Nursing Elites

1. Quality management and benchmarking are two approaches used to improve the quality of care. The major difference between these two approaches is which of the following?

• A. Quality management is not useful in the outpatient setting
• B. Benchmarking compares outcomes in a variety of settings and disciplines
• C. Quality management is used only in the primary care setting
• D. Benchmarking looks only at outcomes specific to nursing

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The major difference between quality management and benchmarking is that benchmarking compares outcomes in a variety of settings and disciplines. Choice A is incorrect because quality management can be applied in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Choice C is incorrect as quality management is not limited to primary care and can be implemented across various healthcare settings. Choice D is incorrect as benchmarking does not solely focus on nursing outcomes but rather compares outcomes across different disciplines and settings.

2. 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.

3. Which of the following is an example of a sentinel event in healthcare?

• A. A patient falling in the hospital without injury
• B. A near-miss medication error
• C. An unexpected patient death unrelated to the natural course of illness
• D. A patient developing an infection during a hospital stay

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. A sentinel event in healthcare is an unexpected patient death unrelated to the natural course of illness. These events are serious occurrences that warrant immediate investigation and response to prevent their recurrence and ensure patient safety. Choices A, B, and D do not fit the definition of a sentinel event. While choices A, B, and D are serious incidents, they do not involve an unexpected patient death unrelated to the natural course of illness, which is the defining characteristic of a sentinel event.

4. Which of the following is an example of a tertiary prevention activity?

• A. Administering immunizations
• B. Physical therapy for stroke patients
• C. Routine health screenings
• D. Health education campaigns

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, physical therapy for stroke patients. Tertiary prevention aims to prevent complications and improve the quality of life for individuals who already have a disease or condition. Administering immunizations (choice A) is an example of primary prevention to prevent the onset of diseases. Routine health screenings (choice C) are part of secondary prevention to detect diseases early. Health education campaigns (choice D) typically fall under primary prevention by educating and promoting healthy behaviors to prevent diseases.

5. What is a common method used to collect work activity information from an applicant?

• A. Self-report logs
• B. Work sample questions
• C. Motion studies
• D. Interviewing

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Work sample questions are a common method used to collect work activity information from an applicant. This method allows employers to assess an applicant's skills and abilities by having them perform tasks that simulate actual job duties. Self-report logs (Choice A) rely on applicants' self-disclosure, which may not always be accurate. Motion studies (Choice C) involve observing and analyzing work movements to improve efficiency, rather than collecting work activity information directly from applicants. While interviewing (Choice D) is a common method in the selection process, it is more focused on assessing qualifications, experiences, and fit rather than directly collecting work activity information.

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