which of the following is an example of a sentinel event in healthcare

ATI RN

ATI Leadership Proctored Exam 2019

1. Which of the following is an example of a sentinel event in healthcare?

A. A patient falling in the hospital without injury
B. A near-miss medication error
C. An unexpected patient death unrelated to the natural course of illness
D. A patient developing an infection during a hospital stay

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. A sentinel event in healthcare is an unexpected patient death unrelated to the natural course of illness. These events are serious occurrences that warrant immediate investigation and response to prevent their recurrence and ensure patient safety. Choices A, B, and D do not fit the definition of a sentinel event. While choices A, B, and D are serious incidents, they do not involve an unexpected patient death unrelated to the natural course of illness, which is the defining characteristic of a sentinel event.

2. A nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Which of the following statements by the client should indicate to the nurse that the client is ready to hear information regarding palliative care?

A. "I am ready to learn about chemotherapy to help cure my cancer."
B. "I just want you to give me something to get this over with soon."
C. "I want you to tell me about measures available to keep me comfortable."
D. "I know that many people have recovered fully from cancer, and so will I."

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Choice C is the correct answer because the client expressing a desire to know about measures available to keep comfortable indicates readiness for palliative care. Palliative care focuses on providing comfort, symptom management, and improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses such as terminal cancer. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Choice A indicates a desire for chemotherapy to cure the cancer, which does not align with palliative care goals. Choice B expresses a wish to end the situation quickly, which may not be in line with palliative care that focuses on comfort and quality of life. Choice D shows optimism about a full recovery, which may not be realistic for a client with terminal cancer who needs palliative care.

3. A nurse manager has two out of six staff nurses call in sick for one shift. Because of reduced availability of staff, the manager decides to manage the unit with the three remaining nurses, which keeps the unit at minimal staffing standards. What type of decision-making strategy would this be?

A. Satisficing
B. Routine
C. Adaptive
D. Rationalizing

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Satisficing. Satisficing is a decision-making strategy where the person chooses an alternative that is good enough given the circumstances. In this scenario, the nurse manager is making a satisfactory decision by managing the unit with the three remaining nurses to meet minimal staffing standards despite the reduced availability of staff. Choice B, Routine, does not apply as the decision made in the scenario is not part of a regular or standard procedure. Choice C, Adaptive, is not the best fit as the decision is more about making do with the available resources rather than adapting to a new situation. Choice D, Rationalizing, does not align with the scenario as it refers to justifying decisions rather than making a practical choice under constraints.

4. The nurse determines a need for additional instruction when the patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes says which of the following?

A. �I can have an occasional alcoholic drink if I include it in my meal plan.�
B. �I will need a bedtime snack because I take an evening dose of NPH insulin.�
C. �I can choose any foods, as long as I use enough insulin to cover the calories.�
D. �I will eat something at meal times to prevent hypoglycemia, even if I am not hungry.�

Correct answer: C

Rationale:

5. What is the main focus of health literacy initiatives?

A. To promote the use of medical jargon
B. To improve patient communication skills
C. To ensure that patients understand their health information
D. To reduce the use of electronic health records

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The main focus of health literacy initiatives is to ensure that patients understand their health information. By improving patient comprehension, individuals can make informed decisions about their health, leading to better health outcomes. Promoting the use of medical jargon would have the opposite effect, making health information less accessible. Improving patient communication skills is important but not the primary focus of health literacy initiatives. Electronic health records are tools for managing health information and not directly related to the main goal of health literacy initiatives.