A Clinical Judgment Approach
4th Edition
• Author(s)Sharon Jensen; Ryan Smock
TEST BANK
Reference: Ch. 1, Section: The Nurse’s Role in Health
Assessment
Question Stem: A newly licensed RN is performing a
comprehensive health assessment on a 68-year-old patient
admitted for pneumonia. Which action best demonstrates the
RN’s role as a provider of care during this assessment?
A. Delegating the full head-to-toe assessment to an experienced
LPN.
B. Integrating the patient’s respiratory status and comorbidities
into differential diagnoses.
C. Documenting only abnormal findings and omitting normal
system findings to save time.
D. Scheduling all routine assessments to occur on the nurse’s
next shift.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct (B): Integrating clinical data (respiratory status,
comorbidities) into differential diagnoses reflects the RN’s
central role in assessment, clinical reasoning, and direct
patient care. This aligns with the provider-of-care role
described in the text.
• A: Delegating the full assessment to an LPN neglects RN
responsibility for comprehensive assessment and clinical
judgment; delegation should match scope and supervision.
• C: Omitting normal findings from documentation
compromises continuity and legal record; comprehensive
documentation includes both normal and abnormal data.
• D: Delaying necessary assessments risks missed problems;
timely assessment is an RN responsibility.
Teaching Point: RN assessment integrates data to form clinical
judgments.
Citation: Jensen & Smock, Nursing Health Assessment, 4th ed.,
Ch. 1, Section: The Nurse’s Role in Health Assessment.
2
Reference: Ch. 1, Section: Roles of the Professional Nurse —
Manager of Care
Question Stem: While supervising a care team on a medical
unit, which strategy best reflects the RN’s role as manager of
care during patient assessment activities?
,A. Assigning all assessments to newer staff to build their skills
without oversight.
B. Prioritizing assessments for patients based on acuity and
delegating appropriately.
C. Insisting the RN complete every assessment personally
regardless of workload.
D. Limiting communication about assessment findings to formal
chart entries only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Prioritizing assessments by acuity and
delegating tasks appropriately demonstrates managerial
oversight, resource allocation, and ensures patient safety.
• A: Assigning without supervision risks unsafe practice and
fails to provide necessary guidance.
• C: Expecting the RN to do all assessments may be
impractical and does not use team skills effectively.
• D: Restricting communication to chart entries ignores real-
time handoff importance for safe care.
Teaching Point: Managers prioritize acuity and supervise
delegated assessments.
Citation: Jensen & Smock, Ch. 1, Section: Roles of the
Professional Nurse — Manager of Care.
, 3
Reference: Ch. 1, Section: Member of a Profession
Question Stem: A nurse educator is teaching professionalism in
assessment. Which behavior best demonstrates the RN as a
member of the profession?
A. Refusing to alter assessment techniques learned in school.
B. Participating in peer review and quality improvement of
assessment practices.
C. Avoiding evidence-based practice to preserve traditional
nursing rituals.
D. Withholding assessment findings from interdisciplinary
colleagues to avoid conflict.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Participation in peer review and quality
improvement represents professional responsibility,
lifelong learning, and commitment to improving
assessment practices.
• A: Refusing to update skills resists professional growth;
adaptability is part of professionalism.
• C: Avoiding evidence-based practice contradicts
professional standards that emphasize best evidence.
• D: Withholding findings undermines teamwork and patient
safety, contrary to professional ethics.