NURS 3103 Issues in Nursing Novice

*The nurse should understand the effects of internal and external variables to plan and deliver individualized care. Which variable is an internal variable?*

*Emotional factors* *Emotional factors are internal variables. Family practices, cultural background and socioeconomic factors are external variables.

*While obtaining the vital signs of a client, the nurse finds that the body temperature of the client is 98.6 °F. The nurse concludes that the client is experiencing what?*

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*A pharmacy technician arrives on the nursing unit to deliver opioids and, following hospital protocol, asks the nurse to receive the medications. The nurse is assisting a confused and unsteady client back to the client's room. How should the nurse respond to the technician?*

*"I can't receive them right now. Please wait a few minutes or come back." *The transfer of controlled substances from one authorized person to another must occur according to protocol. In this situation the controlled substance must be returned to the pharmacy and delivered at a later time. The controlled substances cannot be left unattended. The nurse cannot delay the securing of controlled substances; if time is not available when the medications are delivered, they must be returned to the pharmacy. The unlicensed healthcare worker does not have the authority to receive controlled substances.

*A nursing student is listing the points that need to be remembered regarding the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) program. Which point listed by the nursing student is accurate?*

*"The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has a contract with the federal government."* *The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has a contract with the federal government. The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 protects the donor's estate from liability for injury or damage. The United Network for Organ Sharing gives priority to clients in their geographical area who need organs on an urgent basis. The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 provides civil and criminal immunity to the hospital and the healthcare provider.

*While visiting the hospital, the spouse of a client slips and falls on a recently washed floor in the hallway leading to the client's room. To meet the criteria of ethical practice, what action should the nurse who witnessed the occurrence take?*

*Initiate an agency incident report* *Health care agencies document the occurrence of any event out of the ordinary that results in or has the potential to harm a client, employee, or visitor. Falls by visitors are not required to be reported to state (provincial) health departments. However, incident reports are required to be presented to accrediting agencies for review when an agency is in the process of being accredited. Writing a brief description of the incident to be kept by the nurse manager is not a requirement of ethical practice. However, a nurse who is involved in an incident or is a witness to an incident should write an accurate description of the event, along with the names of individuals involved. This documentation should be kept by the nurse at home. Lawsuits may take several years before they come to trial, and personal notes may help the nurse recall the event. The documentation must accurately contain the same elements included in the formal incident report. Taking no action is irresponsible. All events out of the ordinary that result in or have the potential to harm a visitor should be documented in an agency incident report.

*The nurse is presenting information about hyperthermia to a group of nursing students. Which activities put a client at risk for this condition?*

*Performing strenuous activity in high humidity* *When a client performs strenuous activity in high humidity, it reduces heat loss from the body and results in hyperthermia. Activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, and hiking in cold weather may cause hypothermia because they occur in cold temperatures and may lower the body temperature.