Chapter 18: Evaluating

The nurse participates in a quality assurance program and reviews evaluation data for the previous month. The data indicates a nursing plan was developed within 8 hours of admission for 97% of all admissions. The nurse recognizes this as which type of evaluation?

Process evaluation Quality assurance programs focus on three types of evaluation: structure, process, and outcome. Process evaluation focuses on the nature and sequence of activities carried out by nurses implementing the nursing process, such as the timing of nursing care plan creation. Outcome evaluation focuses on measurable changes in the health status of clients. Structure evaluation focuses on the environment in which care is provided. There is no "design evaluation."

A client reports to the nurse quitting smoking 6 months ago after being diagnosed with lung cancer. The nurse recognizes this change in behavior is which type of outcome?

Affective Affective outcomes pertain to changes in client values, beliefs, and attitudes and are more complex to evaluate. Changes in behaviors, such as the cessation of smoking or nutritional changes that lead to weight loss, are examples of affective outcomes. Cognitive outcomes involve an increase in client knowledge and are evaluated by asking the client to repeat information. Psychomotor outcomes describe the client's achievement of a new skill and are evaluated by having the client perform the skill. Physiologic outcomes result in physical changes and are evaluated through physical assessment.

A client comes into the clinic for a routine postoperative visit. While the nurse is assessing the level of pain, the client states that there is occasional discomfort but that pain levels have improved daily since returning home from the hospital. What should the nurse's response be regarding the client's plan of care?

Continue the plan of care. The nurse should continue the plan of care, as the client is progressing toward the ultimate outcome—the healing of the surgical site. There is no need to modify the plan, as the client is responding. The client is still having some pain, so it would not be appropriate to discontinue the plan of care. With the improvement in the client's pain, there is no need to increase pain medication; the nurse should just remind the client to take it when pain is uncomfortable.

Which action should the nurse take during the evaluation phase of the nursing process?

Document reassessment of pain after medication administration. The evaluation phase includes documenting a reassessment of pain following an intervention such as the administration of pain medication. Providing a client with an appointment and discontinuing an indwelling urinary catheter are interventions. Having a client give input into a plan of care is part of the planning process.

The focus of a hospital's current quality assurance program is a comparison of the health status of clients on admission and with that at the time of discharge. This form of quality assurance is characteristic of:

outcome evaluation. Outcome evaluation focuses on measurable changes in the health status of the client or the end results of nursing care. Whereas the proper environment for care and the right nursing actions are important aspects of quality care, the critical element in evaluating care is demonstrable changes in client health status. Process evaluation addresses performance expectations during the various stages of the nursing process. Structure evaluation addresses the environment of care. A nursing audit focuses on the review of records.

A large university hospital has commissioned a multidisciplinary group to review client records following discharge to evaluate client outcomes and the character and quality of nursing care that clients receive. Which type of evaluation process will take place?

A nursing audit A nursing audit is a method of evaluating nursing care that involves reviewing client records to assess the outcomes of nursing care, or the process by which these outcomes were achieved. Structure evaluation addresses the environment in which care is provided. A process evaluation addresses performance expectations during the various stages of the nursing process. A nursing audit may be performed during an accreditation inspection, but this is not the only time that it takes place.

For the second time this week, a nurse reports to the nurse manager failing to perform an ordered dressing change due to a lack of time. The nurse manager recognizes that the nurse normally is very punctual and known to provide good care for clients and that the unit census has been very high this week. However, the nurse manager knows that quality care must be provided and reports this occurrence. Which approach to quality assurance does this scenario represent?

Quality as opportunity Quality as opportunity is focused on finding opportunity to improve quality through teamwork and sharing in a nonthreatening environment. Mistakes are seen as a breakdown in the system rather than a lack of motivation or sign of incompetence in the nurse. Quality by inspection focuses on finding deficient workers and removing them. Quality by design and quality as promotion are not specific approaches to quality assurance.

The Joint Commission is conducting an accreditation visit at the hospital. What is the focus of the evaluation being conducted?

Quality assurance Accreditation by the Joint Commission evaluates quality assurance. Quality assurance is an externally driven process, demonstrating nursing excellence by meeting professional standards of care. Quality improvement is an internally driven, continuous process focusing on the processes of client care. Peer review is a process whereby individual nurses improve their professional performance through the evaluation of one staff member by another staff member on the same level of the hierarchy. Magnet status is awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recognizing health care organizations for their excellence in nursing.

Which is a legal responsibility of a nurse who has documented a nursing diagnosis related to a client's kidney failure?

Reporting signs and symptoms related to the client's kidney failure In producing a nursing diagnosis, a nurse creates accountability for detecting and reporting the signs and symptoms of a medical diagnosis. The nurse is not legally responsible for independently managing or coordinating the client's treatment. Choosing and performing interventions to resolve the condition is primarily within the purview of the physician.

Which action by the nurse is an example of peer review?

The nurse preceptor provides feedback to the new graduate nurse after 6 weeks of orientation. Peer review involves the evaluation of one staff member by another staff member on the same level in the hierarchy of the organization for the purpose of professional performance improvement. The nurse preceptor providing feedback to the new graduate nurse after 6 weeks of orientation is an example of peer review. The nurse manager and the UAP are not on the same level in the organization as the nurse. Consulting policies and procedures is not peer review.

Identifying the kind and amount of nursing services required is a possible solution for:

inadequate staffing. A possible solution for inadequate staffing is to identify the kind and amount of nursing services required. Using a team conference to develop a consistent plan of care is a possible solution for the client who fails to communicate needs. Educating the client to become an assertive health care consumer is a possible solution for the client who quietly accepts whatever care is delivered or not delivered. A possible solution for the nurse who is a candidate for burnout is to learn to give quality care during the designated work period. An initiative to focus on quality improvement is a possible solution to nurses frustrated with substandard care. Reviewing task assignments and work schedules is a possible solution to bored nurses.

Which action by the nurse is an example of peer review?

The nurse preceptor provides feedback to the new graduate nurse after 6 weeks of orientation. Peer review involves the evaluation of one staff member by another staff member on the same level in the hierarchy of the organization for the purpose of professional performance improvement. The nurse preceptor providing feedback to the new graduate nurse after 6 weeks of orientation is an example of peer review. The nurse manager and the UAP are not on the same level in the organization as the nurse. Consulting policies and procedures is not peer review.