NURS 505 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Clinical decision making - Answers-requires careful reasoning choosing the options for
the best patient outcomes on the basis of a patient's condition and the priority of the
problem
critical thinking: the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner with openness to
question and reflect on the reasoning process. - Answers-Critical thinking involves
open-mindedness, continual inquiry, and perseverance, combined with a willingness to
look at each unique patient situation and determine which identified assumptions are
true and relevant.
evidence-based knowledge - Answers-or knowledge based on research or clinical
expertise
Interpretation - Answers-Be orderly in collecting data about patients. Apply reasoning
while looking for patterns to emerge. Categorize the data (e.g., nursing diagnoses [see
Chapter 17]). Gather additional data or clarify any data about which you are uncertain.
Analysis - Answers-Be open-minded as you look at information about a patient. Do not
make careless assumptions. Does the data reveal a problem or trend that you believe is
true, or are there other options?
Inference - Answers-Look at the meaning and significance of findings. Are there
relationships among findings? Does the data about the patient help you see that a
problem exists?
Evaluation - Answers-Look at all situations objectively. Use criteria (e.g., expected
outcomes, pain characteristics, learning objectives) to determine results of nursing
actions. Reflect on your own behavior.
Explanation - Answers-Support your findings and conclusions. Use knowledge and
experience to choose strategies to use in the care of patients.
Open-mindedness - Answers-Be tolerant of different views; be sensitive to the
possibility of your own prejudices; respect the right of others to have different opinions.
Analyticity - Answers-Analyze potentially problematic situations; anticipate possible
results or consequences; value reason; use evidence-based knowledge.
Systematicity - Answers-Be organized, focused; work hard in any inquiry.
Self-confidence - Answers-Trust in your own reasoning processes.
,Inquisitiveness - Answers-Be eager to acquire knowledge and learn explanations even
when applications of the knowledge are not immediately clear. Value learning for
learning's sake.
Maturity - Answers-Multiple solutions are acceptable. Reflect on your own judgments;
have cognitive maturity.
Self-regulation - Answers-Reflect on your experiences. Be responsible for connecting
your actions with outcomes. Identify the ways you can improve your own performance.
What will make you believe that you have been successful?
Truth seeking - Answers-Seek the true meaning of a situation. Be courageous, honest,
and objective about asking questions.
reflection - Answers-The ability to act on the basis of critical thinking comes with
experience. When you care for patients, begin by thinking about previous situations and
considering relevant issues: What did I notice before? How did I act? What could I have
done differently? What should I do next time in the same situation?
Scientific method: The scientific method is a methodical way to solve problems using
reasoning. It is a systematic, ordered approach to gathering data and solving problems
used by a variety of health care professionals. - Answers-1. Identify the problem.
2. Collect data.
3. Formulate a question or hypothesis.
4. Test the question or hypothesis.
5. Evaluate results of the test or study.
problem solving - Answers-involves evaluating a situation over time, identifying possible
solutions, and trying a solution over time to make sure that it is effective.
Decision making - Answers-is a product of critical thinking that focuses on problem
resolution
diagnostic reasoning - Answers-It is the analytical process for determining a patient's
health problems
inference - Answers-the process of drawing conclusions from related pieces of evidence
and previous experience with the evidence. When making an inference, you form
patterns of information from data before making a diagnosis.
Knowing the patient - Answers-is an in-depth knowledge of a patient's patterns of
responses within a clinical situation and knowing the patient as a person
nursing process - Answers-as a competency when delivering patient care
,the five-step nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation. - Answers-The purpose of the nursing process is to diagnose and treat
human responses (e.g., patient symptoms, need for knowledge) to actual or potential
health problems
Confidence - Answers-Learn how to introduce yourself to a patient; speak with
conviction when you begin a treatment or procedure. Do not lead a patient to think that
you are unable to perform care safely. Always be well prepared before performing a
nursing activity. Encourage a patient to ask questions.
Thinking independently - Answers-Read the nursing literature, especially when there are
different views on the same subject. Talk with other nurses and share ideas about
nursing interventions.
Fairness - Answers-Listen to both sides in any discussion. If a patient or family member
complains about a co-worker, listen to the story and speak with the co-worker as well. If
a staff member labels a patient uncooperative, assume the care of that patient with
openness and a desire to meet the patient's needs.
Responsibility and authority - Answers-Ask for help if you are uncertain about how to
perform a nursing skill. Refer to a policy and procedure manual to review steps of a skill.
Report any problems immediately. Follow standards of practice in your care.
Risk taking - Answers-If your knowledge causes you to question a health care provider's
order, do so. Be willing to recommend alternative approaches to nursing care when
colleagues are having little success with patients.
Discipline - Answers-Be thorough in whatever you do. Use known scientific and
practice-based criteria for activities such as assessment and evaluation. Take time to be
thorough and manage your time effectively.
Perseverance - Answers-If problems of the same type continue to occur on a nursing
division, bring co-workers together, look for a pattern, and find a solution.
Creativity - Answers-Look for different approaches if interventions are not working for a
patient. For example, a patient in pain may need a different positioning or distraction
technique. When appropriate, involve the patient's family in adapting your approaches
to care methods used at home.
Curiosity - Answers-Always ask why. A clinical sign or symptom often indicates a variety
of problems. Explore and learn more about a patient so as to make appropriate clinical
judgments.
Integrity - Answers-Recognize when your opinions conflict with those of a patient;
review your position and decide how best to proceed to reach outcomes that will satisfy
everyone. Do not compromise nursing standards or honesty in delivering nursing care.
, Humility - Answers-Recognize when you need more information to make a decision.
When you are new to a clinical division, ask for an orientation to the area. Ask
registered nurses (RNs) regularly assigned to the area for assistance with approaches
to care.
concept map - Answers-is a visual representation of patient problems and interventions
that shows their relationships to one another.
1. Two patient deaths have occurred on a medical unit in the last month. The staff
notices that everyone feels pressured and team members are getting into more
arguments. As a nurse on the unit, what will best help you manage this stress? -
Answers-Participate in a unit meeting to discuss feelings about the patient deaths
2. A nurse has seen many cancer patients struggle with pain management because they
are afraid of becoming addicted to the medicine. Pain control is a priority for cancer
care. By helping patients focus on their values and beliefs about pain control, a nurse
can best make clinical decisions. This is an example of: - Answers-Applying ethical
criteria.
3. A nurse prepares to insert a Foley catheter. The procedure manual calls for the
patient to lie in the dorsal recumbent position. The patient complains of having back
pain when lying on her back. Despite this, the nurse positions the patient supine with
knees flexed as the manual recommends and begins to insert the catheter. This is an
example of: - Answers-Basic critical thinking.
4. A nurse is preparing medications for a patient. The nurse checks the name of the
medication on the label with the name of the medication on the doctor's order. At the
bedside the nurse checks the patient's name against the medication order as well. The
nurse is following which critical thinking attitude: - Answers-Responsible
5. A nurse on a busy medicine unit is assigned to four patients. It is 10 AM. Two patients
have medications due and one of those has a specimen of urine to be collected. One
patient is having complications from surgery and is being prepared to return to the
operating room. The fourth patient requires instructions about activity restrictions before
going home this afternoon. Which of the following should the nurse use in making
clinical decisions appropriate for the patient group? (Select all that apply.) - Answers-1.
Consider availability of assistive personnel to obtain the specimen
2. Combine activities to resolve more than one patient problem
3. Analyze the diagnoses/problems and decide which are most urgent based on
patients' needs
6. By using known criteria in conducting an assessment such as reviewing with a patient
the typical characteristics of pain, a nurse is demonstrating which critical thinking
attitude? - Answers-Discipline
Clinical decision making - Answers-requires careful reasoning choosing the options for
the best patient outcomes on the basis of a patient's condition and the priority of the
problem
critical thinking: the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner with openness to
question and reflect on the reasoning process. - Answers-Critical thinking involves
open-mindedness, continual inquiry, and perseverance, combined with a willingness to
look at each unique patient situation and determine which identified assumptions are
true and relevant.
evidence-based knowledge - Answers-or knowledge based on research or clinical
expertise
Interpretation - Answers-Be orderly in collecting data about patients. Apply reasoning
while looking for patterns to emerge. Categorize the data (e.g., nursing diagnoses [see
Chapter 17]). Gather additional data or clarify any data about which you are uncertain.
Analysis - Answers-Be open-minded as you look at information about a patient. Do not
make careless assumptions. Does the data reveal a problem or trend that you believe is
true, or are there other options?
Inference - Answers-Look at the meaning and significance of findings. Are there
relationships among findings? Does the data about the patient help you see that a
problem exists?
Evaluation - Answers-Look at all situations objectively. Use criteria (e.g., expected
outcomes, pain characteristics, learning objectives) to determine results of nursing
actions. Reflect on your own behavior.
Explanation - Answers-Support your findings and conclusions. Use knowledge and
experience to choose strategies to use in the care of patients.
Open-mindedness - Answers-Be tolerant of different views; be sensitive to the
possibility of your own prejudices; respect the right of others to have different opinions.
Analyticity - Answers-Analyze potentially problematic situations; anticipate possible
results or consequences; value reason; use evidence-based knowledge.
Systematicity - Answers-Be organized, focused; work hard in any inquiry.
Self-confidence - Answers-Trust in your own reasoning processes.
,Inquisitiveness - Answers-Be eager to acquire knowledge and learn explanations even
when applications of the knowledge are not immediately clear. Value learning for
learning's sake.
Maturity - Answers-Multiple solutions are acceptable. Reflect on your own judgments;
have cognitive maturity.
Self-regulation - Answers-Reflect on your experiences. Be responsible for connecting
your actions with outcomes. Identify the ways you can improve your own performance.
What will make you believe that you have been successful?
Truth seeking - Answers-Seek the true meaning of a situation. Be courageous, honest,
and objective about asking questions.
reflection - Answers-The ability to act on the basis of critical thinking comes with
experience. When you care for patients, begin by thinking about previous situations and
considering relevant issues: What did I notice before? How did I act? What could I have
done differently? What should I do next time in the same situation?
Scientific method: The scientific method is a methodical way to solve problems using
reasoning. It is a systematic, ordered approach to gathering data and solving problems
used by a variety of health care professionals. - Answers-1. Identify the problem.
2. Collect data.
3. Formulate a question or hypothesis.
4. Test the question or hypothesis.
5. Evaluate results of the test or study.
problem solving - Answers-involves evaluating a situation over time, identifying possible
solutions, and trying a solution over time to make sure that it is effective.
Decision making - Answers-is a product of critical thinking that focuses on problem
resolution
diagnostic reasoning - Answers-It is the analytical process for determining a patient's
health problems
inference - Answers-the process of drawing conclusions from related pieces of evidence
and previous experience with the evidence. When making an inference, you form
patterns of information from data before making a diagnosis.
Knowing the patient - Answers-is an in-depth knowledge of a patient's patterns of
responses within a clinical situation and knowing the patient as a person
nursing process - Answers-as a competency when delivering patient care
,the five-step nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation. - Answers-The purpose of the nursing process is to diagnose and treat
human responses (e.g., patient symptoms, need for knowledge) to actual or potential
health problems
Confidence - Answers-Learn how to introduce yourself to a patient; speak with
conviction when you begin a treatment or procedure. Do not lead a patient to think that
you are unable to perform care safely. Always be well prepared before performing a
nursing activity. Encourage a patient to ask questions.
Thinking independently - Answers-Read the nursing literature, especially when there are
different views on the same subject. Talk with other nurses and share ideas about
nursing interventions.
Fairness - Answers-Listen to both sides in any discussion. If a patient or family member
complains about a co-worker, listen to the story and speak with the co-worker as well. If
a staff member labels a patient uncooperative, assume the care of that patient with
openness and a desire to meet the patient's needs.
Responsibility and authority - Answers-Ask for help if you are uncertain about how to
perform a nursing skill. Refer to a policy and procedure manual to review steps of a skill.
Report any problems immediately. Follow standards of practice in your care.
Risk taking - Answers-If your knowledge causes you to question a health care provider's
order, do so. Be willing to recommend alternative approaches to nursing care when
colleagues are having little success with patients.
Discipline - Answers-Be thorough in whatever you do. Use known scientific and
practice-based criteria for activities such as assessment and evaluation. Take time to be
thorough and manage your time effectively.
Perseverance - Answers-If problems of the same type continue to occur on a nursing
division, bring co-workers together, look for a pattern, and find a solution.
Creativity - Answers-Look for different approaches if interventions are not working for a
patient. For example, a patient in pain may need a different positioning or distraction
technique. When appropriate, involve the patient's family in adapting your approaches
to care methods used at home.
Curiosity - Answers-Always ask why. A clinical sign or symptom often indicates a variety
of problems. Explore and learn more about a patient so as to make appropriate clinical
judgments.
Integrity - Answers-Recognize when your opinions conflict with those of a patient;
review your position and decide how best to proceed to reach outcomes that will satisfy
everyone. Do not compromise nursing standards or honesty in delivering nursing care.
, Humility - Answers-Recognize when you need more information to make a decision.
When you are new to a clinical division, ask for an orientation to the area. Ask
registered nurses (RNs) regularly assigned to the area for assistance with approaches
to care.
concept map - Answers-is a visual representation of patient problems and interventions
that shows their relationships to one another.
1. Two patient deaths have occurred on a medical unit in the last month. The staff
notices that everyone feels pressured and team members are getting into more
arguments. As a nurse on the unit, what will best help you manage this stress? -
Answers-Participate in a unit meeting to discuss feelings about the patient deaths
2. A nurse has seen many cancer patients struggle with pain management because they
are afraid of becoming addicted to the medicine. Pain control is a priority for cancer
care. By helping patients focus on their values and beliefs about pain control, a nurse
can best make clinical decisions. This is an example of: - Answers-Applying ethical
criteria.
3. A nurse prepares to insert a Foley catheter. The procedure manual calls for the
patient to lie in the dorsal recumbent position. The patient complains of having back
pain when lying on her back. Despite this, the nurse positions the patient supine with
knees flexed as the manual recommends and begins to insert the catheter. This is an
example of: - Answers-Basic critical thinking.
4. A nurse is preparing medications for a patient. The nurse checks the name of the
medication on the label with the name of the medication on the doctor's order. At the
bedside the nurse checks the patient's name against the medication order as well. The
nurse is following which critical thinking attitude: - Answers-Responsible
5. A nurse on a busy medicine unit is assigned to four patients. It is 10 AM. Two patients
have medications due and one of those has a specimen of urine to be collected. One
patient is having complications from surgery and is being prepared to return to the
operating room. The fourth patient requires instructions about activity restrictions before
going home this afternoon. Which of the following should the nurse use in making
clinical decisions appropriate for the patient group? (Select all that apply.) - Answers-1.
Consider availability of assistive personnel to obtain the specimen
2. Combine activities to resolve more than one patient problem
3. Analyze the diagnoses/problems and decide which are most urgent based on
patients' needs
6. By using known criteria in conducting an assessment such as reviewing with a patient
the typical characteristics of pain, a nurse is demonstrating which critical thinking
attitude? - Answers-Discipline
