Nicks-Complete-Otc-Handbook-Version
latest version 2025/2026
___________________________________________________________________
The nurse has been hired for her first job and is nervous about making errors in
clinical judgment. It is important for the nurse to realize that clinical reasoning
and the ability to make decisions in a clinical setting:
develops over time with increased knowledge and expertise
When applying research to practice, the nurse finds that:
nursing research should be used to improve care
While adopting new technology to enhance patient care and safety, nurses can
continue to provide:
compassionate care
Which action demonstrates a nurse utilizing reflection to improve clinical
decision making
improves a plan of care while thinking back on interventions effectiveness
The nurse is monitoring for Never Events. Which finding indicates the nurse will
report a never event?
a surgical sponge is left in the patient's incision
,A group of students are discussing the impact of non-nursing theories in clinical
practice. The students would be correct if they chose which theory to prioritize
patient care?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
The nursing instructor is teaching a class on nursing theory. One of the students
asks, "Why do we need to know this stuff? It doesn't really affect patients."
What is the instructor's best response?
Theories help explain why nurses do what they do.
The nurse is caring for a patient who refuses two units of packed red blood cells.
The nurse notifies the health care provider of the patient's decision. The nurse is
acting in the role of the
advocate
A new nurse appears to be second-guessing herself and is constantly calling on
the other nurses to double check their plan of care or rehearse what they will
say to the dr before she calls on the patient's behalf. This seems annoying to
some coworkers. What is the nurse's best response
Explain to coworkers that this is a characteristic of critical thinking and is
important for the new nurse to improve reasoning skills.
The nurse has finished her shift and is on her way home. During the shift, one of
the patients attempted to climb out of bed and fell. On her way home the nurse
is thinking about what she could have done differently to prevent the fall. This is
an example of using
,reflection
The nurse manager is interviewing graduate nurses to fill existing vacancies.
When hiring grad nurses, the nurse manager realizes that they will probably not
be considered competent until
They have worked 2-3 yrs
A staff nurse reports a medication error, failure to administer a medication at
the scheduled time. An appropriate response of the charge nurse would be
a. "We'll do a root cause analysis."
b. "That means you'll have to do continuing education."
c. "Why did you let that happen?"
d. "You'll need to tell the patient and family."
we should do a root cause analysis
A nurse is providing pain meds to patients after surgery. Which component is
key for the nurse's personal philosophy of nursing?
Caring
The nurse is teaching a student nurse about restraint use in patients. Which
statement by the student nurse indicates an understanding about restraint use?
"Having all 4 side rails up on the bed is considered a restraint"
The nurse is observed sitting at the bedside of a patient discussing the nursing
care plan for the shift. Which theory or model most accurately reflects this
nurse-patient relationship?
, Swanson's Theory of CaringThe electricity was turned off 3 days
The nurse is caring for an older-adult patient admitted with nausea, vomiting
and diarrhea due to food poisoning. The nurse completes the health history.
Which priority concern will require collaboration with social services to address
the patient's health care needs?
The electricity was turned off 3 days ago
A nursing student is preparing study notes from a recent lecture in nursing
history. The student would credit Florence Nightingale for which definition of
nursing?
The imbalance between the patient and the environment decreases the capacity
for health
The nurse is caring for a patient who does not follow the prescribed regimen for
diabetes self management. As a prescriber o Orem's Theory, the nurse
interviews the patient in an attempt to identify the cause of the patient's
noncompliance. What is the rationale for the nurse's behavior?
Orem's theory is useful in designing interventions to promote self care
A nurse is teaching a community group of school aged parents about safety.
Which safety item is most important for the nurse to include in the teaching
session?
Proper fit of a bicycle helmet
What is the definition of clinical judgment?
An interpretation or conclusion about the patient clinical condition
latest version 2025/2026
___________________________________________________________________
The nurse has been hired for her first job and is nervous about making errors in
clinical judgment. It is important for the nurse to realize that clinical reasoning
and the ability to make decisions in a clinical setting:
develops over time with increased knowledge and expertise
When applying research to practice, the nurse finds that:
nursing research should be used to improve care
While adopting new technology to enhance patient care and safety, nurses can
continue to provide:
compassionate care
Which action demonstrates a nurse utilizing reflection to improve clinical
decision making
improves a plan of care while thinking back on interventions effectiveness
The nurse is monitoring for Never Events. Which finding indicates the nurse will
report a never event?
a surgical sponge is left in the patient's incision
,A group of students are discussing the impact of non-nursing theories in clinical
practice. The students would be correct if they chose which theory to prioritize
patient care?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
The nursing instructor is teaching a class on nursing theory. One of the students
asks, "Why do we need to know this stuff? It doesn't really affect patients."
What is the instructor's best response?
Theories help explain why nurses do what they do.
The nurse is caring for a patient who refuses two units of packed red blood cells.
The nurse notifies the health care provider of the patient's decision. The nurse is
acting in the role of the
advocate
A new nurse appears to be second-guessing herself and is constantly calling on
the other nurses to double check their plan of care or rehearse what they will
say to the dr before she calls on the patient's behalf. This seems annoying to
some coworkers. What is the nurse's best response
Explain to coworkers that this is a characteristic of critical thinking and is
important for the new nurse to improve reasoning skills.
The nurse has finished her shift and is on her way home. During the shift, one of
the patients attempted to climb out of bed and fell. On her way home the nurse
is thinking about what she could have done differently to prevent the fall. This is
an example of using
,reflection
The nurse manager is interviewing graduate nurses to fill existing vacancies.
When hiring grad nurses, the nurse manager realizes that they will probably not
be considered competent until
They have worked 2-3 yrs
A staff nurse reports a medication error, failure to administer a medication at
the scheduled time. An appropriate response of the charge nurse would be
a. "We'll do a root cause analysis."
b. "That means you'll have to do continuing education."
c. "Why did you let that happen?"
d. "You'll need to tell the patient and family."
we should do a root cause analysis
A nurse is providing pain meds to patients after surgery. Which component is
key for the nurse's personal philosophy of nursing?
Caring
The nurse is teaching a student nurse about restraint use in patients. Which
statement by the student nurse indicates an understanding about restraint use?
"Having all 4 side rails up on the bed is considered a restraint"
The nurse is observed sitting at the bedside of a patient discussing the nursing
care plan for the shift. Which theory or model most accurately reflects this
nurse-patient relationship?
, Swanson's Theory of CaringThe electricity was turned off 3 days
The nurse is caring for an older-adult patient admitted with nausea, vomiting
and diarrhea due to food poisoning. The nurse completes the health history.
Which priority concern will require collaboration with social services to address
the patient's health care needs?
The electricity was turned off 3 days ago
A nursing student is preparing study notes from a recent lecture in nursing
history. The student would credit Florence Nightingale for which definition of
nursing?
The imbalance between the patient and the environment decreases the capacity
for health
The nurse is caring for a patient who does not follow the prescribed regimen for
diabetes self management. As a prescriber o Orem's Theory, the nurse
interviews the patient in an attempt to identify the cause of the patient's
noncompliance. What is the rationale for the nurse's behavior?
Orem's theory is useful in designing interventions to promote self care
A nurse is teaching a community group of school aged parents about safety.
Which safety item is most important for the nurse to include in the teaching
session?
Proper fit of a bicycle helmet
What is the definition of clinical judgment?
An interpretation or conclusion about the patient clinical condition
