NURSING NOW
TODAY'S ISSUES, TOMORROW'S
TRENDS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)JOSEPH CATALANO
TEST BANK
1) Professional autonomy
Reference: Unit 1 — The Evolution of Nursing — The
Development of a Profession
Stem:
A staff nurse is assigned to care for a patient whose family
insists on a care plan that conflicts with the nurse’s clinical
judgment. The nurse wants to respond in a way that reflects
professional nursing practice, not simple task completion.
Which action best demonstrates nursing autonomy?
,A. Follow the family’s preference to avoid conflict
B. Ask the physician to make the decision without nurse input
C. Use clinical judgment to recommend the most appropriate
nursing action
D. Delay action until the charge nurse provides instructions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale — Correct Answer:
Using clinical judgment to recommend the most appropriate
nursing action reflects autonomy and professional
accountability. Nurses do not simply carry out orders; they
contribute independent judgment within scope. This is a
hallmark of a profession rather than an occupation.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
A. Yielding to family preference without using clinical judgment
weakens professional accountability.
B. Deferring all decision-making to the physician ignores the
nurse’s independent role.
D. Waiting unnecessarily for instructions suggests passivity
rather than autonomous practice.
Teaching Point:
Autonomy means using nursing judgment within scope of
practice.
Citation:
Catalano, J. (2024). Nursing Now: Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s
Trends (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2) Accountability
Reference: Unit 1 — The Evolution of Nursing — The
Development of a Profession
Stem:
A nurse notices that a medication was administered 30 minutes
late because of a unit workflow issue. The nurse documents the
delay and reports it during shift handoff. Which professional
principle is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Loyalty to coworkers
B. Accountability for practice
C. Delegation to assistive personnel
D. Conflict avoidance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct Answer:
Accountability requires nurses to take responsibility for actions,
omissions, and documentation. Reporting the delay and
accurately documenting it supports safe practice and
professional transparency. This behavior is essential to
professional nursing.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
A. Loyalty alone does not address responsibility for care
delivery.
C. Delegation is not the issue in this scenario.
, D. Avoiding the issue would undermine safety and
professionalism.
Teaching Point:
Accountability requires ownership of nursing actions and
outcomes.
Citation:
Catalano, J. (2024). Nursing Now: Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s
Trends (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Characteristics of a profession
Reference: Unit 1 — The Evolution of Nursing — The
Development of a Profession
Stem:
A nursing student asks why nursing is considered a profession
rather than just a job. The instructor explains that professions
share several distinguishing characteristics. Which feature most
strongly supports nursing as a profession?
A. Dependence on verbal instructions from others
B. Use of a specialized body of knowledge
C. Preference for informal practice standards
D. Limited responsibility for outcomes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct Answer:
A specialized body of knowledge is a defining feature of a
TODAY'S ISSUES, TOMORROW'S
TRENDS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)JOSEPH CATALANO
TEST BANK
1) Professional autonomy
Reference: Unit 1 — The Evolution of Nursing — The
Development of a Profession
Stem:
A staff nurse is assigned to care for a patient whose family
insists on a care plan that conflicts with the nurse’s clinical
judgment. The nurse wants to respond in a way that reflects
professional nursing practice, not simple task completion.
Which action best demonstrates nursing autonomy?
,A. Follow the family’s preference to avoid conflict
B. Ask the physician to make the decision without nurse input
C. Use clinical judgment to recommend the most appropriate
nursing action
D. Delay action until the charge nurse provides instructions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale — Correct Answer:
Using clinical judgment to recommend the most appropriate
nursing action reflects autonomy and professional
accountability. Nurses do not simply carry out orders; they
contribute independent judgment within scope. This is a
hallmark of a profession rather than an occupation.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
A. Yielding to family preference without using clinical judgment
weakens professional accountability.
B. Deferring all decision-making to the physician ignores the
nurse’s independent role.
D. Waiting unnecessarily for instructions suggests passivity
rather than autonomous practice.
Teaching Point:
Autonomy means using nursing judgment within scope of
practice.
Citation:
Catalano, J. (2024). Nursing Now: Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s
Trends (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2) Accountability
Reference: Unit 1 — The Evolution of Nursing — The
Development of a Profession
Stem:
A nurse notices that a medication was administered 30 minutes
late because of a unit workflow issue. The nurse documents the
delay and reports it during shift handoff. Which professional
principle is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Loyalty to coworkers
B. Accountability for practice
C. Delegation to assistive personnel
D. Conflict avoidance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct Answer:
Accountability requires nurses to take responsibility for actions,
omissions, and documentation. Reporting the delay and
accurately documenting it supports safe practice and
professional transparency. This behavior is essential to
professional nursing.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
A. Loyalty alone does not address responsibility for care
delivery.
C. Delegation is not the issue in this scenario.
, D. Avoiding the issue would undermine safety and
professionalism.
Teaching Point:
Accountability requires ownership of nursing actions and
outcomes.
Citation:
Catalano, J. (2024). Nursing Now: Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s
Trends (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Characteristics of a profession
Reference: Unit 1 — The Evolution of Nursing — The
Development of a Profession
Stem:
A nursing student asks why nursing is considered a profession
rather than just a job. The instructor explains that professions
share several distinguishing characteristics. Which feature most
strongly supports nursing as a profession?
A. Dependence on verbal instructions from others
B. Use of a specialized body of knowledge
C. Preference for informal practice standards
D. Limited responsibility for outcomes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct Answer:
A specialized body of knowledge is a defining feature of a
