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

ATI RN

ATI Leadership

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. Which of the following is an example of total time lost?

A. Number of days off that an employee asks for
B. Number of scheduled days missed
C. Number of days missed
D. Number of days perceived to be absent

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Total time lost refers to the number of scheduled days that an employee misses. This includes days that were planned to be worked but were not. Choice A, 'Number of days off that an employee asks for,' is not necessarily time lost as these are approved absences. Choice C, 'Number of days missed,' is vague and does not specify if they are scheduled or unscheduled. Choice D, 'Number of days perceived to be absent,' is subjective and does not clearly relate to scheduled time lost.

3. Which of the following is an essential element of a quality improvement (QI) program?

A. Blame and punishment
B. Employee satisfaction
C. Continual monitoring
D. Strict adherence to policies

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The essential element of a quality improvement (QI) program is continual monitoring. Continual monitoring allows for the ongoing assessment of processes, identification of areas for improvement, and tracking of progress. Option A, 'Blame and punishment,' is incorrect as QI programs focus on systemic issues rather than individual blame. Option B, 'Employee satisfaction,' while important for organizational culture, is not an essential element of QI programs. Option D, 'Strict adherence to policies,' is valuable but not the core essential element, which is continual monitoring to drive improvement.

4. How can a staff nurse recognize they are experiencing burnout? (EXCEPT)

A. They are spending more time talking to staff on other units.
B. Staff is questioning their clinical judgment.
C. They sleep longer hours, sometimes coming in late to work.
D. They are drinking alcohol more frequently to relax.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Recognizing burnout is essential to maintaining quality patient care. Spending more time talking to staff on other units is a common practice and does not necessarily indicate burnout. On the other hand, staff questioning their clinical judgment, sleeping longer hours or coming in late to work, and resorting to alcohol to relax are signs of burnout. These behaviors can impact patient care and indicate the professional is struggling to cope with stressors.

5. Healthcare systems primarily have functional structures. Which of the following would be an example of this?

A. Open communication exists between Physical Therapy and Nursing.
B. Medicine has authority over nursing.
C. Laboratory services have little authority.
D. All nursing tasks fall under nursing service.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. In functional structures, employees are grouped in departments by specialty, with similar tasks being performed by the same group. This means that in a healthcare system with a functional structure, all nursing tasks would fall under the nursing service. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because open communication between departments, one department having authority over another, or the level of authority of a particular department do not necessarily represent a functional structure.