Nursing Elites

1. Staff refuse to report unsafe conditions, with unattended entrances throughout the health care facility noted. Unidentified individuals are wandering the unit at night, and you:

• A. Establish expectations.
• B. Demand that they leave immediately.
• C. Ask them to leave.
• D. Observe their behaviors.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In this scenario, the correct course of action is to establish expectations. By setting clear guidelines and expectations, you can address the issue of unidentified individuals wandering the unit at night in a proactive manner. This approach helps communicate what behaviors are acceptable, ensuring the safety of both staff and patients. Demanding that they leave immediately may not address the root cause of the problem and could escalate the situation. Simply observing their behaviors may not effectively resolve the issue or prevent future incidents. Asking them to leave without first establishing expectations may not prevent similar occurrences in the future.

2. Which of the following is an example of a clinical decision support system (CDSS)?

• A. Electronic health record (EHR)
• B. Barcode medication administration
• C. Smart infusion pumps
• D. Automated drug dispensing system

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, smart infusion pumps. Smart infusion pumps are an example of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) as they help ensure accurate medication delivery by providing alerts and dosage calculations. Choice A, electronic health record (EHR), is not a CDSS but rather a digital version of a patient's paper chart. Choice B, barcode medication administration, involves scanning barcodes to verify medication administration but is not a CDSS. Choice D, automated drug dispensing system, automates the medication dispensing process but is not specifically a CDSS.

3. Which statement to a patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is correct?

• A. Complications of type 2 diabetes are less serious than those of type 1 diabetes.
• B. Insulin is not used to control blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.
• C. Changes in diet and exercise may control blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes.
• D. Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed when the patient is admitted with a hyperglycemic coma.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Choice C is the correct statement to convey to a patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle modifications, such as changes in diet and exercise, are essential components of managing type 2 diabetes. These changes can help control blood glucose levels and improve overall health. Options A, B, and D are incorrect statements. While complications of type 2 diabetes can be serious, they are different from those of type 1 diabetes. Some patients with type 2 diabetes may require insulin therapy, but it is not true that insulin is not used at all. Type 2 diabetes is not typically diagnosed during a hyperglycemic coma, as it is usually identified through routine screenings or symptoms unrelated to a coma.

4. A recent ethical issue has resulted in uneasiness and discomfort for several nurses on a unit. The unit manager has decided to discuss the issues at the next team meeting. The situation has resulted in which of the following for some of the nurses?

• A. Moral suffering
• B. Moral distress
• C. Ethical dilemma
• D. Veracity

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, moral distress. Moral distress occurs when one knows the ethically correct action to take but feels constrained in their ability to take that action due to institutional, hierarchical, or other constraints. In this scenario, the nurses are experiencing uneasiness and discomfort due to an ethical issue, which aligns with the definition of moral distress. Choice A, moral suffering, is not the most appropriate term in this context as moral distress better describes the situation. Choice C, ethical dilemma, refers to a situation where a person is faced with two equally undesirable alternatives, which does not fully capture the nurses' current experience. Choice D, veracity, is unrelated to the nurses' situation and does not fit the context of the scenario.

5. A 27-year-old patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has a serum glucose level of 732 mg/dL and serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. Which action prescribed by the healthcare provider should the nurse take first?

• A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor
• B. Administer IV potassium supplements
• C. Obtain urine glucose and ketone levels
• D. Start an insulin infusion at 0.1 units/kg/hr

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the initial priority is to assess for any cardiac arrhythmias due to electrolyte imbalances. Since the patient has a low serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L, placing the patient on a cardiac monitor is crucial to monitor for any potential cardiac complications. Administering IV potassium supplements (Choice B) may be needed, but it is not the first action to take. Obtaining urine glucose and ketone levels (Choice C) and starting an insulin infusion (Choice D) are important interventions in managing DKA, but ensuring patient safety by monitoring for arrhythmias takes precedence.

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