efficiently.

3. While interviewing for a position at City Hospital, the nurse asks about the organizational structure of the institution. She is told that the hospital is organized into departments based on specialty (e.g., nursing, dietary, pharmacy, etc.). Based on what you know about organizational structure, select the structure in this example.

• A. Parallel
• B. Functional
• C. Service-integrated
• D. Matrix

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Functional. In functional structures, employees are grouped into departments based on specialty, allowing individuals with similar skills and tasks to work together efficiently. In this scenario, organizing the hospital into departments such as nursing, dietary, and pharmacy based on their specialties exemplifies a functional organizational structure. Choice A, Parallel structure, involves independent units working on similar tasks, which is not the case here. Choice C, Service-integrated structure, emphasizes cross-functional teamwork across various departments, which is not the main focus in the scenario. Choice D, Matrix structure, involves employees reporting to multiple managers for different projects or tasks, which is not described in the scenario.

4. Which of the following is an example of a macro-level health policy?

• A. Local health ordinances
• B. State licensing regulations
• C. National healthcare legislation
• D. Institutional policies

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is national healthcare legislation. This type of policy operates at a broad level, influencing healthcare delivery and financing across an entire nation. It sets overarching frameworks and regulations that impact various aspects of the healthcare system on a large scale, affecting a wide population rather than specific localities or institutions. Choices A, B, and D are not examples of macro-level health policy. Local health ordinances pertain to specific areas or communities, state licensing regulations focus on a state level, and institutional policies are internal regulations of a particular healthcare facility.

5. What is the main focus of a risk management program in healthcare?

• A. To reduce hospital readmissions
• B. To manage financial resources
• C. To ensure compliance with healthcare regulations
• D. To improve clinical outcomes

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The main focus of a risk management program in healthcare is to improve clinical outcomes. By identifying and mitigating risks, healthcare organizations aim to enhance patient safety, quality of care, and overall health outcomes. Option A is incorrect because reducing hospital readmissions is a specific goal within healthcare but not the primary focus of risk management. Option B is incorrect as managing financial resources, while important, is more aligned with financial management rather than risk management. Option C is incorrect as ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations is vital but falls under compliance management rather than the primary focus of risk management, which is to improve clinical outcomes.

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