Stem: Which statement best captures the ANA’s definition of
the scope of nursing practice?
A. Tasks that any healthcare worker may perform under
supervision.
B. Services a licensed nurse is prepared and authorized to
perform based on education, experience, and regulation.
C. A fixed list of procedures only performed in acute care
settings.
D. Activities limited to direct patient care and excluding
advocacy or education.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): The ANA defines scope of nursing practice as
services a licensed nurse is competent and authorized to
perform, influenced by education, experience, role, and
regulation. This statement aligns with the ANA’s “who,
what, where, when, why, how” framing. ANA
• A: Incorrect — scope is specific to nursing competence and
licensure, not tasks for any healthcare worker.
• C: Incorrect — scope is not a fixed list nor limited to acute
care; it is broader and evolves with practice.
• D: Incorrect — scope includes advocacy, education, and
other roles beyond direct care.
,Teaching Point: Scope = what nurses are educated, licensed,
and competent to do.
2.
Chapter 1 — Section: Scope of Nursing Practice — Title:
Breadth of Practice
Stem: The depth and breadth of a registered nurse’s
engagement in the scope of nursing practice are primarily
determined by:
A. The employer’s preference alone.
B. The nurse’s education, experience, role, and the population
served.
C. National job descriptions that are identical across settings.
D. The patient’s insurance coverage.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): ANA notes that how broadly a nurse practices
depends on education, experience, role, and population
served — not solely employer policy. ANA
• A: Incorrect — employer policy matters but does not solely
determine practice breadth.
• C: Incorrect — there are no identical national job
descriptions; practice varies by context.
, • D: Incorrect — insurance may influence services but is not
the primary determinant of a nurse’s scope.
Teaching Point: Education and experience shape professional
scope and responsibilities.
3.
Chapter 1 — Section: Scope of Nursing Practice — Title:
Nursing’s Social Contract
Stem: Which obligation is central to nursing’s social contract
with society as described by ANA?
A. To maximize hospital revenue.
B. To provide compassionate, evidence-based care and
advocate for public health.
C. To defer all clinical decisions to physicians.
D. To avoid involvement in public policy.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): The ANA emphasizes nursing’s obligation to
society to protect, promote, and optimize health, and to
advocate for public health and ethical care. ANA+1
• A: Incorrect — financial objectives are not part of nursing’s
social contract.
• C: Incorrect — nurses exercise independent judgment and
collaborate, not automatically defer.