You pick the legal, honest next step when rights, consent, or a policy collide with a request. Five of the 15 questions include the correct answer and rationale. The other ten keep answers in the study hub. Continue with the RN exams exam guide or more RN exams practice questions.
Five ethics questions with answers
Cover the key. Write the first action. Then open the rationale and name why the other choices fail.
Question 1
Registered nurses who are entering the workforce will have expanded leadership responsibilities that include: (select all that apply)
A. serving on interdisciplinary care teams.
B. being competent to work in several areas independently when dictated by patient census.
C. attending a meeting to plan advanced training for unlicensed assistive personnel.
D. evaluating outcomes of care that are reported to a standing committee.
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: A — serving on interdisciplinary care teams.
The correct answer is A: serving on interdisciplinary care teams. This is correct because as registered nurses enter the workforce, they are expected to collaborate with other healthcare professionals on interdisciplinary care teams to provide comprehensive patient care. This involves working together with professionals from different disciplines to ensure holistic and effective treatment plans.
Explanation for why the other choices are incorrect:
B: Being competent to work in several areas independently when dictated by patient census - While nurses may need to be versatile, the emphasis on independent work in various areas does not necessarily reflect expanded leadership responsibilities.
C: Attending a meeting to plan advanced training for unlicensed assistive personnel - While important for team collaboration, attending meetings to plan training for support staff does not directly relate to expanded leadership responsibilities.
D: Evaluating outcomes of care that are reported to a standing committee - While evaluating outcomes is important, it may not specifically denote expanded leadership responsibilities compared to the collaborative nature of serving on interdisciplinary care teams.
Question 2
A young mother has detected a lump in her breast, and because she lives at the poverty level, she is covered under Medicaid. This individual:
A. is more likely to participate in mammography screening than are individuals covered by private insurance.
B. has designated primary care and a specialist as sources of care.
C. will more likely wait to seek care and will require hospitalization for a mastectomy, which could have been avoided if care had been sought earlier.
D. has decreased access to health care when compared with the uninsured.
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: C — will more likely wait to seek care and will require hospitalization for a mastectomy, which could have been avoided if care had been sought earlier.
Rationale for Correct Answer (C): The correct answer is C because individuals covered under Medicaid, especially those living in poverty, often face barriers to timely healthcare access. Due to financial constraints and lack of awareness, this mother may delay seeking care, leading to a more advanced stage of breast cancer. This delay can result in the need for hospitalization for a mastectomy, which could have been avoided with early detection and treatment. Medicaid coverage does not necessarily guarantee prompt healthcare access, especially for preventive services like mammography.
Summary of Incorrect Choices:
A: This choice is incorrect because individuals covered by Medicaid, especially those facing financial hardships, may have limited access to preventive services like mammography due to various barriers.
B: Having designated primary care and a specialist does not necessarily ensure timely care access, especially for individuals living in poverty and covered under Medicaid.
D: This choice is incorrect as individuals covered by Medicaid generally have better access to healthcare services compared to the uninsured population, although they may still face barriers to
Question 3
An experienced nurse working in oncology is shocked to realize that he feels little empathy when a patient explains, "I developed cancer from having to work in the dry cleaning industry since I was only 8 years old to help support my younger siblings during the depression. Now they have all moved away and refuse to help me financially, and it takes everything I have to pay for my chemotherapy medicine." The nurse is experiencing:
A. burnout.
B. compassion fatigue.
C. reality shock.
D. horizontal hostility.
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: B — compassion fatigue.
The correct answer is B: compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue refers to the emotional and physical exhaustion that healthcare providers may experience from caring for patients in distressing situations over a prolonged period. In this scenario, the nurse's lack of empathy despite the patient's heart-wrenching story indicates emotional exhaustion and desensitization, which are common symptoms of compassion fatigue. This nurse has likely become overwhelmed by the emotional toll of consistently supporting patients facing difficult circumstances, leading to a diminished capacity for empathy.
Incorrect choices:
A: Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. While the nurse may be experiencing emotional exhaustion, the specific lack of empathy in response to the patient's situation aligns more closely with compassion fatigue.
C: Reality shock typically refers to the discrepancy between the expectations of a new role and the actual experiences encountered. This term does not accurately describe the nurse's emotional response to the patient's situation.
D: Horizontal hostility refers to negative
Question 4
Nurses entering the workforce at a large urban hospital soon began volunteering for excessive overtime. A focus group found that upon graduation, many of these nurses purchased expensive cars and furniture. They lacked skills in managing their checkbook and were often unable to pay recurring bills; this finding would be relevant to which component of the Workforce Advocacy Ecosystem Model?
A. Staffing
B. Workflow design
C. Organizational factors
D. Personal and social factors
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: D — Personal and social factors
The correct answer is D: Personal and social factors. This finding is relevant to personal and social factors because it highlights the individual behaviors and financial decisions of the nurses entering the workforce. The nurses' lack of financial management skills and tendency to overspend on luxury items indicate personal factors influencing their ability to handle their finances effectively. Additionally, their social environment, such as peer influences or societal pressure to display wealth, could also contribute to their financial struggles.
Incorrect choices:
A: Staffing - This choice focuses on the recruitment and deployment of staff, which is not directly related to the nurses' personal financial management issues.
B: Workflow design - This choice pertains to how tasks are organized and coordinated within the workplace, which is not directly related to the nurses' personal financial challenges.
C: Organizational factors - This choice refers to the broader context of the hospital's policies, culture, and structures, which may indirectly influence the nurses' financial behaviors but are not as directly related as personal and social factors
Question 5
Six cultural phenomena that vary among cultural groups are known to affect health care. The influence of the consequences of these phenomena can be seen in which of the following? (select all that apply)
A. Asians and American Indians tend to be nonadherent with medications because they believe that the environment has no control over their fate.
B. Some cancers such as stomach cancer occur less frequently among blacks.
C. Blacks and American Indians often resist direct eye contact.
D. Mexican Americans are more likely to stand close and touch health care providers.
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: B — Some cancers such as stomach cancer occur less frequently among blacks.
The correct answer is B. Some cancers such as stomach cancer occur less frequently among blacks due to genetic factors. Stomach cancer is more common in Asian populations due to dietary and lifestyle factors. This variation in cancer incidence among different racial groups is influenced by genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Therefore, the influence of cultural phenomena on health care can be observed in the differing rates of specific diseases among various cultural groups.
Other choices are incorrect:
A: This choice does not directly relate to the influence of cultural phenomena on health care, but rather discusses medication adherence based on beliefs about fate and the environment.
C: Direct eye contact is a cultural behavior that may vary among different cultural groups, but it does not directly relate to the influence of cultural phenomena on health care.
D: Standing close and touching health care providers is a cultural behavior that may be more common among certain cultural groups like Mexican Americans, but it does not directly demonstrate the influence of cultural phenomena on health care in the context of disease incidence
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Question 6
While participating in a task force to proactively plan for nursing care delivery over the next 20 years, a nurse learns that dramatic changes will occur as a result of: (select all that apply.)
A. the increase in the number of minimally invasive procedures being performed for disease treatment.
B. care provided for patients over an extended period in acute care settings.
C. the reduction in the number of nurses and other health care professionals who are available to provide care.
D. the widespread illiteracy and decreased self-efficacy of the aging patient population.
Correct answer:
The correct answer is A: the increase in the number of minimally invasive procedures being performed for disease treatment. This is because advancements in medical technology have led to a shift towards less invasive procedures, impacting how nursing care is delivered. Minimally invasive procedures often require specialized care and monitoring, necessitating changes in nursing practice.
Choice B is incorrect as care provided for patients over an extended period in acute care settings is not a significant factor driving dramatic changes in nursing care delivery over the next 20 years. This scenario is more related to the current healthcare system rather than future changes.
Choice C is incorrect as the reduction in the number of nurses and healthcare professionals available to provide care is unlikely to be a driving force for dramatic changes. In fact, efforts are being made to address the nursing shortage through various initiatives.
Choice D is incorrect as widespread illiteracy and decreased self-efficacy of the aging patient population, while important considerations for nursing care, are not the primary factors driving dramatic changes in
Why has there been an increase in the number of acute and chronically ill people residingin the community who need professional nursing care?
A. Shorter length of stay in long-term care facilities
B. Increase in ambulatory surgery
C. Decrease in the use of outpatient clinics
D. Increase in length of stay in emergency departments
Correct answer:
The correct answer is A, the shorter length of stay in long-term care facilities. This has led to an increase in the number of acute and chronically ill people in the community needing professional nursing care because individuals are being discharged from long-term care facilities sooner than before. Consequently, these individuals require ongoing nursing care and support once they return to the community. This change in healthcare practices has resulted in a higher demand for professional nursing care services outside of institutional settings.
Summary:
- Choice B (Increase in ambulatory surgery) is incorrect as it does not directly lead to an increase in the number of individuals needing professional nursing care in the community.
- Choice C (Decrease in the use of outpatient clinics) is incorrect as a decrease in outpatient clinic use does not necessarily result in more individuals needing professional nursing care in the community.
- Choice D (Increase in length of stay in emergency departments) is incorrect as it focuses on emergency care rather than the transition of individuals from long-term care facilities to the
Why has there been an increase in the number of acute and chronically ill people residingin the community who need professional nursing care?
A. Shorter length of stay in long-term care facilities
B. Increase in ambulatory surgery
C. Decrease in the use of outpatient clinics
D. Increase in length of stay in emergency departments
Correct answer:
The correct answer is A, the shorter length of stay in long-term care facilities. This has led to an increase in the number of acute and chronically ill people in the community needing professional nursing care because individuals are being discharged from long-term care facilities sooner than before. Consequently, these individuals require ongoing nursing care and support once they return to the community. This change in healthcare practices has resulted in a higher demand for professional nursing care services outside of institutional settings.
Summary:
- Choice B (Increase in ambulatory surgery) is incorrect as it does not directly lead to an increase in the number of individuals needing professional nursing care in the community.
- Choice C (Decrease in the use of outpatient clinics) is incorrect as a decrease in outpatient clinic use does not necessarily result in more individuals needing professional nursing care in the community.
- Choice D (Increase in length of stay in emergency departments) is incorrect as it focuses on emergency care rather than the transition of individuals from long-term care facilities to the
A nurse who has practiced for 1 year on a medical-surgical unit is very interested in a position in the operating room. She traces the nursing history of surgery to learn how nursing has evolved in this practice. To determine if, historically, surgery methods advanced the practice of nursing, select the correct statements. (select all that apply)
A. The Ancient Egyptians were the first to use anesthesia in the operating room.
B. The "Barbers" of the Middle Ages used sterile techniques to reduce wound infections.
C. The Indian culture from 274 to 236 BC had hospitals staffed with female nurses who practiced much like today's nurses.
D. During the Renaissance, advances in nursing education, including surgery, were nonexistent.
Correct answer:
The correct answer is B: The "Barbers" of the Middle Ages used sterile techniques to reduce wound infections. This statement is correct because during the Middle Ages, barbers often performed surgical procedures and used techniques like boiling water and alcohol to sterilize instruments, reducing the risk of wound infections. This practice contributed to advancing the field of surgery and indirectly influenced nursing practice by emphasizing the importance of infection control.
Incorrect choices:
A: The Ancient Egyptians were the first to use anesthesia in the operating room - This statement is incorrect as anesthesia was not used in surgery until the 19th century.
C: The Indian culture from 274 to 236 BC had hospitals staffed with female nurses who practiced much like today's nurses - This statement is incorrect as while Indian culture had early hospitals and female nurses, their practices were not comparable to modern nursing.
D: During the Renaissance, advances in nursing education, including surgery, were nonexistent - This statement is incorrect as the Renaissance saw advancements in medical and surgical knowledge
In a large health care facility, the executive administrative leaders set the budget goals to decrease full-time equivalents by 3%, eliminate the cost of agency nurses, reduce lost revenue from lost supplies by 1%, and provide a 5% hourly salary incentive for working on a float unit when the assigned unit has a low census. Nurse managers meet with nursing administrators to design their unit budgets to meet these established goals. The budget approach that is being used is the approach.
A. top-down
B. participatory
C. iterative
D. incremental
Correct answer:
The correct answer is B: participatory. This is because the nurse managers are actively involved in designing their unit budgets to meet the established goals set by the executive administrative leaders. In a participatory budgeting approach, input and collaboration from lower-level managers or staff members are encouraged, allowing for a more inclusive and bottom-up decision-making process. This approach fosters ownership, accountability, and transparency in budget planning.
Summary of other choices:
A: top-down - This approach involves setting budget goals and directives from the top management without much input or involvement from lower-level managers. Not applicable in this scenario.
C: iterative - This approach involves making continuous adjustments and refinements to the budget based on feedback and performance data. Not explicitly mentioned in the scenario.
D: incremental - This approach involves making small adjustments to the previous budget period. While there may be some incremental changes, the scenario emphasizes a more collaborative process involving nurse managers, making this choice less suitable.
A nurse executive is concerned that the mortality rate in his or her hospital exceeds the national average and searches the literature finding Aiken's 2011 Survey on the effects of nurse staffing and education on mortality, including work environment. If Aiken's recommendations are followed, which change would be most effective?
A. Increasing staffing ratios to include more nurses of all levels of educational preparation on all shifts
B. Employing bachelor's prepared nurses who participate in interprofessional rounds with attending physicians where their voices are heard
C. Ensuring nurse managers and administrators have at minimum a master's degree
D. Encouraging all unlicensed assistive personnel to attend educational programs to be certified
Correct answer:
The correct answer is A: Increasing staffing ratios to include more nurses of all levels of educational preparation on all shifts. Aiken's survey emphasized the importance of adequate nurse staffing in improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality rates. By increasing staffing ratios with nurses of all educational levels, the hospital can ensure better patient care, effective coordination, and timely interventions. This approach addresses the key factors highlighted in Aiken's survey - nurse staffing and education.
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not directly address the issue of nurse staffing, which was the primary focus of Aiken's survey. Employing bachelor's prepared nurses participating in interprofessional rounds (B) may improve communication but does not solely address the staffing concerns. Ensuring nurse managers have a master's degree (C) may improve leadership but does not directly impact frontline staffing. Encouraging unlicensed assistive personnel to attend educational programs (D) may enhance skills but does not address the need for more nurses in the staffing ratios
A group of graduates were just notified that they had successfully passed the licensure examination. During the orientation process at the hospital, one asks, "I am looking at my license, but I don't really know the duties performed by the board of nursing." The staff development nurse explains that the board of nursing: (select all that apply)
A. grants nursing licensure.
B. constructs the licensure examination.
C. assigns disciplinary action when the nurse acts in a manner that results in harm to a patient.
D. members are appointed.
Correct answer:
The correct answer is A: grants nursing licensure. The board of nursing is responsible for overseeing the licensure process for nurses, ensuring that they meet the necessary qualifications to practice. They review applications, conduct background checks, and issue licenses to qualified individuals. This is a fundamental duty of the board of nursing, as it regulates the nursing profession and ensures public safety.
Explanation for why other choices are incorrect:
B: Constructs the licensure examination - While the board of nursing may have input in the development of the licensure examination, their primary role is not the construction of the exam itself.
C: Assigns disciplinary action when the nurse acts in a manner that results in harm to a patient - While the board of nursing does have the authority to investigate and take disciplinary action against nurses who violate the nursing practice act, this is not their primary function.
D: Members are appointed - This choice is irrelevant to the duties performed by the board of nursing and does not directly relate to their responsibilities in granting
An elderly person, age 80, is finding it difficult to live alone and the family is considering long-term care. The elderly person is reasonably healthy, with only normal aging declines, and maintains a healthy appetite. All medications are administered orally and require only minimal assistance. She is financially secure with an income based on retirement from both the military and factory from her deceased husband and herself. The family contacts long- term care and is told that, based on this patient's information:
A. Medicare will cover the cost of stay since skilled services are required.
B. Medicaid is only for families with dependent children.
C. Medicare will pay for home health services should these additional services meet the needs of the individual.
D. Medicare will pay regardless of household income or financial status for nursing home care.
Correct answer:
Rationale for Correct Answer (C): Medicare will pay for home health services should these additional services meet the needs of the individual.
1. Medicare covers home health services for individuals who meet specific criteria, which may include being homebound, needing skilled nursing care, and having a care plan established by a healthcare provider.
2. In this scenario, the elderly person is reasonably healthy and only requires minimal assistance with oral medications, indicating that she may benefit from home health services rather than long-term care.
3. Since the elderly person is financially secure, it is likely that she does not meet the eligibility criteria for Medicaid, which is a need-based program for individuals with limited income and resources.
4. Medicare does not cover long-term care in a nursing home unless specific criteria are met, such as requiring skilled services on a short-term basis. In this case, the elderly person's need for assistance with oral medications does not necessarily qualify as a skilled service for nursing home care.
Summary of Incorrect Choices:
A
The nurse manager meets with upper management to share strategic goals agreed upon by her staff for their individual nursing unit as the first step to begin budget negotiations. One strategic goal is that staff will have access to technology that will allow them to incorporate point-of-care devices for all RNs. The second goal is to improve RNs' ability to recognize critical indicators that a patient's health status is deteriorating through advanced health assessment skills. During the meeting the manager discusses the strategy options and selecting the one that works for the unit. Which type of budget development is used?
A. Iterative
B. Top-down
C. Participatory
D. Zero-based
Correct answer:
The correct answer is C: Participatory. In participatory budget development, input is gathered from various levels within the organization, such as staff and managers. In this scenario, the nurse manager met with her staff to establish strategic goals before budget negotiations, indicating a participatory approach. This allows for staff buy-in and ownership of the goals.
A: Iterative budget development involves refining a budget through multiple rounds of review, which is not explicitly mentioned in the scenario.
B: Top-down budget development is characterized by decisions made by upper management without input from lower levels, contradicting the scenario where staff provided input.
D: Zero-based budgeting starts from scratch without considering previous budgets, which is not evident in the scenario where goals were established based on staff input.
In summary, the participatory budget development is the appropriate choice in this scenario as it aligns with the collaborative approach taken by the nurse manager and her staff in setting strategic goals before budget negotiations.
A certified oncology nurse notices that a novice nurse is unsure of decision making and lacks technical skills. The novice nurse gains confidence by sharing and learning with the experienced nurse. This relationship continues and builds, allowing the novice nurse to become more confident. This relationship is known as:
A. mentoring.
B. role modeling.
C. a preceptorship.
D. socialization.
Correct answer:
The correct answer is A: mentoring. Mentoring involves an experienced individual guiding and supporting a less experienced individual to help them develop skills, confidence, and knowledge. In this scenario, the certified oncology nurse is providing guidance and support to the novice nurse, helping them gain confidence and improve decision-making and technical skills. Mentoring fosters a personalized and supportive relationship that allows for growth and development.
Summary of other choices:
B: Role modeling involves observing and emulating behaviors of others, but it does not necessarily involve the direct guidance and support seen in mentoring.
C: Preceptorship typically refers to a structured program where a more experienced individual (preceptor) guides a less experienced individual (preceptee) for a specific period, which is more formalized than the relationship described in the scenario.
D: Socialization refers to the process of adapting to the norms and values of a group or society, which is not directly related to the mentorship relationship described in the scenario.
RN exams ethics practice questions for nursing students in the United States. Fifteen items. Five include answers and rationales in American English.
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