ch 37 Flashcards
Which key element is included in the scope of professional practice identity?
a. Adhering to a fixed level of practice
b. Finding out ways to get done faster with assigned tasks as the key focus of care
c. Maintaining professional boundaries
d. Remaining at the level of practice upon graduating from nursing school
ANS: C
The scope of professional identity includes five attributes, doing, and being, acting ethically, flourishing and changing identities. By maintaining professional boundaries, the nurse would be acting ethically. Adhering to a fixed level of practice would not be prudent for it would not allow the nurse to achieve attributes. Finding out ways to get done faster with assigned tasks would be in opposition to the attribute of “being” as the key focus is to do the right thing even when no one is looking. A nurse who remains at the level of practice upon graduation from nursing school would be in opposition to the attribute of flourishing.
A new registered nurse asks the registered nurse (RN) preceptor what could be done to become more professional. What is the preceptor’s best response?
a. “Attend nursing educational meetings.”
b. “Listen to other nurses.”
c. “Read the agency newsletter.”
d. “Pass the licensing exam.”
ANS: A
Knowledge and commitment are essential components of professionalism. Attending nursing educational meetings can promote collaborative learning with peers and maintenance of competence in an ever-changing healthcare environment. Listening can promote professionalism, and communication is certainly a component of professionalism; however, there is also a social sense to listening, and without the educational/learning component, this is not the best answer. An agency newsletter could include information about professional opportunities, but it is not the best answer. The new nurse would have already passed the licensing exam, the legal requirement to be considered a nurse.
The qualities of leadership, clinical expertise and judgment, mentorship, and lifelong learning would best describe which type of nurse?
a. Administrator
b. Certified nurse specialist
c. Practitioner
d. Professional
ANS: D
The qualities listed are those of a professional nurse. The other options are all nurses who may have these qualities, but the focus of their title includes qualities not essential for the professional nurse. The administrator would have management qualities; the clinical nurse specialist would have specialty area knowledge; and the practitioner would meet legal requirements as a healthcare provider
The American Nurses Association (ANA) outlines expectations of nurse’s self-care habits in which type of documentation?
a. Nurse Practice Acts
b. Board of Nursing
c. Code of Ethics
d. Hospital Facility Protocols
ANS: C
The ANA focuses on the importance of nurses to develop their own personal self-care habits as part of their ethical code. This information is presented in the ANA Code of Ethics. Nurse Practice Acts define the scope of practice relative to the specific type of health professional. The Board of Nursing provides minimum competency requirements for specific types of health professionals and identifies licensing, academic and practice requirements. Hospital facilities provide policies and protocols related to members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Which nursing action best exemplifies clinical judgment?
a. A nurse after performing an assessment seeks out additional information related
to a finding.
b. A nurse documents finding in the medical record in a timely manner.
c. A nurse contacts the physician to provide the results of an imaging study for a
patient.
d. A nurse comforts a patient who is on hospice care.
ANS: A
Clinical judgment represents a comprehensive well thought out series of action whereby the nurse incorporates assessment data in the context of norms and values. The nurse seeking out additional information to clarify a finding is demonstrating clinical judgment. A nurse who is documenting assessment data in the patients’ medical record in a timely manner is being efficient. A nurse contacting the physician to provide results of an imaging test is demonstrating effective communication. A nurse comforting a patient who is on hospice care is demonstrating compassion.
Nursing demonstrates dedication to improving public health through which avenue?
a. Changing healthcare standards
b. Legal regulations
c. Scope of practice
d. Technology
ANS: C
Through the scope of practice, specialized knowledge, and code of ethics, the discipline of nursing has demonstrated its dedication to improving public health. The changing healthcare environment is one of the challenges to nursing, not an indicator of dedication. Legal regulations are generally promulgated by legislators rather than nurses to protect the public. A highly technological environment is considered a challenge to nursing rather than an indicator of dedication.
Components of a professional identity in nursing include which attributes? (Select all that apply.)
a. Doing
b. Being
c. Acting ethically
d. Flourishing
e. Culture
ANS: A, B, C, D
The scope of professional identity in nursing includes: doing, being, acting ethically, flourishing and changing identities. Cultural sensitivity is important to professional nursing; however, culture is an inherent quality of nurses and patients, not a component of the professional identity.
