Nursing Elites

1. A nurse has a seriously ill parent and must take care of the parent at home. Which of the following would NOT be a suitable solution to this problem? (EXCEPT)

• A. Resignation
• B. FMLA
• C. Termination
• D. LOA

Correct answer: C

Rationale: FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for a seriously ill family member, securing the employee's job status. Termination and resignation involve ending employment, which is not a suitable solution as it does not provide job security. LOA (Leave of Absence) is often unpaid and does not guarantee job protection, making it less suitable than FMLA in this scenario.

2. The charge nurse role has negatively affected your relationship with your friends and made you feel tense and isolated. You decide that you will delegate more time-consuming tasks to staff who are not your friends, who then complain to your nurse manager about your perceived unfairness. You decide to:

• A. Talk with your friends individually to let them know that you will be assigning patients to all staff in an equitable manner.
• B. Not express your angry feelings.
• C. Talk about staff who are annoying you with staff on other units.
• D. Ignore your feelings of uncertainty, hoping they will diminish.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In this scenario, it is essential to address the perceived unfairness in task delegation. Talking with your friends individually to explain that patients will be assigned equitably is the most appropriate course of action. This approach promotes transparency and fairness in task allocation, helping to maintain professional relationships. Choices B, C, and D are not suitable responses. Choice B ignores the issue, choice C involves unprofessional behavior by gossiping about colleagues, and choice D neglects addressing the root cause of the problem.

3. What is the primary objective of healthcare accreditation programs?

• A. To increase financial profitability
• B. To ensure patient safety and quality care
• C. To streamline healthcare operations
• D. To reduce hospital readmissions

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The primary objective of healthcare accreditation programs is to ensure patient safety and quality care by meeting established standards. Choice A is incorrect because while financial aspects may be indirectly impacted, the main focus is on patient care. Choice C is incorrect as the primary goal is not operational efficiency but rather quality of care. Choice D is incorrect as reducing hospital readmissions is a specific goal that may be influenced by accreditation but not the primary objective.

4. A 27-year-old patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has a serum glucose level of 732 mg/dL and serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. Which action prescribed by the healthcare provider should the nurse take first?

• A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor
• B. Administer IV potassium supplements
• C. Obtain urine glucose and ketone levels
• D. Start an insulin infusion at 0.1 units/kg/hr

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the initial priority is to assess for any cardiac arrhythmias due to electrolyte imbalances. Since the patient has a low serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L, placing the patient on a cardiac monitor is crucial to monitor for any potential cardiac complications. Administering IV potassium supplements (Choice B) may be needed, but it is not the first action to take. Obtaining urine glucose and ketone levels (Choice C) and starting an insulin infusion (Choice D) are important interventions in managing DKA, but ensuring patient safety by monitoring for arrhythmias takes precedence.

5. After her evaluation, a staff nurse exclaims: 'I'm not sure if my manager knows much about my performance, really. He only had three specific examples to give me, two good performance examples and one to work on, and they all happened in the last month. I don't feel like he can see the whole picture.' What kind of performance appraisal rating does this statement exemplify?

• A. Recency error
• B. Leniency error
• C. Halo error
• D. Absolute judgment

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The statement exemplifies a recency error. Recency error occurs when a manager assesses an employee's performance primarily based on recent events, rather than considering the entire evaluation period. In this case, the staff nurse feels that her manager focused only on recent examples, leading to an incomplete assessment of her overall performance. Choice B, Leniency error, refers to a rater consistently giving high ratings to all employees regardless of performance, which is not evident in this scenario. Choice C, Halo error, involves allowing one positive attribute of an individual to overshadow other characteristics during appraisal, which is not the case here. Absolute judgment, Choice D, is when a rater evaluates an employee without reference to any specific criteria, which is not reflected in the staff nurse's feedback.

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