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. Which of the following laws govern nursing practice?

• A. Statutory laws
• B. Common law
• C. Administrative laws
• D. Constitutional laws

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Statutory laws are laws created by legislative bodies, such as state legislatures. In the context of nursing practice, statutory laws govern areas like licensure requirements, scope of practice, and professional standards. Common law, choice B, is based on court decisions and precedents, not specifically related to nursing practice. Administrative laws, choice C, deal with regulations set by administrative agencies rather than governing nursing practice directly. Constitutional laws, choice D, pertain to the fundamental principles outlined in a country's constitution and are not specific to regulating nursing practice.

3. A nurse manager is preparing to review medication documentation with a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following statements should the nurse manager plan to include in the teaching?

• A. Use the complete name of the medication magnesium sulfate.
• B. Delete the space between the numerical dose and the unit of measure.
• C. Use the abbreviation SC when indicating a subcutaneous injection.
• D. Write the letter U when noting the dosage of insulin.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct statement that the nurse manager should include in the teaching session is to use the abbreviation SC when indicating a subcutaneous injection. This is important for accurate and standardized medication documentation. Choice A is incorrect because using the complete name of medications is not always necessary and may lead to errors. Choice B is incorrect as spaces between dose and unit of measure are required for clarity and to avoid misinterpretation. Choice D is incorrect because the standard abbreviation for units should be used instead of the letter U to prevent confusion.

4. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for additional instruction in administering insulin?

• A. 'I need to rotate injection sites among my arms, legs, and abdomen each day.'
• B. 'I can buy the 0.5 mL syringes because the line markings will be easier to see.'
• C. 'I should draw up the regular insulin first after injecting air into the NPH bottle.'
• D. 'I do not need to aspirate the plunger to check for blood before injecting insulin.'

Correct answer: A

Rationale: This statement indicates a need for additional instruction because while site rotation is essential, it's important to rotate sites within the same anatomical region (such as staying within the abdomen for several injections before moving to a different region). Rotating too frequently between different regions can cause inconsistent insulin absorption, which can affect blood sugar control.

5. Employees are eligible to take a leave of absence if they have worked for the employer for at least: (EXCEPT)

• A. At least 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months.
• B. At least 12 months.
• C. At least six months.
• D. At a work site with 50 employees within a 75-mile radius.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Employees are eligible to take a leave of absence if they have worked for the employer for at least 12 months, have worked at least 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months, and are at a work site with 50 or more employees, or at a site where 50 workers are employed within 75 miles of the work site. The statement 'At least six months' is incorrect as the requirement is for 12 months of work to be eligible for a leave of absence.

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