Nursing Elites

1. Politics is defined as the art of influencing the allocation of scarce resources. An example of a scarce resource allocated by the manager of a patient care unit is:

• A. Raises for the staff.
• B. Patient supplies in the utility room.
• C. Staffing that minimizes overtime.
• D. Paper for the printer.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a healthcare setting, scarce resources can include money, time, personnel, and materials. Staffing decisions directly impact the allocation of personnel resources and can affect overtime costs, making it a critical resource managed by the unit manager. Patient supplies in the utility room and paper for the printer are important, but staffing decisions have a more direct impact on resource allocation within the unit. Raises for staff are typically granted by the institution and are not directly controlled by the unit manager.

2. The healthcare provider is developing a critical pathway for congestive heart failure (CHF). Which components are essential to include? (Select ONE that does not apply.)

• A. Expected length of stay
• B. Assigned staff healthcare provider
• C. Patient outcomes
• D. Medical diagnosis

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Critical pathways are designed to outline the expected sequence and timing of interventions to achieve optimal patient outcomes for a specific medical condition. Components such as the expected length of stay, patient outcomes, and medical diagnosis are crucial in developing a critical pathway for congestive heart failure. However, the assigned staff healthcare provider is not typically a fixed component of a critical pathway as it may vary based on staffing schedules and rotations. Therefore, the assigned staff healthcare provider is the component that does not apply.

3. During a physical assessment of adult clients, which of the following techniques should the nurse use?

• A. Use the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) pain rating scale for a client experiencing pain.
• B. Palpate the client's abdomen before auscultating bowel sounds.
• C. Ensure the bladder of the blood pressure cuff surrounds 80% of the client's arm.
• D. Obtain an apical heart rate by auscultating at the third intercostal space to the left of the sternum.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When performing a physical assessment, it is essential to palpate the client's abdomen before auscultating bowel sounds. This sequence helps prevent altering bowel sound results due to the pressure applied during palpation. Choice A is incorrect because the FLACC pain rating scale is typically used for nonverbal or pediatric clients, not adults. Choice C is incorrect because the bladder of the blood pressure cuff should surround about 80% of the client's arm circumference, not the bladder of the cuff itself. Choice D is incorrect because to obtain an apical heart rate, auscultation should be done at the fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line, not at the third intercostal space to the left of the sternum.

4. What is the primary purpose of a patient-centered medical home (PCMH)?

• A. To coordinate all aspects of patient care
• B. To reduce healthcare costs
• C. To implement the latest clinical guidelines
• D. To provide financial incentives for providers

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'To coordinate all aspects of patient care.' A patient-centered medical home (PCMH) aims to provide comprehensive and continuous care by coordinating various aspects of a patient's healthcare needs. While reducing healthcare costs and implementing clinical guidelines are important goals in healthcare, the primary focus of a PCMH is on enhancing patient care coordination to improve outcomes and patient satisfaction. Providing financial incentives for providers is not the primary purpose of a PCMH, although it can be a component of some models to encourage quality care delivery.

5. A nurse is caring for a client after knee replacement surgery. The nurse discovers that the consent was not signed before the surgery. Which of the following charges could be filed?

• A. False imprisonment
• B. Libel
• C. Battery
• D. Malpractice

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Battery. Battery occurs when an individual is touched without consent. Performing surgery without a signed consent constitutes battery as it involves touching the patient's body without proper authorization. False imprisonment (choice A) involves restraining someone against their will, which is not applicable in this scenario. Libel (choice B) refers to written defamation, which is not relevant to the situation described. Malpractice (choice D) involves negligence or incompetence in providing professional services, which is different from the lack of consent issue presented in this case.

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