Nursing Elites

1. Two RNs are discussing the benefits of professional liability insurance. Which of the following is a reason for an RN to have a professional liability insurance policy?

• A. No expenses are involved in frivolous lawsuits.
• B. If a nurse is found guilty of malpractice, the institution can sue the nurse.
• C. Liability policies may also cover charges of libel, slander, assault, and HIPAA violations.
• D. Only doctors are sued for malpractice.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Professional liability insurance is essential for nurses to have as it may cover charges of libel, slander, assault, and HIPAA violations. Option A is incorrect as there are expenses involved in frivolous lawsuits. Option B is incorrect because if a nurse is found guilty of malpractice, the institution can sue the nurse. Option D is incorrect as nurses can also be sued for malpractice, not just doctors.

2. An RN knows that sometimes, when working through an ethical dilemma, the decision makers are unable to arrive at a mutually agreed upon decision. Which of the following is a reason why an agreement cannot be reached?

• A. One or more of the parties may be able to reconcile their values.
• B. The patient’s point of view is recognized as valuable.
• C. The dilemma involves two or more equally unpleasant choices.
• D. The institution is unable to honor the patient’s request.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: A patient may make a request that is not possible within the institution. When this occurs, a solution may not be possible within the institution and the patient may need to be transferred to a different institution that may be able to honor the request.

3. Which nursing action can the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) working in the diabetic clinic?

• A. Measure the ankle-brachial index.
• B. Check for changes in skin pigmentation.
• C. Assess for unilateral or bilateral foot drop.
• D. Ask the patient about symptoms of depression.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Measure the ankle-brachial index. This task involves using a Doppler ultrasound device to assess blood flow, which can be safely delegated to UAP. Choices B, C, and D require a higher level of assessment and interpretation that should be performed by licensed nursing staff. Checking for changes in skin pigmentation (B) and assessing for foot drop (C) involve more complex assessments that require nursing judgment. Asking about symptoms of depression (D) involves a psychosocial assessment, which should be performed by licensed personnel qualified to address mental health concerns.

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

• A. Blood pressure screening
• B. Administering medications
• C. Developing a care plan
• D. Providing rehabilitation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, blood pressure screening. Secondary prevention aims to identify and treat conditions early to prevent their progression. Blood pressure screening helps in early detection of hypertension, allowing for timely intervention. Choices B, C, and D are not examples of secondary prevention activities. Administering medications (B) can be part of treatment after a condition is diagnosed, developing a care plan (C) is more related to organizing and coordinating care rather than prevention, and providing rehabilitation (D) focuses on recovery and improvement post-diagnosis rather than early detection and prevention.

5. A nurse manager has two out of six staff nurses call in sick for one shift. Because of reduced availability of staff, the manager decides to manage the unit with the three remaining nurses, which keeps the unit at minimal staffing standards. What type of decision-making strategy would this be?

• A. Satisficing
• B. Routine
• C. Adaptive
• D. Rationalizing

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Satisficing is the correct decision-making strategy in this scenario. The nurse manager is not aiming for the best solution but rather choosing an alternative that is good enough given the circumstances of staff shortage. Choice B, Routine, does not apply here as the situation is not part of the manager's regular tasks. Choice C, Adaptive, involves adjusting to new conditions, which is not the primary focus in this scenario. Choice D, Rationalizing, does not fit as the decision made is more about finding an acceptable solution rather than justifying it.

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