WGU D545 Section 1,2,3, & 4 Glossary OA Combined Set 140
Questions and correct answers 2026
1 A hospital's quality committee is reviewing a recent increase in central line-
associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). They decide to implement a
bundle of interventions. Which of the following approaches best exemplifies
the 'Plan-Do-Study-Act' (PDSA) model in this context?
A) Immediately implementing all interventions hospital-wide and monitoring
infection rates quarterly
B) Testing the bundle on one unit, evaluating results, then refining before
broader implementation
C) Conducting a root cause analysis after each infection to identify unique
causes D) Benchmarking against national CLABSI rates and setting a target
reduction goal
Answer: B
Rationale: PDSA cycles emphasize iterative testing of changes on a small scale,
studying results, and refining the intervention before wider implementation.
Option A lacks iterative refinement; C is reactive, not part of PDSA; D is
benchmarking, not a change methodology.
2 In a root cause analysis (RCA) of a medication error, the team identifies that
the nurse misread a look-alike label. According to human factors engineering,
which is the most effective system-level intervention?
A) Retraining the nurse on proper label reading
B) Adding a second nurse check before administration
C) Redesigning labels with distinct colors and tall-man lettering
D) Placing a warning sign near the medication storage
Answer: C
Rationale: Human factors engineering focuses on designing systems to prevent
errors, making it easier for humans to do the right thing. Label redesign
addresses the root cause by reducing the likelihood of misreading, whereas
training, double-checks, and warnings rely on human vigilance and are less
effective.
,3 A healthcare organization is implementing a high-reliability organization
(HRO) framework. Which of the following behaviors is most consistent with
the principle of 'deference to expertise'?
A) Following the chain of command even when a junior staff member has
critical information
B) Allowing the most experienced clinician to make all decisions during a
crisis C) Encouraging input from frontline staff regardless of rank when they
have relevant knowledge
D) Deferring to the hospital administration when making clinical safety decisions
Answer: C
Rationale: Deference to expertise means that decision-making authority should
go to the person with the most relevant knowledge and experience, regardless of
their position in the hierarchy. This principle is key in HROs to ensure the best
available expertise is used, especially during high-stakes situations.
4 A hospital is implementing a Just Culture model after a serious safety event.
Which of the following actions is most aligned with this approach?
A) Disciplining the nurse involved to deter future errors
B) Conducting a thorough investigation to determine if the behavior was
reckless or a simple mistake
C) Keeping the event confidential to protect the staff from blame
D) Implementing a no-blame policy that exempts all staff from accountability
Answer: B
Rationale: Just Culture balances accountability and learning by distinguishing
between human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior. It requires a fair
investigation to determine the appropriate response, neither punishing all errors
nor ignoring reckless actions.
5 A quality improvement team is analyzing hospital readmission rates. They
create a Pareto chart to prioritize the types of diagnoses contributing to
readmissions. What is the primary purpose of using a Pareto chart in this
context?
A) To display the trend of readmissions over time
B) To identify the vital few causes that account for the majority of readmissions
C) To show the distribution of readmissions across different units
,D) To compare readmission rates to the national benchmark
Answer: B
Rationale: A Pareto chart is based on the 80/20 rule and is used to focus
improvement efforts on the most significant factors. It ranks causes in
descending order and displays cumulative percentages, helping teams identify
the 'vital few' causes that have the greatest impact.
6 During a root cause analysis, the team constructs a fishbone diagram to
identify potential causes of surgical site infections. Which category would the
'sterile technique competency of the surgical technician' fall under?
A) Equipment
B) Environment
C) Manpower
D) Methods
Answer: C
Rationale: In a fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram, 'Manpower' (or People) refers to
human factors such as skills, training, and staffing. The competency of a surgical
technician is a human factor, not an issue of equipment, environment, or
methods.
7 A healthcare organization is evaluating its safety culture using the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Hospital Survey on Patient Safety
Culture. Which of the following results would indicate a strong safety culture?
A) Staff frequently feel pressured to work faster, even if it means skipping safety
steps
B) Staff are comfortable reporting errors without fear of punitive consequences
C) Management only discusses safety when an adverse event occurs
D) Staff believe that most errors are due to incompetent individuals
Answer: B
Rationale: A strong safety culture is characterized by open communication, non-
punitive response to errors, and organizational learning. When staff feel safe to
report errors, the organization can identify and address system weaknesses,
which is a hallmark of a positive safety culture.
, 8 A hospital is adopting the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs). For a patient
on anticoagulation therapy, which action is most directly aligned with the
NPSG to improve medication safety?
A) Using a falls risk assessment tool
B) Implementing a protocol for monitoring INR and adjusting warfarin doses
C) Educating the patient on signs of infection
D) Ensuring the patient's identification band is checked before every medication
Answer: B
Rationale: The NPSG on medication safety includes specific requirements for
anticoagulant therapy, such as using protocols, baseline testing, and ongoing
monitoring (e.g., INR) to reduce the risk of adverse events. Falls risk, infection
signs, and patient ID are important but not specific to anticoagulation safety.
9 A hospital is implementing a new electronic health record (EHR). To ensure
patient safety, which of the following is the most critical element of the
'meaningful use' criteria related to medication safety?
A) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) with clinical decision support (
CDS )
B) Secure messaging between providers and patients
C) Electronic prescribing of discharge medications
D) Patient access to their health information online
Answer: A
Rationale: CPOE with CDS is a core meaningful use requirement because it
reduces medication errors by ensuring orders are legible, checking for allergies
and interactions, and providing evidence-based alerts. The other options
improve engagement but are not the most critical for medication safety.
10 A healthcare team is conducting a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
for a new insulin administration protocol. Which of the following steps is
essential to quantify risk and prioritize actions?
A) Calculating a risk priority number (RPN) by multiplying severity,
occurrence, and detection scores
B) Reviewing past incident reports of insulin errors
C) Brainstorming a list of potential failure modes
Questions and correct answers 2026
1 A hospital's quality committee is reviewing a recent increase in central line-
associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). They decide to implement a
bundle of interventions. Which of the following approaches best exemplifies
the 'Plan-Do-Study-Act' (PDSA) model in this context?
A) Immediately implementing all interventions hospital-wide and monitoring
infection rates quarterly
B) Testing the bundle on one unit, evaluating results, then refining before
broader implementation
C) Conducting a root cause analysis after each infection to identify unique
causes D) Benchmarking against national CLABSI rates and setting a target
reduction goal
Answer: B
Rationale: PDSA cycles emphasize iterative testing of changes on a small scale,
studying results, and refining the intervention before wider implementation.
Option A lacks iterative refinement; C is reactive, not part of PDSA; D is
benchmarking, not a change methodology.
2 In a root cause analysis (RCA) of a medication error, the team identifies that
the nurse misread a look-alike label. According to human factors engineering,
which is the most effective system-level intervention?
A) Retraining the nurse on proper label reading
B) Adding a second nurse check before administration
C) Redesigning labels with distinct colors and tall-man lettering
D) Placing a warning sign near the medication storage
Answer: C
Rationale: Human factors engineering focuses on designing systems to prevent
errors, making it easier for humans to do the right thing. Label redesign
addresses the root cause by reducing the likelihood of misreading, whereas
training, double-checks, and warnings rely on human vigilance and are less
effective.
,3 A healthcare organization is implementing a high-reliability organization
(HRO) framework. Which of the following behaviors is most consistent with
the principle of 'deference to expertise'?
A) Following the chain of command even when a junior staff member has
critical information
B) Allowing the most experienced clinician to make all decisions during a
crisis C) Encouraging input from frontline staff regardless of rank when they
have relevant knowledge
D) Deferring to the hospital administration when making clinical safety decisions
Answer: C
Rationale: Deference to expertise means that decision-making authority should
go to the person with the most relevant knowledge and experience, regardless of
their position in the hierarchy. This principle is key in HROs to ensure the best
available expertise is used, especially during high-stakes situations.
4 A hospital is implementing a Just Culture model after a serious safety event.
Which of the following actions is most aligned with this approach?
A) Disciplining the nurse involved to deter future errors
B) Conducting a thorough investigation to determine if the behavior was
reckless or a simple mistake
C) Keeping the event confidential to protect the staff from blame
D) Implementing a no-blame policy that exempts all staff from accountability
Answer: B
Rationale: Just Culture balances accountability and learning by distinguishing
between human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior. It requires a fair
investigation to determine the appropriate response, neither punishing all errors
nor ignoring reckless actions.
5 A quality improvement team is analyzing hospital readmission rates. They
create a Pareto chart to prioritize the types of diagnoses contributing to
readmissions. What is the primary purpose of using a Pareto chart in this
context?
A) To display the trend of readmissions over time
B) To identify the vital few causes that account for the majority of readmissions
C) To show the distribution of readmissions across different units
,D) To compare readmission rates to the national benchmark
Answer: B
Rationale: A Pareto chart is based on the 80/20 rule and is used to focus
improvement efforts on the most significant factors. It ranks causes in
descending order and displays cumulative percentages, helping teams identify
the 'vital few' causes that have the greatest impact.
6 During a root cause analysis, the team constructs a fishbone diagram to
identify potential causes of surgical site infections. Which category would the
'sterile technique competency of the surgical technician' fall under?
A) Equipment
B) Environment
C) Manpower
D) Methods
Answer: C
Rationale: In a fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram, 'Manpower' (or People) refers to
human factors such as skills, training, and staffing. The competency of a surgical
technician is a human factor, not an issue of equipment, environment, or
methods.
7 A healthcare organization is evaluating its safety culture using the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Hospital Survey on Patient Safety
Culture. Which of the following results would indicate a strong safety culture?
A) Staff frequently feel pressured to work faster, even if it means skipping safety
steps
B) Staff are comfortable reporting errors without fear of punitive consequences
C) Management only discusses safety when an adverse event occurs
D) Staff believe that most errors are due to incompetent individuals
Answer: B
Rationale: A strong safety culture is characterized by open communication, non-
punitive response to errors, and organizational learning. When staff feel safe to
report errors, the organization can identify and address system weaknesses,
which is a hallmark of a positive safety culture.
, 8 A hospital is adopting the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs). For a patient
on anticoagulation therapy, which action is most directly aligned with the
NPSG to improve medication safety?
A) Using a falls risk assessment tool
B) Implementing a protocol for monitoring INR and adjusting warfarin doses
C) Educating the patient on signs of infection
D) Ensuring the patient's identification band is checked before every medication
Answer: B
Rationale: The NPSG on medication safety includes specific requirements for
anticoagulant therapy, such as using protocols, baseline testing, and ongoing
monitoring (e.g., INR) to reduce the risk of adverse events. Falls risk, infection
signs, and patient ID are important but not specific to anticoagulation safety.
9 A hospital is implementing a new electronic health record (EHR). To ensure
patient safety, which of the following is the most critical element of the
'meaningful use' criteria related to medication safety?
A) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) with clinical decision support (
CDS )
B) Secure messaging between providers and patients
C) Electronic prescribing of discharge medications
D) Patient access to their health information online
Answer: A
Rationale: CPOE with CDS is a core meaningful use requirement because it
reduces medication errors by ensuring orders are legible, checking for allergies
and interactions, and providing evidence-based alerts. The other options
improve engagement but are not the most critical for medication safety.
10 A healthcare team is conducting a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
for a new insulin administration protocol. Which of the following steps is
essential to quantify risk and prioritize actions?
A) Calculating a risk priority number (RPN) by multiplying severity,
occurrence, and detection scores
B) Reviewing past incident reports of insulin errors
C) Brainstorming a list of potential failure modes
