Nursing Elites

1. In a centralized decision-making process within an organization, where is the authority to make decisions vested?

• A. Every employee
• B. A few individuals, such as the board of directors
• C. Many individuals, with decisions filtering down to the individual employee
• D. All nursing employees, pharmacists, and hospital health care providers

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In a centralized decision-making process within an organization, the authority to make decisions is concentrated in a few individuals, such as the board of directors. This means that key decision-making power is held by a select group at the top of the organizational hierarchy. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in a centralized structure, decision-making authority is not distributed among every employee, does not filter down to individual employees, and is not shared among all nursing employees, pharmacists, or hospital health care providers. Centralized decision-making implies a more top-down approach.

2. The nurse is preparing to administer the 9 am dose of IV antibiotics when she notes the IVAC cord is frayed with wiring visible. What action should be her priority for this client?

• A. Notify maintenance to come and check the pump immediately.
• B. Continue with the administration of the antibiotic and fill out an equipment maintenance request.
• C. Immediately discontinue the use of this IVAC pump and obtain a replacement.
• D. Tag the equipment for maintenance.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action is to immediately discontinue the use of the IVAC pump and obtain a replacement because the frayed cord poses a safety risk to the client. Continuing to use the pump with visible wiring could lead to electric shock or other serious harm to the client. Notifying maintenance to come and check the pump immediately (Choice A) may cause unnecessary delays in ensuring the client's safety. Continuing with the administration of the antibiotic and filling out an equipment maintenance request (Choice B) is unsafe as it ignores the immediate danger. Tagging the equipment for maintenance (Choice D) does not address the urgent need to protect the client from harm.

3. When assessing a client with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the nurse should expect which of the following findings?

• A. mental confusion
• B. muscular weakness
• C. sensory loss
• D. emotional liability

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Clients with ALS typically present with progressive muscular weakness and wasting as a hallmark feature of the disease. This weakness affects voluntary muscles, leading to challenges in mobility and daily activities. Sensory loss is not a characteristic feature of ALS, and individuals usually maintain their mental clarity without experiencing mental confusion. Emotional liability, characterized by sudden, uncontrolled changes in emotions, is not a common finding in ALS. While individuals may experience periods of grief due to the progressive nature of the disease, emotional liability is not a usual manifestation. Therefore, the correct finding to expect when assessing a client with ALS is muscular weakness.

4. A health care provider informs a nurse that the husband of an unconscious client with terminal cancer will not grant permission for a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. The health care provider tells the nurse to perform a 'slow code' and let the client 'rest in peace' if she stops breathing. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Telling the health care provider that the client would probably want to die in peace
• B. Telling the health care provider that if the client stops breathing, the health care provider will be called before any other actions are taken
• C. Telling the health care provider that all of the nurses on the unit agree with this plan
• D. Telling the health care provider that 'slow codes' are not acceptable

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The nurse may not violate a family's request regarding the client's treatment plan. A 'slow code' is not acceptable, and the nurse should state this to the health care provider. The definition of a 'slow code' varies among health care facilities and personnel and could be interpreted as not performing resuscitative procedures as quickly as a competent person would. Resuscitative procedures that are performed more slowly than recommended by the American Heart Association are below the standard of care and could therefore serve as the basis for a lawsuit. The other options are inappropriate: Option A is speculative and does not address the issue directly; Option B does not challenge the unethical practice of a 'slow code'; Option C is irrelevant and does not address the ethical concerns raised by the health care provider's request.

5. Which of the following microorganisms are considered normal body flora?

• A. staphylococcus on the skin
• B. streptococcus in the nares
• C. candida albicans in the vagina
• D. pseudomonas in the blood

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Staphylococcus is considered normal body flora as it is commonly found on the skin, being a part of the normal microbiota. While streptococcus in the nares can be part of the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract, it is not as common or as widespread as staphylococcus on the skin. Candida albicans in the vagina is not considered normal flora; it is a common opportunistic pathogen in the vagina. Pseudomonas in the blood is also not considered normal body flora; pseudomonas is not typically found in the blood as part of the normal microbiota.

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