Nursing Elites

1. As a new nurse on a pediatric unit, you must work nights and you have minimal time to spend with your children. Your colleague observes that you speak abruptly with parents and you become easily annoyed when the patients cry or when they are demanding. You realize you are becoming increasingly more distressed and that you have no time with your children and, as a result you: (Select all that apply.)

• A. Express negative comments to colleagues about patients and parents who annoy you.
• B. Ask the nurse manager to have a schedule with an equal number of day and night shifts so that you can be with your children.
• C. Call off sick as frequently as you can without violating policies so that you have more time with your children.
• D. Minimize your communication with patients and parents so you do not offend them.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Asking the nurse manager for a schedule with an equal number of day and night shifts is a proactive and constructive approach to address the issue of having minimal time with your children. This solution aims to balance work and personal life effectively. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Expressing negative comments about patients and parents (Choice A) is unprofessional and can create a negative work environment. Calling off sick frequently (Choice C) is irresponsible and violates work policies, leading to potential disciplinary actions. Minimizing communication with patients and parents (Choice D) is not a suitable approach as effective communication is essential in healthcare to provide optimal care and support to patients and their families.

2. 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.

3. An RN knows that sometimes, when working through an ethical dilemma, the decision makers are unable to arrive at a mutually agreed upon decision. Which of the following is a reason why an agreement cannot be reached?

• A. One or more of the parties may be able to reconcile their values.
• B. The patient�s point of view is recognized as valuable.
• C. The dilemma involves two or more equally unpleasant choices.
• D. The institution is unable to honor the patient�s request.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: A patient may make a request that is not possible within the institution. When this occurs, a solution may not be possible within the institution and the patient may need to be transferred to a different institution that may be able to honor the request.

4. When lifting a bedside cabinet to move it closer to a client, what action should the nurse take to prevent self-injury?

• A. Keep the feet close together.
• B. Use the back muscles for lifting.
• C. Stand close to the cabinet when lifting it.
• D. Bend at the waist.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Keep the feet close together.' When lifting a heavy object such as a bedside cabinet, it is essential to maintain a wide base of support by keeping the feet close together. This provides better stability and reduces the risk of injury. Choice B is incorrect because using the back muscles for lifting can lead to back strain and injury; it is recommended to use the legs instead. Choice C is incorrect as standing close to the cabinet may cause the nurse to lose balance and strain the back. Choice D is incorrect because bending at the waist increases the risk of back injury. Therefore, the safest and most appropriate action is to keep the feet close together to ensure stability and prevent self-injury.

5. 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.

Similar Questions