Nursing Elites

1. Nurse B arrives for his regular night shift at a care facility for the aged. Due to a family emergency, he has only slept for 3 hours since his last shift. One of Nurse B's aides calls in sick, and there is no one available to replace the aide that night. With no help accessible, Nurse B lifts an obese patient from a wheelchair into a bed alone. Short on time and assistance, Nurse B decides to forgo the patient's evening bath. Legally, what does Nurse B most likely face?

• A. Little risk of liability because he is doing his best under difficult circumstances
• B. Immediate termination for dereliction of duty
• C. Liability if a pattern of negligence is identified in his performance evaluation
• D. A high risk of liability for his actions

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In this scenario, Nurse B faces a high risk of liability for his actions due to several factors. Working with insufficient resources, failing to adhere to policies and procedures, taking shortcuts, and working while highly stressed are all situations that increase the risk of liability. Nurse B's decision to lift an obese patient without assistance and skip the patient's evening bath due to time constraints and lack of help are clear examples of actions that can lead to legal consequences. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the circumstances described in the scenario indicate a higher likelihood of liability due to the factors mentioned above.

2. For which of the following is informed consent required?

• A. Ordering a liquid diet for a post-surgical patient
• B. Listening to a patient reveal his or her private, personal secrets
• C. Giving a patient saline solution to relieve dry nasal passages
• D. Asking a patient to complete a questionnaire for a research study on hospital practices

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Informed consent is required when asking a patient to participate in a research study, as mentioned in choice D. Choices A, B, and C involve routine care measures that do not require specific informed consent. Ordering a liquid diet, providing saline solution for dry nasal passages, or listening to a patient's personal secrets are part of standard care and do not typically necessitate formal consent beyond general consent for treatment.

3. How does guardianship differ from power of attorney?

• A. The court appoints a guardian; an individual grants a power of attorney to someone else to make decisions on his or her behalf.
• B. Guardianship is legally binding whether or not an individual is competent; power of attorney applies only to the incompetent.
• C. Courts monitor the actions of those executing a power of attorney, but guardians are free to act on behalf of another as long as standards of 'reasonable prudence' are met.
• D. Guardianship stays in effect for one calendar year and must be renewed annually; power of attorney stays in effect until one or both parties choose to revoke it.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The key difference between guardianship and power of attorney is that the court appoints a guardian to make decisions on behalf of an individual who is deemed incompetent, while an individual grants a power of attorney to someone else to make decisions on their behalf when they are competent. Choice B is incorrect because both guardianship and power of attorney can apply to individuals who are competent or incompetent. Choice C is incorrect as guardians, like those with power of attorney, must act in the best interest of the individual they represent, and the level of oversight can vary. Choice D is incorrect as guardianship and power of attorney do not have fixed time limits; they remain in effect until revoked or ended by the appropriate legal process.

4. A nurse who works in an inner-city clinic provides care for a large number of older black clients. Which health promotion activity best reflects the specific health needs of this population?

• A. A blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring program
• B. An education session on the positive health effects of good nutrition
• C. A screening mammography campaign for older black women
• D. A program that teaches black men the importance of prostate health screening

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Diabetes and hypertension are prevalent among older black adults. Regular blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring are crucial in managing these conditions. While education on good nutrition, screening mammography, and prostate health screening are important health promotion activities, they do not directly address the specific health needs of this population. Therefore, a blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring program would best reflect the health needs of the older black clients in this inner-city clinic.

5. A nurse is working in an assisted living facility that has a culturally diverse older adult population. Which statement by the nurse best demonstrates cultural sensitivity?

• A. We need to ensure that both the minority population and the majority population have their health needs met.
• B. It's important to remember that minority groups do not usually express their pain explicitly.
• C. We need to build our knowledge of clients who belong to cultural and ethnic groups that we're not familiar with.
• D. We need to teach all clients that their health problems are not necessarily the result of punishment.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best demonstration of cultural sensitivity by the nurse is reflected in choice C. Building a knowledge base around cultural and ethnic groups is a crucial component of providing culturally sensitive care. Choice A creates an inaccurate dichotomy between 'minority' and 'majority' populations, which is not a culturally sensitive approach. Choice B incorrectly generalizes that minority groups do not usually express their pain explicitly, which is not true for all cultural groups. Choice D suggests imposing a different belief system on clients, which is not culturally sensitive and can undermine trust and rapport with older adult clients.

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