what is the primary goal of infection control practices in healthcare settings

ATI RN

ATI Leadership Practice B

1. What is the primary goal of infection control practices in healthcare settings?

A. To reduce the length of hospital stays
B. To ensure patient safety and prevent infections
C. To control the spread of infections within the healthcare setting
D. To comply with healthcare regulations

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'To control the spread of infections within the healthcare setting.' The primary goal of infection control practices is to prevent the transmission and spread of infections among patients, healthcare workers, and visitors. Choice A is incorrect because while infection control practices may indirectly contribute to shorter hospital stays by preventing additional complications, reducing the length of hospital stays is not their primary goal. Choice B is incorrect as ensuring patient safety and preventing infections are important outcomes of infection control practices but not the primary goal. Choice D is incorrect because compliance with healthcare regulations is a requirement that supports the implementation of infection control practices but is not the primary goal of these practices.

2. The nurse has administered 4 oz of orange juice to an alert patient whose blood glucose was 62 mg/dL. Fifteen minutes later, the blood glucose is 67 mg/dL. Which action should the nurse take next?

A. Give the patient 4 to 6 oz more orange juice.
B. Administer the PRN glucagon (Glucagon) 1 mg IM.
C. Have the patient eat some peanut butter with crackers.
D. Notify the healthcare provider about the hypoglycemia.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take next is to give the patient 4 to 6 oz more orange juice. The patient's blood glucose has increased from 62 mg/dL to 67 mg/dL after consuming the initial 4 oz of orange juice, indicating that the treatment is effective. Providing additional orange juice will help further raise the blood glucose levels. Administering glucagon (Choice B) is not necessary as the patient's blood glucose is already rising. Having the patient eat peanut butter with crackers (Choice C) is a slower-acting option compared to orange juice. Notifying the healthcare provider about the hypoglycemia (Choice D) is not needed at this point since the patient's blood glucose is improving.

3. 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.

4. Caring is a fundamental value in nursing and serves as the basis for caring leadership. Which of the following statements is true about a caring leader?

A. A caring leader balances serving others with effective leadership.
B. A caring leader recognizes and acknowledges the emotions of others.
C. Traits of a caring leader involve respecting coworkers as individuals and empathizing with their needs and concerns.
D. A caring leader demonstrates fairness and honesty.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A caring leader embodies traits such as respecting coworkers as unique individuals and showing empathy towards their needs and concerns. These qualities are essential for fostering a supportive and compassionate work environment, where team members feel valued and understood. Choice A is incorrect because a caring leader balances serving others with effective leadership, not prioritizing one over the other. Choice B, though important, focuses solely on recognizing emotions and does not encompass the broader traits of caring leadership. Choice D is also important but does not capture the essence of respecting individuals and empathizing with their needs, which are core aspects of caring leadership.

5. Which of the following is an example of a sentinel event?

A. A patient fall with no injury
B. A medication error that results in no harm
C. A patient suicide while in a healthcare facility
D. A near miss incident

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, a patient suicide while in a healthcare facility. A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury. Choices A, B, and D do not meet the criteria for sentinel events as described by The Joint Commission, as they do not involve death or serious harm to the patient.