Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: time-out. A time-out is a crucial pre-operative safety practice where the surgical team pauses to verify the patient's identity, procedure, and surgical site to prevent errors. This step ensures everyone is on the same page and reduces the risk of wrong-site surgeries. Explanation: 1. Identify patient and operative site: By verifying the patient's identity and the correct surgical site, the team prevents potential mistakes. 2. Address questions or concerns: Encouraging team members to voice any uncertainties or issues promotes open communication and collaboration. 3. Safety measure: The time-out is a key component of the World Health Organization's Surgical Safety Checklist to enhance patient safety. Summary: B: A critical pathway is a predetermined sequence of steps in patient care, not specific to surgical safety. C: Special cause variation refers to statistical process control, unrelated to surgical safety. D: Lean methodology focuses on efficiency and waste reduction in processes, not directly related to pre-operative safety checks like a 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: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the Medicare Modernization Act (Medicare Part D) provided coverage for medications that constituted a huge expense for the elderly. This is crucial for the aging population as they often require multiple medications for chronic conditions. Choice A is incorrect because vision care benefits for legally blind individuals are usually covered under Medicare Part B. Choice B is incorrect as the act specifically focused on medication coverage, not mental health/substance abuse services. Choice D is incorrect as the act did not directly address expanding practice opportunities for APRNs, but rather focused on medication coverage for the elderly population.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Correct Answer: C - Change agent Rationale: 1. A change agent is someone who identifies issues or concerns and takes action to implement positive changes. 2. In this scenario, the novice nurse recognized a potential problem with medication administration and spoke to the nurse manager to address it. 3. By seeking to improve medication safety practices, the novice nurse is actively working towards positive change within the healthcare setting. 4. The other choices are incorrect: - A "loner" implies someone who prefers to work alone, which is not relevant to the situation. - "Rutter" and "native" are not recognized terms in this context and do not apply to the nurse's actions.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the nursing shortage has led to a situation where students may be assigned to preceptors who have not yet developed expertise in the field of interest. This is a direct effect of the shortage as experienced and qualified nurses may not always be available to mentor students. This can impact the quality of education and training students receive, potentially hindering their learning and skill development. Options A, B, and C are incorrect: A: While it is true that devoted qualified nurses may be providing bedside nursing due to the complexity of care required, this does not directly relate to the effect of the nursing shortage on nursing education. B: The increase in the number of applicants and limited enrollment due to financial reasons is a separate issue from the shortage's impact on nursing education. C: The increase in nurses entering graduate school does not necessarily result in a lower faculty/student ratio for nursing students and is not a direct effect of the nursing shortage on nursing education.