,Chapter 1 — Nursing as a Profession
Key Concept: Professional identity
ANA Standard(s): Professional Practice (Accountability,
Ethics)
Nursing Process: Assessment
Stem: Which statement best describes professional nursing
as distinguished from other health occupations?
Options:
A. Nursing focuses primarily on diagnosing and prescribing
medical treatments.
B. Nursing integrates scientific knowledge with
compassionate, patient-centered care.
C. Nursing is limited to bedside tasks delegated by
physicians.
D. Nursing solely follows standardized hospital protocols
without independent judgment.
Correct Answer: B — integrates scientific knowledge with
compassionate, patient-centered care
Rationale:
Correct (2–3 sentences): Nursing combines evidence-
based scientific knowledge with caring, holistic practice to
address physical, emotional, and social needs of patients
(Fundamentals of Nursing, 12th Ed., Ch. 1). This dual focus
,underpins professional identity and clinical judgment. ANA
Standard: Provision of compassionate, patient-centered
care.
A (incorrect): Physicians primarily diagnose and prescribe;
nurses collaborate but do not focus primarily on
diagnosis/prescribing.
B (incorrect): (Correct option already stated.)
C (incorrect): Nursing includes autonomous assessment
and interventions, not only delegated tasks.
D (incorrect): Nurses exercise clinical judgment; they do
not merely follow protocols without independent decision-
making.
Teaching Point: Nursing combines science and compassion
to guide autonomous, patient-centered care.
Question /stem
Chapter 1 — Nursing as a Profession
Key Concept: Accountability & autonomy
ANA Standard(s): Accountability; Professional Practice
Nursing Process: Implementation
Stem: A nurse demonstrates professional accountability
when they:
Options:
A. Complete only assigned tasks and avoid asking clarifying
questions.
B. Accept responsibility for the outcomes of nursing
, interventions and report errors.
C. Refer all clinical decisions to the supervising physician.
D. Limit documentation to positive findings only.
Correct Answer: B — accept responsibility for outcomes
and report errors
Rationale:
Correct (2–3 sentences): Professional accountability
requires nurses to assume responsibility for their actions,
monitor outcomes, and report mistakes to protect patients
and improve care (Fundamentals of Nursing, 12th Ed., Ch.
1). Reporting errors supports safety and professional
standards. ANA Standard: Ethics/Accountability; Nursing
Process: Implementation.
A (incorrect): Avoiding clarification risks unsafe care and is
not accountable practice.
C (incorrect): While collaborating is important, nurses
retain responsibility for nursing decisions and actions.
D (incorrect): Accurate documentation — both positive
and negative findings — is required for safe, ethical
practice.
Teaching Point: Accountability includes owning actions,
monitoring outcomes, and reporting errors.
Question /stem
Chapter 1 — Historical Influences
Key Concept: Florence Nightingale’s legacy
Key Concept: Professional identity
ANA Standard(s): Professional Practice (Accountability,
Ethics)
Nursing Process: Assessment
Stem: Which statement best describes professional nursing
as distinguished from other health occupations?
Options:
A. Nursing focuses primarily on diagnosing and prescribing
medical treatments.
B. Nursing integrates scientific knowledge with
compassionate, patient-centered care.
C. Nursing is limited to bedside tasks delegated by
physicians.
D. Nursing solely follows standardized hospital protocols
without independent judgment.
Correct Answer: B — integrates scientific knowledge with
compassionate, patient-centered care
Rationale:
Correct (2–3 sentences): Nursing combines evidence-
based scientific knowledge with caring, holistic practice to
address physical, emotional, and social needs of patients
(Fundamentals of Nursing, 12th Ed., Ch. 1). This dual focus
,underpins professional identity and clinical judgment. ANA
Standard: Provision of compassionate, patient-centered
care.
A (incorrect): Physicians primarily diagnose and prescribe;
nurses collaborate but do not focus primarily on
diagnosis/prescribing.
B (incorrect): (Correct option already stated.)
C (incorrect): Nursing includes autonomous assessment
and interventions, not only delegated tasks.
D (incorrect): Nurses exercise clinical judgment; they do
not merely follow protocols without independent decision-
making.
Teaching Point: Nursing combines science and compassion
to guide autonomous, patient-centered care.
Question /stem
Chapter 1 — Nursing as a Profession
Key Concept: Accountability & autonomy
ANA Standard(s): Accountability; Professional Practice
Nursing Process: Implementation
Stem: A nurse demonstrates professional accountability
when they:
Options:
A. Complete only assigned tasks and avoid asking clarifying
questions.
B. Accept responsibility for the outcomes of nursing
, interventions and report errors.
C. Refer all clinical decisions to the supervising physician.
D. Limit documentation to positive findings only.
Correct Answer: B — accept responsibility for outcomes
and report errors
Rationale:
Correct (2–3 sentences): Professional accountability
requires nurses to assume responsibility for their actions,
monitor outcomes, and report mistakes to protect patients
and improve care (Fundamentals of Nursing, 12th Ed., Ch.
1). Reporting errors supports safety and professional
standards. ANA Standard: Ethics/Accountability; Nursing
Process: Implementation.
A (incorrect): Avoiding clarification risks unsafe care and is
not accountable practice.
C (incorrect): While collaborating is important, nurses
retain responsibility for nursing decisions and actions.
D (incorrect): Accurate documentation — both positive
and negative findings — is required for safe, ethical
practice.
Teaching Point: Accountability includes owning actions,
monitoring outcomes, and reporting errors.
Question /stem
Chapter 1 — Historical Influences
Key Concept: Florence Nightingale’s legacy
