Nursing Elites

1. After her evaluation, a staff nurse exclaims: 'I'm not sure if my manager knows much about my performance, really. He only had three specific examples to give me, two good performance examples and one to work on, and they all happened in the last month. I don't feel like he can see the whole picture.' What kind of performance appraisal rating does this statement exemplify?

• A. Recency error
• B. Leniency error
• C. Halo error
• D. Absolute judgment

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The statement exemplifies a recency error. Recency error occurs when a manager assesses an employee's performance primarily based on recent events, rather than considering the entire evaluation period. In this case, the staff nurse feels that her manager focused only on recent examples, leading to an incomplete assessment of her overall performance. Choice B, Leniency error, refers to a rater consistently giving high ratings to all employees regardless of performance, which is not evident in this scenario. Choice C, Halo error, involves allowing one positive attribute of an individual to overshadow other characteristics during appraisal, which is not the case here. Absolute judgment, Choice D, is when a rater evaluates an employee without reference to any specific criteria, which is not reflected in the staff nurse's feedback.

2. A 27-year-old patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has a serum glucose level of 732 mg/dL and serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. Which action prescribed by the healthcare provider should the nurse take first?

• A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor
• B. Administer IV potassium supplements
• C. Obtain urine glucose and ketone levels
• D. Start an insulin infusion at 0.1 units/kg/hr

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the initial priority is to assess for any cardiac arrhythmias due to electrolyte imbalances. Since the patient has a low serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L, placing the patient on a cardiac monitor is crucial to monitor for any potential cardiac complications. Administering IV potassium supplements (Choice B) may be needed, but it is not the first action to take. Obtaining urine glucose and ketone levels (Choice C) and starting an insulin infusion (Choice D) are important interventions in managing DKA, but ensuring patient safety by monitoring for arrhythmias takes precedence.

3. A nurse is caring for a client who reports difficulty falling asleep. Which of the following recommendations should the nurse make?

• A. Watch a television program in bed before going to sleep.
• B. Drink a cup of hot cocoa before bedtime.
• C. Maintain a consistent time to wake up each day.
• D. Exercise 1 hour before going to bed.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: "Maintain a consistent time to wake up each day." Establishing a regular wake-up time helps regulate the body's internal clock and promotes better sleep patterns. Watching television in bed (Choice A) can actually hinder sleep due to the light emitted by screens affecting melatonin production. Drinking beverages with caffeine like hot cocoa (Choice B) close to bedtime can interfere with falling asleep. Exercising vigorously right before bed (Choice D) can increase alertness and make it harder to fall asleep.

4. The type of theory that discusses how motivation works to direct a person's efforts is:

• A. Reinforcement.
• B. Operant.
• C. Conditioning.
• D. Process.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Process. Process theory focuses on how motivation directs an individual's efforts into performance. Reinforcement theory, on the other hand, views motivation as a form of learning. It involves operant conditioning, where behavior is associated with consequences. Conditioning is a broad term that includes both classical and operant conditioning, but it does not specifically address how motivation directs efforts. Therefore, choices A, B, and C are incorrect in the context of discussing how motivation works to direct a person's efforts.

5. A nurse recognizes which of the following as a primary goal of nursing?

• A. Assist patients to achieve a peaceful death.
• B. Improve personal knowledge and skills to enhance patient outcomes.
• C. Advocate for quality of life over the quantity of life.
• D. Work to control costs to enhance patients' quality of life.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Assist patients to achieve a peaceful death.' One of the primary goals of nursing is to help patients experience a comfortable and peaceful passing when faced with terminal illness or at the end of life. This involves providing holistic care, managing symptoms, and ensuring that patients are as comfortable and pain-free as possible. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because while improving knowledge and skills, advocating for quality of life, and controlling costs are important aspects of nursing care, they are not the primary goal related to end-of-life care.

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