Nursing Elites

1. Strategies to advance your career and opportunities available in your first job can coexist. Identify factors that will help you prioritize these opportunities to fulfill your goals. (Select all that apply.)

• A. Self-actualization and assessing your values and your lifestyle.
• B. Determine where you can grow and develop professionally.
• C. Your ability to work as a team member.
• D. Reflect on your long-term career aspirations.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Self-actualization involves assessing your values and lifestyle, which is crucial for prioritizing opportunities that align with your goals. This process helps you understand yourself better and make informed decisions to advance your career. Choice B is incorrect because focusing solely on salary may not necessarily lead to career growth and fulfillment. Choice C is about teamwork skills, which are important but not directly related to prioritizing career opportunities. Choice D is about seeking opinions from others, which may not always align with your personal goals and aspirations.

2. An RN is working through an ethical dilemma involving a patient on his unit. He has just identified the decision-makers involved. Which step best describes the current stage the RN is working through?

• A. Assessment
• B. Diagnosis
• C. Planning
• D. Implementation

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Planning. In the ethical decision-making process, after identifying the decision-makers involved, the next step is typically planning. During the planning stage, the RN will consider the available options, weigh the ethical principles involved, and develop a course of action to address the ethical dilemma. Choice A, Assessment, involves gathering information and data about the situation. Choice B, Diagnosis, involves analyzing the gathered information to identify the ethical issue. Choice D, Implementation, comes after planning and involves putting the chosen course of action into practice.

3. A 54-year-old patient is admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which admission order should the nurse implement first?

• A. Infuse 1 liter of normal saline per hour.
• B. Give sodium bicarbonate 50 mEq IV push.
• C. Administer regular insulin 10 U by IV push.
• D. Start a regular insulin infusion at 0.1 units/kg/hr.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis, the initial priority is to address dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Infusing 1 liter of normal saline per hour helps correct hypovolemia and restore electrolyte balance, making it the first essential step in managing diabetic ketoacidosis. Sodium bicarbonate is not routinely recommended in treating diabetic ketoacidosis and should not be given routinely as it may worsen the acidosis. Administering regular insulin and starting an insulin infusion are important but should come after fluid resuscitation to stabilize the patient's condition.

4. What is the primary goal of a root cause analysis (RCA) in healthcare?

• A. To assign blame for errors
• B. To prevent future errors by identifying underlying causes
• C. To improve patient satisfaction
• D. To analyze the financial impact of errors

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'To prevent future errors by identifying underlying causes.' Root cause analysis (RCA) in healthcare aims to delve deep into the factors contributing to an error to prevent its recurrence. Choice A is incorrect as RCA focuses on identifying system issues, not blaming individuals. Choice C is incorrect as while improving patient satisfaction may result from the process, it is not the primary goal. Choice D is incorrect as the main focus of RCA is not financial analysis but rather improving patient safety.

5. A registered nurse (RN) administered a patient�s morning insulin as the breakfast tray arrived at 0800. The RN performed a complete assessment at the same time. Then, the RN got busy with her other patients and did not check on the patient until 1400. At that time, she found the patient unresponsive with a blood glucose of 23. Both the breakfast and lunch tray were at the bedside untouched. Which of the following could the RN be charged with?

• A. Quasi-intentional tort
• B. Misdemeanor
• C. Negligence
• D. Juvenile offense

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Negligence is the failure to act in a reasonable, ordinary, and prudent manner, causing harm to someone who is owed the duty to care.

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