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
A large corporation employs nurses all over the United States. Nurses in one agency learned that fellow nurses in another agency are striking because they are required to work 16-hour shifts to cover for nurses who have left due to unsafe staffing practices. The union of the nonstriking agency nurses decides to stop work to support the nurses who are striking; thus, this union:
A. is placing nurses at risk for a lawsuit because their direct employer did not cause the strike.
B. must be an industry union representing both parties.
C. is participating in a sympathy strike, which, if done correctly, is legal.
D. must pay for any losses incurred by the agency during the strike.
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: C — is participating in a sympathy strike, which, if done correctly, is legal.
The correct answer is C because the union of the nonstriking agency nurses is engaging in a sympathy strike to support their fellow nurses who are striking due to unsafe working conditions. A sympathy strike is legal as long as it is conducted correctly. In this case, the nonstriking agency nurses are showing solidarity with their colleagues to address the issue of unsafe staffing practices.
Choice A is incorrect because the union's decision to support the striking nurses does not automatically expose them to a lawsuit. Choice B is incorrect as the union represents only one group of nurses, not both parties. Choice D is incorrect because there is no legal requirement for the union to pay for any losses incurred by the agency during the strike.
Overall, the correct answer is C because it accurately reflects the union's action of participating in a sympathy strike to show support for the striking nurses.
Question 2
A researcher conducts a survey to determine the perceived health status of elderly persons living independently at home. The same subjects participate in a telephone call in which they describe the lived experience of living with chronic illness. When writing up the research study, the nurse would describe using:
A. a control group.
B. triangulation.
C. a pilot study.
D. secondary data analysis.
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: B — triangulation.
The correct answer is B: triangulation. Triangulation involves using multiple data sources or methods to validate findings. In this scenario, the nurse is using both survey data and telephone interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of the elderly persons' health status. This method enhances the study's credibility and reliability by cross-verifying information.
A: A control group is not relevant in this context as it involves comparing an intervention group with a control group to assess the impact of an intervention.
C: A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study conducted to evaluate the feasibility of a larger study. It is not the appropriate description for using multiple data sources.
D: Secondary data analysis involves analyzing existing data collected by someone else. It is not applicable in this case where the researcher is collecting primary data through surveys and interviews.
Question 3
In recent Gallop Polls, nurses were voted as the most honest with the highest ethical standards of all professions. How does this degree of professionalism affect nurses' desire to participate in organized strikes?
A. Nurses most often turn to collective bargaining strategies such as strikes to emphasize client safety initiatives.
B. Nurses use evidence-based studies that reflect both management and labor views to support participation in unionization.
C. Nurses often find union activities such as strikes in conflict with the need to serve and protect clients and their profession.
D. Nurses who strike can be legally punished for abandonment and negligence, considered to be professional misconduct.
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: C — Nurses often find union activities such as strikes in conflict with the need to serve and protect clients and their profession.
The correct answer is C because nurses being voted as the most honest and ethical profession indicates their strong commitment to patient care and ethics. Therefore, nurses may find participating in strikes conflicting with their core values of serving and protecting patients. This conflict can deter nurses from engaging in union activities like strikes, as they prioritize patient well-being over their own interests.
A is incorrect because while nurses prioritize client safety, participating in strikes may not always align with this goal. B is incorrect as evidence-based studies may support various perspectives, but nurses' ethical standards and commitment to patient care are the primary factors influencing their decision to engage in strikes. D is incorrect as legal repercussions for striking nurses focus on professional misconduct rather than the ethical dilemma nurses face when considering strikes.
Question 4
What was the purpose of the Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002?
A. Provided disability insurance to RNs who contract a life-threatening illness while on duty
B. Funded public service announcements that promote unlicensed caregivers as an alternative to professional nurses
C. Focused on nurse retention and safety enhancement grants to address the current nursing shortage
D. Provided pediatric nursing training grants
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: C — Focused on nurse retention and safety enhancement grants to address the current nursing shortage
The correct answer is C because the Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002 aimed to address the nursing shortage by focusing on nurse retention and safety enhancement grants. This legislation provided funding for programs to support nurses in their roles, improve working conditions, and ultimately retain experienced professionals in the field. This choice aligns with the primary goal of the act and its intended impact on the nursing workforce.
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the main purpose of the Nurse Reinvestment Act. Choice A is not mentioned in the act and does not address the broader issue of nursing shortage. Choice B promotes unlicensed caregivers, which goes against the act's focus on professional nurses. Choice D is specific to pediatric nursing training grants and does not encompass the Act's comprehensive approach to nurse retention and safety enhancement.
Question 5
A nurse working in a factory performs routine hearing tests for employees. The factory uses 90 dB as the safe limit for an 8-hour day's exposure to machine noise rather than 85 dB as recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The nurse is functioning in the role of:
A. quality management.
B. informatics nurse specialist.
C. occupational health nurse.
D. case manager.
Show answer and rationale
Correct answer: C — occupational health nurse.
The correct answer is C: occupational health nurse. This is because an occupational health nurse specializes in promoting health and safety in the workplace, including monitoring employees' exposure to occupational hazards like noise. By conducting hearing tests and recognizing the discrepancy between the factory's safe noise level and OSHA's recommendation, the nurse is fulfilling the role of an occupational health nurse.
Choice A (quality management) is incorrect as it involves ensuring high-quality care and services, not specifically focused on workplace health and safety. Choice B (informatics nurse specialist) is incorrect as it pertains to using technology and data to improve healthcare outcomes, not directly related to workplace health monitoring. Choice D (case manager) is incorrect as it involves coordinating care for individual patients, not overseeing workplace health and safety practices.
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Question 6
The key to organizational success for health care facilities is:
A. hiring younger, more energetic nurses.
B. offering incentives such as sign-on bonuses.
C. hiring highly qualified advanced practice nurses.
D. retaining professional nurses.
Correct answer:
The correct answer is D: retaining professional nurses. Retaining professional nurses is crucial for organizational success in healthcare facilities as it ensures continuity of care, promotes staff morale, reduces turnover costs, and maintains high-quality patient outcomes. By retaining experienced and skilled nurses, organizations can benefit from their expertise, knowledge, and commitment to providing excellent patient care.
A: Hiring younger, more energetic nurses may bring new perspectives and energy but does not guarantee the same level of experience and expertise as professional nurses.
B: Offering incentives like sign-on bonuses may attract new hires, but it does not address the underlying issues that lead to nurse turnover.
C: Hiring highly qualified advanced practice nurses is beneficial, but it does not address the importance of retaining all professional nurses within the organization.
A hospital standard states, "All intravenous (IV) sites must be rotated every 72 hours." The nurse who assesses and records variations from this standard is fulfilling which role of nursing?
A. Infection control
B. Quality management
C. Coordinator position
D. Counselor
Correct answer:
The correct answer is B: Quality management. The nurse assessing and recording variations from the hospital standard of rotating IV sites every 72 hours is fulfilling a quality management role by ensuring adherence to established protocols to maintain patient safety and prevent complications. Quality management involves monitoring and improving healthcare processes to enhance patient outcomes. In this scenario, the nurse's actions contribute to maintaining high standards of care.
Summary:
A: Infection control focuses on preventing and controlling the spread of infections, not specifically related to monitoring compliance with IV site rotation.
C: Coordinator position involves organizing and coordinating care, not directly related to assessing adherence to standards.
D: Counselor provides emotional support and counseling to patients, not related to monitoring and maintaining healthcare standards.
A young child is having abdominal pain, and the doctor informs the parents that a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan of the abdomen will be ordered. The doctor tells the child, "This CAT scan won't hurt you." The child is visibly upset because of a fear of cats. According to Mishel's uncertainty in illness theory, which stage of the framework is represented?
A. Stimuli frame
B. Appraisal stage
C. Initiation of coping mechanisms
D. Adaptation
Correct answer:
Step 1: The child is upset due to a fear of cats, leading to uncertainty about the situation.
Step 2: Mishel's uncertainty in illness theory focuses on how individuals respond to uncertainty in health-related situations.
Step 3: In this case, the child's fear of cats creates a misinterpretation of the term "CAT scan."
Step 4: This misinterpretation falls under the Stimuli frame stage, where the individual perceives the situation based on external cues.
Step 5: Other choices are incorrect as they do not directly address the initial misinterpretation caused by the fear of cats.
In summary, choice A is correct because it aligns with Mishel's theory by highlighting the initial stimuli (fear of cats) causing uncertainty in the child's understanding of the situation. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not address the specific misinterpretation of the term "CAT scan" due to the fear of cats.
The nurse is assessing a 33-year-old female patient who comes to the family practice clinic with complaints of excessive menstrual bleeding with bleeding between periods for the past 6 months. The health care provider has performed an endometrial biopsy and has discontinued the patient's oral contraceptives. What is the rationale for this treatment?
A. This condition is often associated with use of oral contraceptives and may subside upon discontinuation.
B. This condition is often associated with type 2 diabetes and must be controlled with a different type of birth control.
C. This condition is often associated with hyperplasia of the endometrial tissue, which is exacerbated with oral contraceptives.
D. This condition is often associated with ovarian cysts, which are exacerbated with the use of oral contraceptives.
Correct answer:
The correct rationale for discontinuing the oral contraceptives in a patient with excessive menstrual bleeding and bleeding between periods is that this condition is often associated with hyperplasia of the endometrial tissue, which can be exacerbated with the use of oral contraceptives. Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition characterized by the abnormal thickening of the lining of the uterus, which can lead to heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Estrogen contained in oral contraceptives can contribute to this thickening of the endometrial tissue, potentially worsening the patient's symptoms. By discontinuing the oral contraceptives, the provider aims to reduce the estrogen levels in the body, which may help alleviate the symptoms associated with endometrial hyperplasia. An endometrial biopsy is also important in this case to further investigate the underlying cause of the abnormal bleeding.
The nurse is assessing a 33-year-old female patient who comes to the family practice clinic with complaints of excessive menstrual bleeding with bleeding between periods for the past 6 months. The health care provider has performed an endometrial biopsy and has discontinued the patient's oral contraceptives. What is the rationale for this treatment?
A. This condition is often associated with use of oral contraceptives and may subside upon discontinuation.
B. This condition is often associated with type 2 diabetes and must be controlled with a different type of birth control.
C. This condition is often associated with hyperplasia of the endometrial tissue, which is exacerbated with oral contraceptives.
D. This condition is often associated with ovarian cysts, which are exacerbated with the use of oral contraceptives.
Correct answer:
The correct rationale for discontinuing the oral contraceptives in a patient with excessive menstrual bleeding and bleeding between periods is that this condition is often associated with hyperplasia of the endometrial tissue, which can be exacerbated with the use of oral contraceptives. Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition characterized by the abnormal thickening of the lining of the uterus, which can lead to heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Estrogen contained in oral contraceptives can contribute to this thickening of the endometrial tissue, potentially worsening the patient's symptoms. By discontinuing the oral contraceptives, the provider aims to reduce the estrogen levels in the body, which may help alleviate the symptoms associated with endometrial hyperplasia. An endometrial biopsy is also important in this case to further investigate the underlying cause of the abnormal bleeding.
The nurse is assessing a 33-year-old female patient who comes to the family practice clinic with complaints of excessive menstrual bleeding with bleeding between periods for the past 6 months. The health care provider has performed an endometrial biopsy and has discontinued the patient's oral contraceptives. What is the rationale for this treatment?
A. This condition is often associated with use of oral contraceptives and may subside upon discontinuation.
B. This condition is often associated with type 2 diabetes and must be controlled with a different type of birth control.
C. This condition is often associated with hyperplasia of the endometrial tissue, which is exacerbated with oral contraceptives.
D. This condition is often associated with ovarian cysts, which are exacerbated with the use of oral contraceptives.
Correct answer:
The correct rationale for discontinuing the oral contraceptives in a patient with excessive menstrual bleeding and bleeding between periods is that this condition is often associated with hyperplasia of the endometrial tissue, which can be exacerbated with the use of oral contraceptives. Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition characterized by the abnormal thickening of the lining of the uterus, which can lead to heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Estrogen contained in oral contraceptives can contribute to this thickening of the endometrial tissue, potentially worsening the patient's symptoms. By discontinuing the oral contraceptives, the provider aims to reduce the estrogen levels in the body, which may help alleviate the symptoms associated with endometrial hyperplasia. An endometrial biopsy is also important in this case to further investigate the underlying cause of the abnormal bleeding.
The nurse is assessing a 33-year-old female patient who comes to the family practice clinic with complaints of excessive menstrual bleeding with bleeding between periods for the past 6 months. The health care provider has performed an endometrial biopsy and has discontinued the patient's oral contraceptives. What is the rationale for this treatment?
A. This condition is often associated with use of oral contraceptives and may subside upon discontinuation.
B. This condition is often associated with type 2 diabetes and must be controlled with a different type of birth control.
C. This condition is often associated with hyperplasia of the endometrial tissue, which is exacerbated with oral contraceptives.
D. This condition is often associated with ovarian cysts, which are exacerbated with the use of oral contraceptives.
Correct answer:
The correct rationale for discontinuing the oral contraceptives in a patient with excessive menstrual bleeding and bleeding between periods is that this condition is often associated with hyperplasia of the endometrial tissue, which can be exacerbated with the use of oral contraceptives. Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition characterized by the abnormal thickening of the lining of the uterus, which can lead to heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Estrogen contained in oral contraceptives can contribute to this thickening of the endometrial tissue, potentially worsening the patient's symptoms. By discontinuing the oral contraceptives, the provider aims to reduce the estrogen levels in the body, which may help alleviate the symptoms associated with endometrial hyperplasia. An endometrial biopsy is also important in this case to further investigate the underlying cause of the abnormal bleeding.
A student nurse assigned to work with the charge nurse is given the opportunity to help revise the nursing assessment form. She receives several compliments from management and her nursing instructor for her creative suggestions. The student nurse enjoys the project and attention she is receiving and begins to prolong the conclusion of the project. Although she constantly adds new information, she filters this out slowly to others. The student nurse is subject to the time management obstacle of:
A. need for perfection.
B. fear of losing creativity.
C. unclear goals.
D. fear of completion.
Correct answer:
The correct answer is D: fear of completion. This is because the student nurse is prolonging the conclusion of the project despite constantly adding new information and filtering it out slowly to others. This behavior indicates a reluctance to finish the project, likely due to a fear of moving on to the next stage or fear of evaluation. The student nurse is enjoying the attention and positive feedback, leading to a delay in completing the task.
A: The need for perfection is not the primary obstacle in this scenario as the student nurse is not necessarily striving for perfection but rather avoiding completion.
B: Fear of losing creativity is not the main issue here as the student nurse is still adding new information, indicating creativity is not the concern.
C: Unclear goals do not seem to be the obstacle as the student nurse is actively engaged in the project and receiving positive feedback.
What is the initial step when addressing an ethically challenging situation?
A. Identify all those who are involved in the situation.
B. Review the overall situation to identify the core issues.
C. Gather all the relevant facts about the situations.
D. Determine what the ethical dilemma is.
Correct answer:
The correct answer is B: Review the overall situation to identify the core issues. This is the initial step when addressing an ethically challenging situation because it allows you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation before delving into specific details. By reviewing the overall situation, you can identify the key ethical issues at play and prioritize which aspects need to be addressed first. This step sets the foundation for developing an effective strategy to navigate the ethical dilemma.
Incorrect answers:
A: Identifying all those involved is important, but it should come after reviewing the situation.
C: Gathering facts is necessary, but reviewing the overall situation should precede this step.
D: Determining the ethical dilemma is crucial, but it is more effective to first review the entire situation to fully grasp the complexities before pinpointing the ethical issue.
An RN delegates to an experienced LPN/LVN the task of administering oral medications to a group of patients. The LPN/LVN accepts the assignment, and the RN knows that the LPN/LVN has had the training and has acquired the skills needed to complete the task. The RN then observes the LPN/LVN recording a patient's medication administration just before entering the patient's room. The priority intervention by the RN is to:
A. check the patient's drug packages to ensure that the correct drugs were given.
B. stop the LPN/LVN immediately and discuss the possible consequences of his actions in a nonjudgmental manner.
C. contact the nurse manager and ask that the LPN/LVN's license be suspended.
D. call the pharmacy and ask for replacement medications for the patients.
Correct answer:
The correct answer is B: stop the LPN/LVN immediately and discuss the possible consequences of his actions in a nonjudgmental manner. This is the priority intervention because it addresses the immediate issue of potentially incorrect documentation and allows for clarity and understanding between the RN and LPN/LVN. It promotes open communication and a chance to correct any errors that may have occurred.
Choice A is incorrect because checking the drug packages after the fact does not address the issue of potentially incorrect documentation and missed medications.
Choice C is incorrect as it is an extreme response that does not promote a collaborative and educational approach to resolving the situation.
Choice D is incorrect as calling the pharmacy for replacement medications is not necessary at this stage and does not address the immediate concern of potentially incorrect documentation.
RN exams ethics practice questions, set 9 for nursing students in the United States. Fifteen items. Five include answers and rationales in American English.
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