Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: variance. In this scenario, the nurse manager planned a budget based on a patient census of 6 but the actual census remained constant at 10, leading to higher-than-planned RN staff salaries. The difference between the planned budget and the actual cost is known as a variance. Variances help identify discrepancies between planned and actual expenses, enabling managers to adjust budgets accordingly. Revenue (A) refers to income generated, not the difference between planned and actual expenses. Monitoring (C) is the process of overseeing and evaluating activities, not specifically related to budget discrepancies. Capital expenditures (D) are long-term investments in assets, not related to budget variances.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: occupational health nurse. This is because an occupational health nurse specializes in promoting health and safety in the workplace, including monitoring employees' exposure to occupational hazards like noise. By conducting hearing tests and recognizing the discrepancy between the factory's safe noise level and OSHA's recommendation, the nurse is fulfilling the role of an occupational health nurse. Choice A (quality management) is incorrect as it involves ensuring high-quality care and services, not specifically focused on workplace health and safety. Choice B (informatics nurse specialist) is incorrect as it pertains to using technology and data to improve healthcare outcomes, not directly related to workplace health monitoring. Choice D (case manager) is incorrect as it involves coordinating care for individual patients, not overseeing workplace health and safety practices.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). 1. EMAC is a mutual aid agreement among states for disaster response. 2. It allows affected states to request and receive assistance from other states. 3. It facilitates coordination and deployment of resources quickly in emergencies. 4. IOM focuses on health research, Red Cross on humanitarian aid, and Strategic National Stockpile on medical supplies, but they do not provide the immediate multi-sectoral assistance needed in this scenario.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why answer A is correct: 1. Federal legislation such as the Affordable Care Act has expanded Medicaid coverage and provided subsidies for health insurance. 2. This legislation has helped reduce the number of minorities lacking health insurance. 3. Consequently, fewer minorities than members of the general population now lack health insurance. 4. Therefore, the statement that federal legislation has resulted in fewer minorities lacking health insurance is true. Summary of why other choices are incorrect: B. This choice incorrectly attributes the lack of seeking health care by minorities solely to higher costs and lower wages, overlooking the impact of legislation. C. This choice makes a sweeping generalization about Mexican Americans without considering the broader context of health care access for minorities. D. This choice relies on stereotypes about Asians and does not take into account the complexities of the health care system and insurance coverage.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: decision support. In this scenario, the nurse inputs clinical manifestations into a computer program to assist in generating a diagnosis. Decision support systems use algorithms and data to provide healthcare professionals with evidence-based recommendations or diagnoses. In this case, the system likely recognized the combination of clinical signs as indicative of fat emboli. Telehealth (B) involves remote healthcare services, not diagnosis. Robotic technology (C) and biometric technology (D) are not directly related to clinical diagnosis like decision support systems are.