what is the primary focus of lean methodology in healthcare

ATI RN

ATI Leadership Practice A

1. What is the primary focus of Lean methodology in healthcare?

A. Reduce healthcare costs
B. Enhance patient satisfaction
C. Increase patient throughput
D. Standardize care processes

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Standardize care processes. Lean methodology in healthcare focuses on standardizing care processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste. While reducing healthcare costs and enhancing patient satisfaction are important goals in healthcare, the primary focus of Lean methodology is to standardize care processes to ensure consistent, high-quality care delivery. Increasing patient throughput may be a byproduct of implementing Lean principles but is not the primary focus.

2. Which of the following best describes intrinsic values?

A. Intrinsic values are often abstract ideas.
B. Intrinsic values are basic needs for sustaining life.
C. Intrinsic values are qualities patients consider to be important in their private lives.
D. Intrinsic values are qualities patients consider important for nurses to have.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Intrinsic values refer to basic needs for sustaining life, such as food, water, shelter, and safety. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because intrinsic values are not abstract ideas, qualities important in private lives, or qualities important for nurses to have.

3. What is the primary goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

A. To reduce healthcare costs
B. To expand access to healthcare
C. To improve healthcare quality
D. To increase healthcare funding

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The primary goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to expand access to healthcare. While reducing healthcare costs and improving healthcare quality are important aspects, the ACA's main focus was on increasing the number of Americans with health insurance coverage and enhancing the availability and affordability of healthcare services. Increasing healthcare funding is not the primary goal of the ACA, as its main aim was to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for a larger portion of the population.

4. Which nursing action can the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) working in the diabetic clinic?

A. Measure the ankle-brachial index.
B. Check for changes in skin pigmentation.
C. Assess for unilateral or bilateral foot drop.
D. Ask the patient about symptoms of depression.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Measure the ankle-brachial index. This task involves using a Doppler ultrasound device to assess blood flow, which can be safely delegated to UAP. Choices B, C, and D require a higher level of assessment and interpretation that should be performed by licensed nursing staff. Checking for changes in skin pigmentation (B) and assessing for foot drop (C) involve more complex assessments that require nursing judgment. Asking about symptoms of depression (D) involves a psychosocial assessment, which should be performed by licensed personnel qualified to address mental health concerns.

5. When considering virtue ethics, which of the following is true?

A. Virtue ethics attributes behaviors to moral rules.
B. Virtue ethics attributes behaviors to knowledge of consequences.
C. Virtue ethics focuses on moral character, rather than rules for behavior.
D. Virtue ethics is a formal statement of rules for behavior.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Virtue ethics focuses on moral character, rather than rules for behavior. Virtue ethics is a branch of ethical theory that emphasizes an individual's character and virtues rather than focusing on specific rules or consequences. Choice A is incorrect as virtue ethics does not attribute behaviors to moral rules; instead, it emphasizes developing virtuous character traits. Choice B is incorrect because virtue ethics does not attribute behaviors to knowledge of consequences; it looks at the moral character of the individual. Choice D is incorrect as virtue ethics is not a formal statement of rules for behavior but rather a perspective that emphasizes the importance of developing virtuous character traits.