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. What is the primary role of a nurse mentor?

• A. To supervise nursing staff
• B. To provide emotional support
• C. To guide new nurses in their roles
• D. To enforce policy compliance

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The primary role of a nurse mentor is to guide new nurses in their roles. This involves providing support, sharing knowledge and expertise, offering guidance for professional development, and assisting new nurses in adjusting to their roles and responsibilities. Option A, supervising nursing staff, is more aligned with a nurse manager's responsibilities rather than a mentor's. Option B, providing emotional support, is a part of the mentorship role but not the primary focus. Option D, enforcing policy compliance, is essential but not the primary role of a mentor, as mentoring focuses more on nurturing and developing new nurses.

3. How will working in a high-volume, noisy emergency room in an urban area with a high incidence of assault victims affect staff?

• A. Feelings of extreme overload.
• B. Fear of failure.
• C. A pessimistic sense about the world.
• D. Inability to separate intense work situations from personal situations.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Working in a high-volume, noisy emergency room in an urban area with a high incidence of assault victims can lead to feelings of extreme overload, a pessimistic sense about the world, and an inability to separate intense work situations from personal situations. Fear of failure is not specifically mentioned in the context of the question, so it is the correct answer. The constant noises and intense emotional situations can create tension, stress, and negative reactions among staff. Managers can help by assessing the environment, labeling situations, and debriefing with staff to make them more aware of how stressors impact their behaviors.

4. Cultural diversity presents an important challenge to nurse managers due to which of the following?

• A. A nursing shortage exists
• B. Staff nurses are not trained to be culturally sensitive
• C. 80% of nursing staff comes from one or more minority groups
• D. The increase in cultural diversity is seen both in the patient population and the nursing staff

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Cultural diversity presents an important challenge to nurse managers due to the increase in cultural diversity seen both in the patient population and the nursing staff. This challenge requires nurse managers to ensure that their nursing staff can effectively communicate and provide culturally competent care to patients from diverse backgrounds. Choice A is incorrect because it does not directly relate to the impact of cultural diversity. Choice B is incorrect as it focuses on the training of staff nurses rather than the overall challenge of managing cultural diversity. Choice C is incorrect as the percentage of nursing staff from minority groups, while important, is not the primary reason cultural diversity poses a challenge to nurse managers.

5. A nurse has a seriously ill parent and must take care of the parent at home. Which of the following would NOT be a suitable solution to this problem? (EXCEPT)

• A. Resignation
• B. FMLA
• C. Termination
• D. LOA

Correct answer: C

Rationale: FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for a seriously ill family member, securing the employee's job status. Termination and resignation involve ending employment, which is not a suitable solution as it does not provide job security. LOA (Leave of Absence) is often unpaid and does not guarantee job protection, making it less suitable than FMLA in this scenario.

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