Nursing Elites

1. A nurse manager has two out of six staff nurses call in sick for one shift. Because of reduced availability of staff, the manager decides to manage the unit with the three remaining nurses, which keeps the unit at minimal staffing standards. What type of decision-making strategy would this be?

• A. Satisficing
• B. Routine
• C. Adaptive
• D. Rationalizing

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Satisficing. Satisficing is a decision-making strategy where the person chooses an alternative that is good enough given the circumstances. In this scenario, the nurse manager is making a satisfactory decision by managing the unit with the three remaining nurses to meet minimal staffing standards despite the reduced availability of staff. Choice B, Routine, does not apply as the decision made in the scenario is not part of a regular or standard procedure. Choice C, Adaptive, is not the best fit as the decision is more about making do with the available resources rather than adapting to a new situation. Choice D, Rationalizing, does not align with the scenario as it refers to justifying decisions rather than making a practical choice under constraints.

2. Change is a mandatory skill for managers. Successful change agents display certain characteristics. Some of these characteristics are: (Select all that apply.)

• A. Energy
• B. Confidence
• C. Ambiguity
• D. Trustworthiness

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'C: Ambiguity.' The rationale behind this is that the provided list of characteristics that successful change agents demonstrate includes 'realistic thinking' as one of the traits, not 'ambiguity.' Therefore, 'A: Energy,' 'B: Confidence,' and 'D: Trustworthiness' are not among the characteristics mentioned in the extract.

3. Which of the following is true of malpractice?

• A. Malpractice occurs when a professional shares information about a patient that could damage that patient�s reputation.
• B. Malpractice is a serious criminal offense.
• C. Malpractice is a minor criminal offense.
• D. Malpractice is a negligent act by an individual whose duties require specialized education.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Malpractice is a negligent act by an individual whose duties require specialized education.

4. A nurse is assessing a client who reports increased pain following physical therapy. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask when assessing the quality of the client's pain?

• A. Is your pain constant or intermittent?
• B. What would you rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10?
• C. Does the pain radiate?
• D. Is your pain sharp or dull?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When assessing the quality of pain, asking if the pain is sharp or dull helps the nurse understand the nature of the pain. Sharp pain is often associated with acute conditions like nerve irritation or injury, while dull pain may indicate a more chronic issue like inflammation or tissue damage. Choices A, B, and C focus on different aspects of pain assessment but do not specifically address the quality of pain, making them less relevant in this context.

5. What is the primary purpose of a nurse staffing committee?

• A. To oversee patient safety initiatives
• B. To develop staffing policies and procedures
• C. To coordinate patient care
• D. To manage nurse recruitment

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The primary purpose of a nurse staffing committee is to develop staffing policies and procedures to ensure adequate nurse-to-patient ratios. By establishing these guidelines, the committee aims to optimize patient care by ensuring appropriate staffing levels, which in turn can enhance patient safety and coordination of care. While overseeing patient safety initiatives and managing nurse recruitment are important aspects of healthcare management, the core function of a nurse staffing committee is to create and implement policies that govern the allocation and distribution of nursing staff to meet patient care needs effectively. Therefore, choices A, C, and D, though relevant to healthcare, do not align with the primary purpose of a nurse staffing committee as outlined in the question.

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