Contemporary Ethical Issues in Nursing

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: a focus on preventable diseases. In the 1990s, nursing shifted towards preventative care due to the rise in chronic diseases. Nurses focused on educating patients on disease prevention strategies and promoting healthy lifestyles. This shift was in response to the increasing healthcare costs associated with treating preventable illnesses. A: Men leaving nursing to enter the armed services is irrelevant to the characterization of nursing in the 1990s. B: Traditional 8-hour shifts leading to nurse burnout and compassion fatigue may have been a challenge in the 1990s, but it does not characterize the entire nursing profession during that time. D: There was actually an increase in nursing research during the 1990s, so this choice is incorrect.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Identify the qualities attributed to Florence Nightingale: intelligent, dependable, ambitious. Step 2: Recognize these qualities as traits. Step 3: Trait theory states that effective leaders possess certain traits. Step 4: Florence Nightingale's leadership qualities align with trait theory. Step 5: Therefore, depicting her as a leader based on her traits falls under trait theory. Summary: A: Trait theory focuses on inherent qualities of leaders, which align with Florence Nightingale's qualities. B: Chaos theory emphasizes unpredictability and complexity, not relevant here. C: Bureaucracy theory centers on structured organizations, not applicable to Nightingale's personal traits. D: Organizational theory addresses structure and management within organizations, not related to individual leadership attributes like traits.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Theories. Theories are comprehensive explanations that scholars use to understand commonly occurring events by organizing and explaining a set of principles or laws. Theories help in predicting and controlling events based on established frameworks. Constructs (B) refer to abstract concepts within theories, systems (C) are organized structures of elements, and propositions (D) are statements that describe relationships between concepts, but they do not provide the comprehensive explanations that theories do.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their wrongful actions. In this case, the hospital's negligence in performing wrong site surgery resulted in harm to the client, even though the hospital reversed the charges. The court awarded $5 million to punish the hospital for their negligence, as the client suffered emotional distress and the potential risk of harm. The other choices are incorrect because: A: res ipsa loquitur is a legal doctrine used to shift the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant in cases where the negligence is obvious. C: vicarious liability holds an employer responsible for the actions of their employees, which is not directly applicable in this scenario. D: immunity refers to protection from legal liability, which is not relevant in a case where the court awarded monetary compensation.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the role of a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) involves coordinating and managing the care of patients. In this scenario, the CNL is revising the care plan for a patient with complex health issues, such as heart failure and chronic bronchitis, by incorporating specific interventions like ambulation with assistance. This aligns with the core responsibilities of a CNL, which include care coordination, implementation of evidence-based practice, and leadership in interdisciplinary teams. Choice A is incorrect because nurses, including CNLs, do not have the authority to diagnose and prescribe medications, as this falls under the scope of practice of a physician or advanced practice nurse. Choice B is incorrect because while health education and referral are important aspects of nursing practice, they are more aligned with the role of a community health nurse rather than a CNL. Choice C is incorrect because investigating abuse and criminal activities is beyond the scope of a CNL's role, as their focus is primarily on