Which nursing intervention is an independent function of the professional nurse?
- A. Administering oral analgesics
- B. Requesting diagnostic studies
- C. Teaching the patient perineal care
- D. Providing wound care to a surgical incision
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Administering oral analgesics is an independent function of the professional nurse. Independent nursing interventions are those that a nurse is licensed to initiate based on their knowledge and skills without needing an order from a healthcare provider. Nurses are educated and trained in medication administration, including oral analgesics, and can independently assess the need for and safely administer them within their scope of practice. While requesting diagnostic studies, teaching perineal care, and providing wound care are essential nursing interventions, they typically require some form of healthcare provider's order or supervision, making them more interdependent activities.
You may also like to solve these questions
The clinic nurse often cares for patients who are considering an abortion. Which responsibilities does this nurse have in regard to this issue? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Informing the patient about pro-life options
- B. Informing the patient about pro-choice support groups
- C. Being informed about abortion from a legal standpoint
- D. Being informed about abortion from an ethical standpoint
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: B. Informing the patient about pro-choice support groups: It is important for the clinic nurse to provide patients with information about different support resources available, including pro-choice support groups, to ensure they have access to a variety of perspectives and guidance.
Regarding advanced roles of nursing, which statement related to clinical practice is the most accurate?
- A. Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) can assist with childbirth care in the hospital setting.
- B. Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) provide primary care to obstetric patients.
- C. Neonatal nurse practitioners provide emergency care in the postbirth setting to high-risk infants.
- D. A certified nurse midwife (CNM) is not considered to be an advanced practice nurse.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most accurate statement related to clinical practice among the choices presented is that neonatal nurse practitioners provide emergency care in the postbirth setting to high-risk infants. Neonatal nurse practitioners specialize in the care of newborns, particularly those who are premature or have health complications. They work in settings such as neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and provide specialized care to meet the needs of high-risk infants. Neonatal nurse practitioners collaborate with neonatologists and other healthcare professionals to ensure that these fragile patients receive the necessary care and attention. This role involves advanced clinical skills and knowledge in the care of neonates, making it a crucial part of the healthcare team for newborns in need of specialized care.
What hormonal medication can be used in a premenopausal patient without the concurrent use of ovarian suppression?
- A. letrozole (Femara)
- B. exemestane (Aromasin)
- C. elacestrant (Orserdu)
- D. tamoxifen (Soltamox)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Tamoxifen is a hormonal medication that can be used in premenopausal patients without the concurrent use of ovarian suppression. It is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that acts by blocking estrogen receptors in breast tissue, thereby inhibiting the growth of hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells. Tamoxifen is commonly prescribed for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Unlike aromatase inhibitors (e.g., letrozole and exemestane) which require ovarian suppression in premenopausal patients, tamoxifen can be used as monotherapy in premenopausal patients due to its different mechanism of action. Elacestrant is a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) and not commonly used in clinical practice for this indication.
A medical-surgical nurse is asked to float to a women’s health unit to care for patients who are scheduled for therapeutic abortions. The nurse refuses to accept this assignment and expresses her personal beliefs as being incongruent with this medical practice. The nursing supervisor states that the unit is short-staffed and the nurse is familiar with caring for postoperative patients. In consideration of legal and ethical practices, can the nursing supervisor enforce this assignment?
- A. The staff nurse has the reNspoRnsibIilityG of Bac.ceCptinMg any assignment that is made U S N T O while working for a health care unit, so the nursing supervisor is within his or her rights to enforce this assignment.
- B. Because the unit is short-staffed, the staff nurse should accept the assignment to provide care by benefit of her or his experience to patients who need care.
- C. The staff nurse has expressed a legitimate concern based on his or her feelings; the nursing supervisor does not have the authority to enforce this assignment.
- D. The nursing supervisor should emphasize that this assignment requires care of a surgical patient for which the staff nurse is adequately trained and should therefore enforce the assignment.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this situation, the nurse's refusal to accept the assignment is based on personal beliefs that conflict with the nature of the medical practice (therapeutic abortions). According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, nurses have the right to refuse assignments that go against their personal, cultural, or religious beliefs. The nurse in this scenario has expressed a legitimate concern, and the nursing supervisor should respect the nurse's autonomy and should not enforce the assignment. It is essential to balance respecting the nurse's beliefs while also ensuring patient safety and adequate staffing levels.
A nurse working in a labor and birth unit is asked to take care of two high-risk patients in the labor and birth suite: a 34 weeks’ gestation 28-year-old gravida 3, para 2 in preterm labor and a 40-year-old gravida 1, para 0 who is severely preeclamptic. The nurse refuses this assignment telling the charge nurse that based on individual patient acuity, each patient should have one-on-one care. Which ethical principle is the nurse advocating?
- A. Accountability
- B. Beneficence
- C. Justice
- D. Fidelity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Justice is the ethical principle that involves fair and equal distribution of resources and care. In this scenario, the nurse is advocating for justice by asserting that each high-risk patient should receive one-on-one care based on their individual acuity levels. By refusing to take on both patients simultaneously, the nurse is advocating for fairness and equal opportunity for proper care and attention for each patient. This is in line with the principle of justice, which emphasizes the importance of treating all individuals fairly and providing them with the appropriate level of care they need.