,Chapter 1 — Nursing as a Profession
Key Concept: Professional attributes of nursing
ANA Standard(s): Standards of Professional Performance —
Professional Practice
Nursing Process: Assessment
Stem: Which characteristic best distinguishes a profession from
an occupation and supports nursing’s status as a profession?
Options:
A. Job mobility across employers.
B. Mandated continuing education and self-regulation.
C. Short-term employment contracts.
D. Primarily manual tasks with minimal formal education.
Correct Answer: B — Mandated continuing education and self-
regulation
Rationale:
Correct (2–3 sentences): Professions are characterized by
formalized education, credentialing, codes of ethics, and
mechanisms for self-regulation (e.g., licensure, continuing
education) that maintain standards of practice. Fundamentals
of Nursing, 12th Ed., Ch. 1, pp. 2–12. (See ANA Standards:
Professional Performance — Education/Quality of Practice.)
A (incorrect): Job mobility is common in many occupations and
does not indicate the discipline’s professional status.
B (n/a)
C (incorrect): Short-term contracts are an employment
condition, not a marker of professionhood.
,D (incorrect): Emphasis on manual tasks with minimal
education describes some occupations, not professions.
Teaching Point: Professions require formal education, licensure,
ethics, and self-regulation.
2. Question /stem
Chapter 1 — Historical Influences
Key Concept: Florence Nightingale’s contributions
ANA Standard(s): Nursing Practice — Historical foundations
inform modern standards
Nursing Process: Assessment
Stem: A faculty member asks students why Florence
Nightingale is considered foundational to modern nursing.
Which statement best explains her contribution?
Options:
A. She established the first nursing licensure exam.
B. She linked sanitary environment and patient outcomes,
emphasizing data and record-keeping.
C. She created the degree pathways for modern nursing
education.
D. She mandated hospital accreditation standards
worldwide.
Correct Answer: B — Linked sanitary environment and
patient outcomes
Rationale:
Correct (2–3 sentences): Nightingale’s emphasis on
, sanitation, environment, systematic observation, and
record-keeping established early scientific approaches to
nursing and demonstrated how environmental factors
affect patient outcomes. Fundamentals of Nursing, 12th
Ed., Ch. 1, pp. 2–12. (ANA: Standards of Practice —
Assessment.)
A (incorrect): Formal licensure developed later; Nightingale
did not create the modern licensure exam.
C (incorrect): Degree pathways evolved over time through
educational institutions and organizations, not directly by
Nightingale.
D (incorrect): Hospital accreditation is a later
administrative development.
Teaching Point: Nightingale introduced data-driven,
environment-focused nursing practice.
3. Question /stem
Chapter 1 — Contemporary Influences
Key Concept: Technology’s impact on nursing practice
ANA Standard(s): Informatics & Technology in Professional
Performance
Nursing Process: Implementation
Stem: Which nursing action best demonstrates safe
integration of electronic health records (EHRs) into patient
care?
Options:
Key Concept: Professional attributes of nursing
ANA Standard(s): Standards of Professional Performance —
Professional Practice
Nursing Process: Assessment
Stem: Which characteristic best distinguishes a profession from
an occupation and supports nursing’s status as a profession?
Options:
A. Job mobility across employers.
B. Mandated continuing education and self-regulation.
C. Short-term employment contracts.
D. Primarily manual tasks with minimal formal education.
Correct Answer: B — Mandated continuing education and self-
regulation
Rationale:
Correct (2–3 sentences): Professions are characterized by
formalized education, credentialing, codes of ethics, and
mechanisms for self-regulation (e.g., licensure, continuing
education) that maintain standards of practice. Fundamentals
of Nursing, 12th Ed., Ch. 1, pp. 2–12. (See ANA Standards:
Professional Performance — Education/Quality of Practice.)
A (incorrect): Job mobility is common in many occupations and
does not indicate the discipline’s professional status.
B (n/a)
C (incorrect): Short-term contracts are an employment
condition, not a marker of professionhood.
,D (incorrect): Emphasis on manual tasks with minimal
education describes some occupations, not professions.
Teaching Point: Professions require formal education, licensure,
ethics, and self-regulation.
2. Question /stem
Chapter 1 — Historical Influences
Key Concept: Florence Nightingale’s contributions
ANA Standard(s): Nursing Practice — Historical foundations
inform modern standards
Nursing Process: Assessment
Stem: A faculty member asks students why Florence
Nightingale is considered foundational to modern nursing.
Which statement best explains her contribution?
Options:
A. She established the first nursing licensure exam.
B. She linked sanitary environment and patient outcomes,
emphasizing data and record-keeping.
C. She created the degree pathways for modern nursing
education.
D. She mandated hospital accreditation standards
worldwide.
Correct Answer: B — Linked sanitary environment and
patient outcomes
Rationale:
Correct (2–3 sentences): Nightingale’s emphasis on
, sanitation, environment, systematic observation, and
record-keeping established early scientific approaches to
nursing and demonstrated how environmental factors
affect patient outcomes. Fundamentals of Nursing, 12th
Ed., Ch. 1, pp. 2–12. (ANA: Standards of Practice —
Assessment.)
A (incorrect): Formal licensure developed later; Nightingale
did not create the modern licensure exam.
C (incorrect): Degree pathways evolved over time through
educational institutions and organizations, not directly by
Nightingale.
D (incorrect): Hospital accreditation is a later
administrative development.
Teaching Point: Nightingale introduced data-driven,
environment-focused nursing practice.
3. Question /stem
Chapter 1 — Contemporary Influences
Key Concept: Technology’s impact on nursing practice
ANA Standard(s): Informatics & Technology in Professional
Performance
Nursing Process: Implementation
Stem: Which nursing action best demonstrates safe
integration of electronic health records (EHRs) into patient
care?
Options:
