,Chapter 1 — Section: Scope of Nursing Practice; Title:
Standards of Practice & Standards of Professional
Performance
Stem: Which statement best describes the purpose of the ANA
"Scope and Standards of Practice" document?
A. It prescribes specific employer policies and procedures for
every clinical setting.
B. It defines the who, what, where, when, why, and how of
professional nursing practice.
C. It lists state-by-state licensing exam content for initial RN
licensure.
D. It provides step-by-step clinical protocols for individual
diseases.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The ANA scope-and-standards statement provides
authoritative definitions of nursing roles and the
boundaries of practice — answering who, what, where,
when, why, and how of nursing practice. It is intended to
guide professional practice broadly.
• A: Incorrect — Employer policies/procedures are local and
operational, whereas ANA provides profession-level
guidance, not site policies.
, • C: Incorrect — Licensing examinations (e.g., NCLEX) are
developed by regulatory bodies; the ANA document does
not list state exam content.
• D: Incorrect — The book outlines standards and scope
rather than providing disease-specific clinical protocols.
Teaching Point: ANA Scope & Standards defines profession-level
scope and expectations, not local protocols.
2) Chapter 1 — Section: Scope vs Standards — Title:
Relationship between Scope and Standards
Stem: A nurse consults the ANA Scope and Standards to
determine whether a proposed task is within professional
practice. Which principle should guide the nurse’s decision?
A. If the nurse feels technically competent, they may perform
any task irrespective of policy.
B. The nurse should compare the task to the scope of practice,
applicable standards, and legal/regulatory limits before acting.
C. Tasks not explicitly named in the ANA document are
automatically outside nursing practice.
D. The nurse should always defer to the physician for scope
questions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct: Determining appropriateness requires assessing
the ANA scope/standards, state law, institutional policy,
and one’s own competence before performing tasks.
• A: Incorrect — Personal confidence alone is insufficient;
legal and professional standards matter.
• C: Incorrect — The ANA document provides a framework,
but absence of explicit mention does not automatically
prohibit practice; legal/regulatory guidance is needed.
• D: Incorrect — While collaboration is important, scope
decisions are the nurse’s professional responsibility, not
automatically physician-dependent.
Teaching Point: Always cross-check scope, standards, law, and
competence before acting.
3) Chapter 1 — Section: Standards of Practice — Title: The
Nursing Process
Stem: Which sequence correctly lists the components of the
ANA Standards of Practice (the nursing process)?
A. Diagnosis → Assessment → Implementation → Evaluation →
Planning → Outcomes Identification
B. Assessment → Diagnosis → Outcomes Identification →
Planning → Implementation → Evaluation
C. Assessment → Planning → Diagnosis → Implementation →
Outcomes Identification → Evaluation
Standards of Practice & Standards of Professional
Performance
Stem: Which statement best describes the purpose of the ANA
"Scope and Standards of Practice" document?
A. It prescribes specific employer policies and procedures for
every clinical setting.
B. It defines the who, what, where, when, why, and how of
professional nursing practice.
C. It lists state-by-state licensing exam content for initial RN
licensure.
D. It provides step-by-step clinical protocols for individual
diseases.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The ANA scope-and-standards statement provides
authoritative definitions of nursing roles and the
boundaries of practice — answering who, what, where,
when, why, and how of nursing practice. It is intended to
guide professional practice broadly.
• A: Incorrect — Employer policies/procedures are local and
operational, whereas ANA provides profession-level
guidance, not site policies.
, • C: Incorrect — Licensing examinations (e.g., NCLEX) are
developed by regulatory bodies; the ANA document does
not list state exam content.
• D: Incorrect — The book outlines standards and scope
rather than providing disease-specific clinical protocols.
Teaching Point: ANA Scope & Standards defines profession-level
scope and expectations, not local protocols.
2) Chapter 1 — Section: Scope vs Standards — Title:
Relationship between Scope and Standards
Stem: A nurse consults the ANA Scope and Standards to
determine whether a proposed task is within professional
practice. Which principle should guide the nurse’s decision?
A. If the nurse feels technically competent, they may perform
any task irrespective of policy.
B. The nurse should compare the task to the scope of practice,
applicable standards, and legal/regulatory limits before acting.
C. Tasks not explicitly named in the ANA document are
automatically outside nursing practice.
D. The nurse should always defer to the physician for scope
questions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct: Determining appropriateness requires assessing
the ANA scope/standards, state law, institutional policy,
and one’s own competence before performing tasks.
• A: Incorrect — Personal confidence alone is insufficient;
legal and professional standards matter.
• C: Incorrect — The ANA document provides a framework,
but absence of explicit mention does not automatically
prohibit practice; legal/regulatory guidance is needed.
• D: Incorrect — While collaboration is important, scope
decisions are the nurse’s professional responsibility, not
automatically physician-dependent.
Teaching Point: Always cross-check scope, standards, law, and
competence before acting.
3) Chapter 1 — Section: Standards of Practice — Title: The
Nursing Process
Stem: Which sequence correctly lists the components of the
ANA Standards of Practice (the nursing process)?
A. Diagnosis → Assessment → Implementation → Evaluation →
Planning → Outcomes Identification
B. Assessment → Diagnosis → Outcomes Identification →
Planning → Implementation → Evaluation
C. Assessment → Planning → Diagnosis → Implementation →
Outcomes Identification → Evaluation
