Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because delegating the task of completing a plan of care to a float LPN/LVN for a stable patient is inappropriate. LPNs/LVNs have a different scope of practice compared to RNs and should not be assigned tasks related to developing care plans. This task requires critical thinking skills and assessment that are within the RN's scope of practice. A: A is incorrect because delegating the task of greeting and showing ambulatory surgery patients to their rooms is appropriate for a nursing assistant. B: B is incorrect because delegating the task of collecting a sputum specimen, once trained, is appropriate for a nursing assistant under the supervision of an RN. D: D is incorrect because delegating the task of performing a dressing change to a competent LPN/LVN is appropriate, as long as it falls within their scope of practice.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: serving on interdisciplinary care teams. This is correct because as registered nurses enter the workforce, they are expected to collaborate with other healthcare professionals on interdisciplinary care teams to provide comprehensive patient care. This involves working together with professionals from different disciplines to ensure holistic and effective treatment plans. Explanation for why the other choices are incorrect: B: Being competent to work in several areas independently when dictated by patient census - While nurses may need to be versatile, the emphasis on independent work in various areas does not necessarily reflect expanded leadership responsibilities. C: Attending a meeting to plan advanced training for unlicensed assistive personnel - While important for team collaboration, attending meetings to plan training for support staff does not directly relate to expanded leadership responsibilities. D: Evaluating outcomes of care that are reported to a standing committee - While evaluating outcomes is important, it may not specifically denote expanded leadership responsibilities compared to the collaborative nature of serving on interdisciplinary care teams.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: control chart. A control chart is used to display data over time and indicate variations within set limits, making it ideal for monitoring compliance with a standard like "All patients will be assessed by an RN within 2 hours of admission." The control chart allows for easy identification of trends, shifts, or patterns that may indicate a need for corrective action to maintain the 97% compliance goal. A: Pareto chart is used to identify the most significant factors contributing to a problem, not to monitor compliance over time. C: Deployment chart is not a standard tool in quality control or process monitoring. D: A top-down flowchart is used to depict the sequence of steps in a process, not to monitor compliance with a standard over time.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Referent power. Referent power is based on an individual's personal characteristics that others admire and seek to emulate. In this case, the nurse's ability to manage time effectively, maintain control in her personal and professional life, and serve in various leadership roles demonstrates her influence over others through admiration and respect. It is not legitimate power (B) as her authority does not stem from a formal position. It is not information power (C) as her power is not derived from possessing or sharing specific knowledge. It is not connection power (D) as her influence is not based on her network or relationships but rather on her personal qualities.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because it involves a medical error that could potentially harm the patient. An incident report is necessary to document such events for quality improvement and patient safety. Choice A does not involve a preventable adverse event, so it does not require an incident report. Choice C is related to communication issues and can be resolved without an incident report. Choice D involves a patient fall, which is a reportable event, but the client was informed not to get up alone, making it less urgent for an incident report compared to a medication error.