A nurse is asked to perform a task that she believes is outside her scope of practice. What is the appropriate response to this issue?
- A. Contact the state board of nursing licensure to report the offense
- B. Review the state scope of practice standards for nurses
- C. Ask another nurse to perform the task to learn the procedure
- D. Contact the house supervisor to make the decision on whether the nurse should perform the task
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When faced with a task that a nurse believes may be beyond their scope of practice, it is essential to refer to the state's specific scope of practice standards for nurses. This step is crucial as these standards can vary between states, providing clarity on what tasks are permissible. By reviewing these standards, the nurse can determine if the task falls within their scope of practice. Contacting the state board of nursing licensure to report the offense (Choice A) is premature and should only be considered if there is a serious violation after reviewing the scope of practice. Asking another nurse to perform the task (Choice C) does not address the issue of clarifying the scope of practice. Contacting the house supervisor (Choice D) may be necessary if the nurse cannot determine the appropriateness of the task based on the scope of practice standards.
You may also like to solve these questions
Which of the following clients is most likely ready to be dismissed from
an inpatient care setting to home?
- A. A 65-year old male with urine output of 60cc in the past four hours
- B. A 2-month old female with a temperature of 100.6 rectally
- C. A 38-year old female who transitioned from IV TPN to full liquids six
hours ago - D. A 4-year old male with an oxygen saturation of 96% on room air
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Clients must meet a certain amount of set criteria before
they will be discharged from a healthcare facility. Although guidelines
may vary between locations, most healthcare facilities expect clients to have adequate oxygenation, nutrition, and elimination; and be free from fever, vomiting, and significant pain
Upon admission to the stroke care unit of a rehabilitation center, what is the primary action of the nurse?
- A. Collect and organize documents for the client's medical record
- B. Prepare the client's identification bracelet
- C. Identify pertinent health history data and current needs and limitations
- D. Gather the client's valuables and secure them in a locked container
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a client is admitted to a stroke care unit in a rehabilitation center, the nurse's initial priority is to assess the client. This assessment includes identifying relevant health history data that may impact the client's care. By recognizing the client's current needs and limitations, the nurse can develop a comprehensive understanding of the client's condition. This information is crucial for generating a nursing diagnosis and establishing appropriate care outcomes. While collecting and organizing documents for the medical record, preparing identification bracelets, and securing valuables are important tasks, they are not the primary actions that directly influence the client's immediate care upon admission.
At the beginning of the shift, a nurse receives report for her daily assignment. Which of the following situations should the nurse give first priority?
- A. A diabetic client with a blood glucose level of 195 mg/dL
- B. A family member of an elderly client who has questions
- C. A client with COPD with an oxygen saturation of 84%
- D. A client who requires assistance to use the bathroom
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When prioritizing the needs of clients, the nurse must begin with the unstable client or manage conditions that affect airway, breathing, or circulation first. The client with COPD has a condition that affects breathing and is exhibiting decreased oxygen saturation levels; therefore, this client should be the first priority. Option A, the diabetic client with a blood glucose level of 195 mg/dL, does not present an immediate threat to airway, breathing, or circulation. Option B, addressing questions from a family member, is important but can be addressed after addressing critical patient needs. Option D, assisting a client to use the bathroom, is a routine task that can be prioritized after addressing urgent medical needs.
A client asks a nurse, 'Do you think I should move back home after this procedure?' and the nurse responds by saying, 'Do you think you should move back home?' What type of therapeutic communication is the nurse representing?
- A. Observation
- B. Reflection
- C. Summarizing
- D. Validating
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse is demonstrating the therapeutic communication technique of reflection. In this scenario, the nurse is redirecting the question back to the client, encouraging them to explore their thoughts and feelings about the situation. Reflection involves restating a statement or question in a way that prompts the client to consider their own answers, fostering self-awareness and insight. Observation involves stating facts, summarizing involves condensing information, and validating involves confirming the client's feelings or experiences, none of which are demonstrated in this interaction.
Which example best describes a nurse who exhibits moral courage?
- A. A nurse feels angry when a parent refuses important treatment for his child.
- B. A nurse considers seeking help for depression when she feels she cannot meet the needs of her clients in the oncology unit.
- C. A nurse contacts a physician for further orders when he fails to order comfort measures for a client with a terminal illness.
- D. A nurse is frustrated when the laboratory is slow in responding to an order for a stat blood glucose.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Moral courage involves taking action to do what is right, even when there might be negative consequences. The nurse who contacted a physician for further orders acted as a client advocate to seek help, even though she may have faced consequences such as lost time, decreased productivity, or criticism from the physician. Choices A, B, and D do not directly involve advocating for a client's needs or challenging a situation that goes against ethical standards. Feeling angry, seeking help for personal issues, or being frustrated with work processes do not necessarily demonstrate moral courage in the context of nursing practice.