Unit 2
The nurse is educating a new nurse about mass casualty events (disasters). Which statement by the new nurse indicates a need for further teaching? Select all that apply.
1. "An event is termed a mass casualty when it overwhelms local medical capabilities." 2. "Mass casualty events do not require an increase in the number of staff that are needed." 3. "A mass casualty event occurs only within the heath care facility and could endanger staff." 4. "A mass casualty event occurs if a fight between visitors occurs in the emergency department." 5. "Mass casualty events may require the collaboration of many local agencies to handle the situation." 2,3,4 Rationale: Mass casualty events, also known as disasters, overwhelm local medical capabilities and may require the collaboration of multiple agencies and health care facilities to handle the crises. This type of event can occur in the health care facility or outside of it. Fights in the emergency department are not termed mass casualty events but are agency security and local enforcement issues. Mass casualty events almost always require an increase in staffing to ensure safe patient care.
The nurse is attending an agency orientation meeting about the nursing model of practice implemented in the facility. The nurse is told that the nursing model is a team nursing approach. The nurse understands that which is a characteristic of this type of nursing model of practice?
1. A task approach method is used to provide care to clients. 2. Managed care concepts and tools are used when providing client care. 3. Nursing staff are led by the nurse when providing care to a group of clients. 4. A single registered nurse is responsible for providing nursing care to a group of clients. 3. Rationale: In team nursing, nursing personnel are led by the nurse when providing care to a group of clients. Option 1 identifies functional nursing. Option 2 identifies a component of case management. Option 4 identifies primary nursing.
The nurse finds the client lying on the floor. The nurse calls the registered nurse, who checks the client and then calls the nursing supervisor and the health care provider to inform them of the occurrence. The nurse completes the incident report for which purpose?
1. Providing clients with necessary stabilizing treatments 2. A method of promoting quality care and risk management 3. Determining the effectiveness of interventions in relation to outcomes 4. The appropriate method of reporting to local, state, and federal agencies. 2. Rationale: Proper documentation of unusual occurrences, incidents, accidents, and the nursing actions taken as a result of the occurrence are internal to the institution or agency. Documentation on the incident report allows the nurse and administration to review the quality of care and determine any potential risks present. Options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect.
The licensed practical nurse (LPN) enters a client's room and finds the client sitting on the floor. The LPN calls the registered nurse, who checks the client thoroughly and then assists the client back into bed. The LPN completes an incident report, and the nursing supervisor and health care provider (HCP) are notified of the incident. Which is the next nursing action regarding the incident?
1. Place the incident report in the client's chart. 2. Make a copy of the incident report for the HCP. 3. Document a complete entry in the client's record concerning the incident. 4. Document in the client's record that an incident report has been completed. 3. Rationale: The incident report is confidential and privileged information, and it should not be copied, placed in the chart, or have any reference made to it in the client's record. The incident report is not a substitute for a complete entry in the client's record concerning the incident.
An unconscious client, bleeding profusely, is brought to the emergency department after a serious accident. Surgery is required immediately to save the client's life. With regard to informed consent for the surgical procedure, which is the best action?
1. Call the nursing supervisor to initiate a court order for the surgical procedure. 2. Try calling the client's spouse to obtain telephone consent before the surgical procedure. 3. Ask the friend who accompanied the client to the emergency department to sign the consent form. 4. Transport the client to the operating department immediately, as required by the health care provider, without obtaining an informed consent. 4. Rationale: Generally there are only two instances in which the informed consent of an adult client is not needed. One instance is when an emergency is present and delaying treatment for the purpose of obtaining informed consent would result in injury or death to the client. The second instance is when the client waives the right to give informed consent. Options 1, 2, and 3 are inappropriate.
