ATI Leadership Exam 8 Study Guide: Healthcare Policy 2026
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. Which regulatory body is primarily responsible for enforcing safety standards
in the workplace to protect healthcare workers?
A. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
B. The Joint Commission (TJC)
C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Answer: D
Rationale: OSHA is a federal agency that ensures safe and healthful working conditions by
setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, and education.
2. A nurse is reviewing the Nurse Practice Act of their state. Which of the
following is a primary purpose of this legislation?
A. To establish national standards for nursing education
B. To define the scope of nursing practice within the state
C. To determine the salaries of registered nurses in various settings
D. To manage the hospital’s internal policy and procedures
Answer: B
Rationale: The Nurse Practice Act is state legislation that defines the scope of practice for
nurses and protects the public by setting requirements for licensure.
,3. Under the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA), what must a healthcare
facility provide to all adult patients upon admission?
A. A copy of their medical records
B. A mandatory life insurance policy
C. Written information regarding their right to make healthcare decisions
D. A list of all available healthcare providers in the area
Answer: C
Rationale: The PSDA requires healthcare facilities to inform patients of their right to
accept or refuse medical treatment and their right to formulate advanced directives.
4. Which healthcare financing system is primarily funded by federal and state
governments to assist low-income individuals?
A. Medicaid
B. Medicare
C. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
D. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Answer: A
Rationale: Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for
some people with limited income and resources.
5. What is the main goal of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
(EMTALA)?
A. To prevent ‘patient dumping’ by requiring hospitals to stabilize patients regardless of ability to pay
B. To provide free healthcare to all citizens
C. To regulate the hours worked by emergency room physicians
D. To mandate the use of electronic health records in emergency departments
Answer: A
, Rationale: EMTALA ensures public access to emergency services regardless of ability to
pay, specifically preventing hospitals from transferring unstable patients due to lack of
insurance.
6. Which part of Medicare covers physician services, outpatient care, and some
preventative services?
A. Part A
B. Part C
C. Part B
D. Part D
Answer: C
Rationale: Medicare Part B covers medically necessary services like doctors’ services and
outpatient care, while Part A covers hospital stays.
7. A nurse identifies a ‘sentinel event’ in the hospital. Which action is the
priority according to healthcare policy standards?
A. Inform the media immediately
B. Ignore the event if no harm was done
C. Terminate the employee involved
D. Conduct a Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Answer: D
Rationale: A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious
physical or psychological injury. The standard response is to conduct a Root Cause Analysis
to prevent future occurrences.
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. Which regulatory body is primarily responsible for enforcing safety standards
in the workplace to protect healthcare workers?
A. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
B. The Joint Commission (TJC)
C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Answer: D
Rationale: OSHA is a federal agency that ensures safe and healthful working conditions by
setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, and education.
2. A nurse is reviewing the Nurse Practice Act of their state. Which of the
following is a primary purpose of this legislation?
A. To establish national standards for nursing education
B. To define the scope of nursing practice within the state
C. To determine the salaries of registered nurses in various settings
D. To manage the hospital’s internal policy and procedures
Answer: B
Rationale: The Nurse Practice Act is state legislation that defines the scope of practice for
nurses and protects the public by setting requirements for licensure.
,3. Under the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA), what must a healthcare
facility provide to all adult patients upon admission?
A. A copy of their medical records
B. A mandatory life insurance policy
C. Written information regarding their right to make healthcare decisions
D. A list of all available healthcare providers in the area
Answer: C
Rationale: The PSDA requires healthcare facilities to inform patients of their right to
accept or refuse medical treatment and their right to formulate advanced directives.
4. Which healthcare financing system is primarily funded by federal and state
governments to assist low-income individuals?
A. Medicaid
B. Medicare
C. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
D. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Answer: A
Rationale: Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for
some people with limited income and resources.
5. What is the main goal of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
(EMTALA)?
A. To prevent ‘patient dumping’ by requiring hospitals to stabilize patients regardless of ability to pay
B. To provide free healthcare to all citizens
C. To regulate the hours worked by emergency room physicians
D. To mandate the use of electronic health records in emergency departments
Answer: A
, Rationale: EMTALA ensures public access to emergency services regardless of ability to
pay, specifically preventing hospitals from transferring unstable patients due to lack of
insurance.
6. Which part of Medicare covers physician services, outpatient care, and some
preventative services?
A. Part A
B. Part C
C. Part B
D. Part D
Answer: C
Rationale: Medicare Part B covers medically necessary services like doctors’ services and
outpatient care, while Part A covers hospital stays.
7. A nurse identifies a ‘sentinel event’ in the hospital. Which action is the
priority according to healthcare policy standards?
A. Inform the media immediately
B. Ignore the event if no harm was done
C. Terminate the employee involved
D. Conduct a Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Answer: D
Rationale: A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious
physical or psychological injury. The standard response is to conduct a Root Cause Analysis
to prevent future occurrences.
