Chapter 1

The nurse is conducting a class for nursing assistants. One of the students asks the nurse why blood pressure, pulse, and temperature are called "vital signs." Which explanations would the nurse offer the student?

"Because significant deviation from normal is not compatible with life."

The nurse going back to school for nurse midwifery can trace education for nurse midwifery to which nursing leader?

Mary Breckinridge The nurse can trace education for nurse midwifery back to Mary Breckinridge, who established one of the first midwifery schools in the United States. Sojourner Truth and Lavinia Dock worked for the women's movement. Margaret Sanger was the founder of Planned Parenthood.

Attracting minorities to the profession of nursing is an important consideration for the future of nursing. Which key historical nursing figure set a precedent in this area?

Mary Elizabeth Mahoney Mary Elizabeth Mahoney set a precedent for minorities in the profession of nursing by becoming the first African American nurse in the United States. Nora Livingston established the first 3-year hospital training in North America. Mary Agnes Snively was a founder of the Canadian Nurses Society. Mary Ann Bickerdyke organized diet kitchens, laundries, and ambulance services.

A beginning nursing student asks the nursing instructor why nurses need to know so many laboratory values. What is the best response by the nurse?

Nurses need to know lab values to provide data for evaluation of client outcomes

A nurse incorporates the health promotion guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health document Healthy People 2010. Which disease/condition is a health indicator discussed in this document?

Obesity

The student nurse is changing the bed linens of a hospitalized patient. While placing the contaminated materials into the laundry bag, the outside of the bag is touched by the material. What should the student nurse do next?

Obtain another laundry bag and place the contaminated bag inside while in the patient's room.

What might a nurse need to do to ensure the continuation of his or her nursing license?

Obtain continuing education credits.

A nurse must possess several characteristics to be successful in this profession. Secondary to critical thinking skills, which is of great value?

Advocating for the client at all times

Which of the following actions should the nurse implement when working with a medically homeless client?

Encourage client to utilize the free healthcare clinic.

Which nurse is demonstrating a type of nursing whose roots go back to the ancient Greek times when temples were the center of nursing care?

The nurse conducting a blood pressure screening at a local church

During the reformation, which factors influenced the decline of nursing?

Women's subordination to men

The RN is working with hospital administrators to transform care at their facility. Which nursing competency will be critical for the nurse to utilize?

Work effectively in interdisciplinary team

A nurse is considering relocating to another state to practice nursing. Which is the most appropriate action by the nurse to ensure ability to practice in the new state?

applying for a reciprocal license in the new state

Which scenario is the best example of a nurse in the role of counselor?

A nurse allowing a crying client to verbalize fears of death

After hearing a presentation about the American Nurses Association (ANA), a nurse decides to join the organization based on the understanding that:

ANA aims at fostering high standards of nursing in the United States.

Which is an appropriately stated nursing intervention?

Ambulate 30 ft (9 m) twice a day with the assistance of a walker.

A registered nurse plans to return to the nursing profession after a long hiatus. Which statement about the trend in health care services would be most important for the nurse to keep in mind?

Clients enter the health care system acutely ill. These days, clients enter the health care system acutely ill. Hospital stays are much shorter, not longer. Nurses in the past relied on intuition to make decisions. Today, they have specific knowledge developed through research and evidence-based practice. The health care delivery system is more, not less, controversial now.

The new nursing graduate is concerned about some of the critical changes that will be occurring in nursing. What changes does the nurse anticipate will impact nursing care?

Difficulty for nurses to remain current in a rapidly changing medical and technology environment

The nurse is utilizing knowledge about a blood pressure medication's actions and side effects to determine whether or not to give a client, whose blood pressure is low, the prescribed blood pressure medication. What best describes the aspect of nursing demonstrated?

science of nursing . The science of nursing is the knowledge base for the care provided by the nurse. In this example, the nurse is using this knowledge base to decide how best to care for the client by giving or not giving the blood pressure medication. The art of nursing is the application of the knowledge. In this example, it would be demonstrated by the nurse actually giving or holding the medication. Quality improvement activities and the conduction of research influence the science and the art of nursing by helping build the body of knowledge that is the science of nursing.

The nurse is caring for a client who ascribes to the theory of animism. When attempting to explain this theory to other staff members, the nurse should state:

"Everything in nature is alive with invisible forces." The theory of animism attempts to explain the cause of mysterious changes in bodily functions. This theory is based on the belief that everything in nature is alive with invisible forces and endowed with power. Good spirits bring health; evil spirits bring sickness and death. In cultures that ascribe to animism, the roles of the physician and the nurse are separate and distinct. The physician is the medicine man who treats disease by chanting, inspiring fear, or opening the skull to release evil spirits (Dolan, Fitzpatrick, & Herrmann, 1983). The nurse usually is the mother who cares for her family during sickness by providing physical care and herbal remedies. Pets are not involved in the theory of animism.

A client asks an RN to prescribe a medication for pain. What is the best answer by the nurse?

"Only advanced practice registered nurses have prescriptive authority."

The nurse is providing education about reducing the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens during venipuncture. Which statements by a student indicates the need for additional education? Select all that apply.

"To reduce my chances of being stuck by a contaminated needle, I should recap the used needle promptly." "The only way to protect myself from hepatitis B infection is to observe standard precautions with every venipuncture." "I should always identify which patients have hepatitis B or HIV prior to any procedure that may expose me to their blood or body fluids." When performing venipuncture, observe standard precautions to limit exposure to bloodborne pathogens, especially hepatitis B and HIV. Be sure your hepatitis B vaccinations are current. To avoid needlestick injuries, dispose of needles in appropriate biohazard containers, do not attempt to recap needles, and utilize self-retracting safety needles when performing venipuncture.

Which organization has established standards that help the nurse determine which clinical actions fall under the scope of nursing practice?

American Nurses Association The National Council of State Boards of Nursing have the nurse practice acts which define state specific guidelines for nurses to practice. The National League for Nursing is a national organization for faculty nurses and leaders in nurse education. The International Council of Nurses is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations.

A nurse mentoring second-year nursing students from a community college plans clinical experiences for them. These students will most likely graduate in which time frame?

At the end of the year

The nurse is caring for a group of inpatient clients. Which action by the nurse best demonstrate the use of universal precautions?

Using universal precautions to protect the nurse from infection

The nurse is caring for a client on the acute care unit. Which actions created in the plan of care would be considered cognitive interventions? Select all that apply.

Educating the client regarding infection control procedures Providing feedback to the client after education of insulin injections

Which nursing actions demonstrate the aim of nursing to facilitate coping? Select all that apply.

Teaching a client and her family how to live with diabetes Assisting a client and his family to prepare for death Providing counseling for the family of a teenager with an eating disorder

Which explanation accurately differentiates the role of the registered nurse (RN) from that of the licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?

The LPN/LVN should work under the supervision of an RN.

What is the best example of a client centered approach to care

The nurse asks the client about health goals

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Standards of Professional Nursing Practice provides standard of care for all nurses. Which statement on the assessment of the nursing process is accurate?

The nurse collects comprehensive data pertinent to the client's health or situation.

The nurse is caring for a postoperative client. The health care provider has written a prescription for a pain medication, and the prescription gives a dosage range for the amount the nurse may give depending on the severity of the client's pain. This type of functioning within the health care team is called:

collaborative functioning.

Which nursing action best exemplifies the nurse's role in promoting health?

encouraging a group of junior high school students to engage in regular physical activity. Health promotion involves encouraging individuals to be proactive in taking measures to foster their well-being and maximize optimal functioning. Exercise is one of the most common and accessible activities that can help achieve this. Facilitating support groups promotes coping with an existing condition. Treating hypertension pharmacologically and removing secretions that can threaten oxygenation help to restore health and prevent illness.