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When planning a budget, the nurse manager knows that costs depend on and change in direct proportion to patient volume and activity. What type of costs are these?
- A. Variable costs
- B. Indirect costs
- C. Fixed costs
- D. Direct costs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Variable costs. Variable costs are costs that change in direct proportion to the level of activity or volume. In this scenario, as patient volume and activity increase or decrease, the costs will fluctuate accordingly. Indirect costs (B) are not directly tied to patient volume. Fixed costs (C) remain constant regardless of patient volume. Direct costs (D) are specific to the production of a good or service and are not necessarily impacted by patient volume.
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A healthcare professional is caring for a client who has a sodium level of 125 mEq/L (136 to 145 mEq/L). Which of the following findings should the healthcare professional expect?
- A. Positive Chvostek's sign
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Numbness of the extremities
- D. Abdominal cramping
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Abdominal cramping. A sodium level of 125 mEq/L indicates hyponatremia, which can lead to abdominal cramping due to electrolyte imbalance affecting muscle function. Chvostek's sign (choice A) is associated with hypocalcemia, not hyponatremia. Bradycardia (choice B) is more commonly seen in hyperkalemia. Numbness of the extremities (choice C) is a symptom of hypocalcemia or peripheral neuropathy, not specifically related to hyponatremia. In summary, the healthcare professional should expect abdominal cramping as a result of the low sodium level in this client.
One of the critical elements in interviewing is:
- A. Time management during the interview.
- B. Involving others in the interview process.
- C. Choosing the interview location.
- D. Developing an interview guide.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Developing an interview guide. This is critical because it helps structure the interview, ensuring all relevant topics are covered and consistency in questioning. It helps the interviewer stay focused and gather necessary information effectively. A: Time management is important but not a critical element. B: Involving others can be beneficial but not essential. C: Choosing the location is important for comfort but not as critical as having a structured guide.
Your values do not coincide with your colleagues. When you report for your shift on nights and staff are not responding to patient requests for pain medication, you, as the nurse responsible for collecting data about patient quality of care, should:
- A. Explain to the nurse manager that quality problems are because of staff apathy.
- B. Issue a memo to staff to assess patients and document their response to the pain medication.
- C. Explain to staff that improving quality is one of your annual goals and you expect them to follow through.
- D. Schedule meetings to engage with staff to monitor pain management.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because scheduling meetings to engage with staff to monitor pain management is the most effective approach to address the issue. This option promotes open communication, collaboration, and continuous monitoring to ensure patient needs are met. By engaging with staff, you can identify root causes of the problem, provide education or training if needed, and establish a plan for improvement.
Option A is incorrect as blaming staff apathy without further investigation is not constructive. Option B is also incorrect as issuing a memo may not address the underlying issues causing staff not to respond to patient requests. Option C is not as effective as scheduling meetings because simply expecting staff to follow through without addressing their concerns or providing support may not lead to sustainable improvements.
The healthcare provider is developing a critical pathway for congestive heart failure (CHF). Which components are essential to include? (Select ONE that does not apply.)
- A. Expected length of stay
- B. Assigned staff healthcare provider
- C. Patient outcomes
- D. Medical diagnosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the assigned staff healthcare provider is not an essential component in developing a critical pathway for congestive heart failure (CHF). The rationale is that the focus of a critical pathway is on standardizing the care process to improve outcomes and efficiency. Including specific assigned staff members may not be feasible due to staffing variations and may limit flexibility in care delivery. Expected length of stay (A) helps in planning resources, patient outcomes (C) are crucial for evaluating effectiveness, and medical diagnosis (D) guides treatment protocols. Therefore, choice B is not essential compared to the other components.
An RN knows that sometimes, when working through an ethical dilemma, the decision makers are unable to arrive at a mutually agreed upon decision. Which of the following is a reason why an agreement cannot be reached?
- A. One or more of the parties may be able to reconcile their values.
- B. The patient’s point of view is recognized as valuable.
- C. The dilemma involves two or more equally unpleasant choices.
- D. The institution is unable to honor the patient’s request.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because if the institution is unable to honor the patient's request, it can create a barrier to reaching an agreement in an ethical dilemma. If the institution cannot support the patient's wishes, it can lead to conflicting viewpoints and hinder consensus. In contrast, choices A, B, and C do not directly address the institutional aspect and are not as relevant to the primary reason for the inability to reach an agreement in this context. Choice A focuses on individual values, choice B emphasizes the patient's perspective, and choice C pertains to the nature of the dilemma itself rather than external factors like institutional limitations.