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A nurse is faced with an ethical dilemma involving a patient. Which question would be most important for the nurse to ask first when engaging in the process of ethical decision making?
- A. What are my own feelings about the situation?
- B. What assumptions am I making that need more data?
- C. What do I know about the situation?
- D. What do I know about the patient?s values?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethical decision-making begins with gathering facts to understand the situation fully, making 'What do I know about the situation?' the most important first question. This ensures decisions are based on accurate information. While feelings, assumptions, and patient values are important, they are secondary to establishing the factual context.
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A nursing instructor is describing the impact of technology and electronic health records on psychiatric-mental health care. Which of the following would the instructor identify as a major challenge associated with it?
- A. Maintaining confidentiality
- B. Establishing educational models
- C. Decreasing fragmented care
- D. Defining professional standards more clearly
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Electronic health records (EHRs) improve access to patient data but pose significant challenges in maintaining confidentiality due to risks of unauthorized access, data breaches, or improper sharing. This is a well-documented concern in psychiatric care, where sensitive mental health information requires stringent protection. The other options are less directly related to EHR challenges: educational models and professional standards are broader issues, and EHRs typically reduce fragmented care.
When applying the biopsychosocial model for a patient with a mental health problem, the nurse addresses the psychological domain when assessing which of the following?
- A. Sleep patterns
- B. Feelings
- C. Family functioning
- D. Cultural groups
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The psychological domain of the biopsychosocial model focuses on emotions, thoughts, and mental states. Assessing feelings directly addresses this domain. Sleep patterns are primarily biological, while family functioning and cultural groups relate to the social domain.
A nurse is working on developing ways to meet the challenge of knowledge development. Which of the following would be most appropriate?
- A. Access new information through continuing education programs.
- B. Improve access to community psychiatric care for all populations.
- C. Reduce the burden of mental illness by fighting stigma.
- D. Provide culturally competent, high-quality nursing care.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Knowledge development in nursing involves staying updated with current evidence and practices. Continuing education programs directly address this by providing access to new research and clinical advancements. The other options focus on improving access, reducing stigma, or providing care, which are important but not directly tied to knowledge development.
A nurse is engaged in exercises to develop self-awareness. The nurse is using which tool?
- A. Interdisciplinary care
- B. Reflection
- C. Plan of care
- D. Clinical reasoning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reflection is the process of introspection and self-examination, which is essential for developing self-awareness in nursing. Interdisciplinary care involves collaboration, a plan of care is a structured approach to patient care, and clinical reasoning is a cognitive process for decision-making, none of which directly target self-awareness.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse is providing care to patients with a mental illness and is investigating factors related to the patient safety, delivery of care services, and cost effectiveness. The nurse is involved with which area of professional performance?
- A. Education
- B. Quality of practice
- C. Resource utilization
- D. Collaboration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Investigating patient safety, care delivery, and cost-effectiveness aligns with the quality of practice, a professional performance standard focused on improving care outcomes and efficiency. Education involves knowledge development, resource utilization focuses on efficient use of resources, and collaboration involves working with others, none of which fit as directly.