which of the following best describes the purpose of a root cause analysis rca

ATI RN

ATI Leadership

1. Which of the following best describes the purpose of a root cause analysis (RCA)?

A. Identify the person responsible for an error
B. Determine who should be disciplined
C. Discover the underlying causes of an error
D. Evaluate the effectiveness of a new policy

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Discover the underlying causes of an error.' Root cause analysis (RCA) focuses on identifying the fundamental reason(s) that led to an error or problem rather than placing blame on individuals. Choice A and B are incorrect as RCA is not about pinpointing a specific person to blame or determining disciplinary actions. Choice D is also incorrect as the primary goal of RCA is not to evaluate policy effectiveness but to uncover the root causes of issues for effective problem-solving.

2. Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between ethical principles and laws?

A. The government enforces ethics.
B. Laws guide decision making by setting standards.
C. Ethics are highly detailed.
D. Ethical principles can serve as the foundation for laws.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The statement 'Ethical principles can serve as the foundation for laws' is correct. Ethical principles act as a standard for evaluating actions and behaviors. While ethical principles may influence the creation of laws, they are not laws themselves. Choice A is incorrect as ethics are usually upheld through societal norms and personal values rather than government enforcement. Choice B is incorrect because laws do provide standards, but those standards are legal rather than ethical. Choice C is incorrect as ethics are broad guidelines for behavior, not highly detailed rules.

3. A resident on night call refuses to answer pages from the staff nurse on the night shift and complains that she calls too often with minor problems. The nurse feels offended and reacts with frequent, middle-of-the-night phone calls to 'get back' at him. The behavior displayed by the resident and the nurse is an example of what kind of conflict?

A. Perceived conflict
B. Disruptive conflict
C. Competitive conflict
D. Felt conflict

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Disruptive conflict.' In disruptive conflict, the parties involved are engaged in activities to reduce, defeat, or eliminate the opponent. In this scenario, the resident and the nurse are engaging in behaviors that disrupt their professional relationship by intentionally ignoring pages and making excessive retaliatory calls. Perceived conflict refers to a situation where one or more parties believe that a conflict exists, competitive conflict involves striving to achieve personal goals at the expense of others, and felt conflict refers to the emotional involvement in a conflict situation.

4. What is the main purpose of a nursing code of ethics?

A. To protect the rights and dignity of patients
B. To ensure compliance with healthcare laws
C. To set standards for clinical practice
D. To provide a framework for ethical decision-making in nursing practice

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The main purpose of a nursing code of ethics is to provide a framework for ethical decision-making in nursing practice. While choice A is important, the primary focus of a nursing code of ethics is not solely to protect the rights and dignity of patients but to guide nurses in making ethical decisions. Choice B is more related to legal requirements, not the ethical aspects covered by a code of ethics. Choice C, setting standards for clinical practice, is important but distinct from the primary purpose of a code of ethics, which is centered on ethical decision-making.

5. When a Nurse Manager leaves the facility, and one of the remaining managers is given that assignment in addition to her current load without the open position being filled, this is an example of which of the following?

A. Job enlargement
B. Proactive management
C. Time log
D. Prioritizing

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, job enlargement. Job enlargement involves adding more tasks to a job without changing the level of skill required. In this scenario, the manager is given additional responsibilities without the position being filled, resulting in combining positions and increasing the number of employees to supervise. Choice B, proactive management, is incorrect as it does not relate to the situation described. Choice C, time log, is not relevant to the scenario. Choice D, prioritizing, is also incorrect as it does not reflect the concept of combining positions and increasing supervisory responsibilities.