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. A local community has a small budget for community health programs aimed specifically toward its black population. Which type of community health program will the nurse recommend as the best use of the budget?

• A. depression screening
• B. meal planning
• C. blood pressure screening
• D. sleep disorder information

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best use of the budget for the black population in the local community would be blood pressure screening. Hypertension is a prevalent health issue among black Americans, occurring at a higher rate than in the white population. Therefore, focusing on blood pressure screening would help in early detection and management of hypertension within this community. Depression screening and sleep disorder information are not the priority as there is not a higher incidence of these conditions in older black clients. Meal planning could be beneficial for clients with diabetes, but it may not be the most critical focus considering the higher prevalence of hypertension among the black population.

3. In which of the following situations would the use of physical restraints most likely be justified?

• A. Mr. Y is agitated and aggressive while experiencing severe alcohol withdrawal and is not responding to chemical sedation.
• B. Mrs. U, diagnosed with dementia, was found wandering outside the hospital, and nurses have been unable to redirect her to stay on the unit.
• C. Mr. I is delirious during the acute stage of his urinary tract infection and is ringing the call bell nearly continuously.
• D. Mrs. T is frequently entering other patients' rooms and attempting to crawl into others' beds.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Answer A is the correct choice because it describes a situation where the client poses a risk due to agitation and aggression during severe alcohol withdrawal, and chemical sedation has not been effective. In such cases, physical restraints may be justified as a last resort to ensure the safety of the client and others. Choices B, C, and D present scenarios where alternative strategies like redirection, addressing delirium, or implementing behavioral interventions should be attempted before considering physical restraints.

4. A newly hired nurse is being orientated in a community health center that provides care to the adjacent large Native American reservation/Canadian aboriginal reserve. Which statement by the nurse indicates a sound understanding of the Native American/First Nations population?

• A. I suppose that we will see a disproportionately high number of clients with lung and oral cancers.
• B. The high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension mean that strokes are likely to be relatively frequent in the area.
• C. It is unfortunate that many of the older Native Americans/First Nations people are unlikely to have family members involved in their care.
• D. The unique skin pigmentation of Native Americans/First Nations people means that I will have to modify my assessment techniques.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Diabetes, hypertension, and stroke are all higher than average in Native American/First Nations adults. Lung and oral cancers are not noted to have a higher prevalence and family is likely to be involved in the care of these older adults. The skin tone of Native American/First Nations people is not noted to require specific assessment techniques. The Native American population may have close family bonds.

5. A nurse at a rehabilitation center is preparing a care plan for a 71-year-old post-stroke patient who has shown significant improvement in function and who is ready to return to the community. In the nurse's efforts to mobilize family caregiving, which of the following statements provides the most accurate criterion for inclusion in the category of 'family'?

• A. The patient's spouse, biological children, and closest friends
• B. Any unpaid person who has expressed sincere interest in the patient's condition and provided hands-on care since his admission to the facility
• C. Anyone who self-identifies as being a member of the patient's family
• D. Any individual who fulfills the patient's family functions

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The most accurate criterion for inclusion in the category of 'family' when mobilizing family caregiving is identifying individuals who fulfill family functions. Choice D is the correct answer as it emphasizes the importance of individuals who perform essential family functions for the patient. This criterion is crucial as it prioritizes the practical support and care provided by individuals over biological relationships (Choice A), self-identification (Choice C), or willingness to provide care (Choice B), which may not always translate to fulfilling necessary family functions.

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