,Chapter1: Foundations of Nursing Practice
Stem: A newly licensed RN asks what best describes the “scope
of nursing practice.” Which definition is most accurate?
A. The specific medical procedures a nurse is licensed to
prescribe.
B. The set of services and activities that a nurse is educated,
competent, and authorized to perform.
C. A hospital’s internal policy dictating nursing tasks.
D. The list of tasks only advanced practice nurses may perform.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The scope of nursing practice defines services and
activities for which a nurse is educated, competent, and
authorized under their license; it answers the
who/what/when/where/how of nursing practice. (2–3
sentences)
• A (incorrect): Nurses do not typically have authority to
prescribe unless they are APRNs with prescriptive
authority; scope is broader than prescribing. (1 sentence)
• C (incorrect): Agency policies guide practice but do not
define the profession-wide scope; they are context-
specific. (1 sentence)
• D (incorrect): The scope includes all RNs, not only APRNs;
APRN tasks are a subset. (1 sentence)
,Teaching Point: Scope = what nurses are educated and
authorized to do.
2.
Chapter 1 — Section: Standards Development — Title:
Standards of Professional Nursing Practice
Stem: Which statement best distinguishes the Standards of
Practice from the Standards of Professional Performance?
A. Standards of Practice describe behavior; Standards of
Professional Performance describe clinical actions.
B. Standards of Practice describe clinical actions through the
nursing process; Standards of Professional Performance
describe professional role behaviors.
C. Both sets are identical and interchangeable.
D. Standards of Professional Performance are only for nurse
managers.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Standards of Practice outline the nursing process
(assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning,
implementation, evaluation); Standards of Professional
Performance describe professional behaviors (ethics,
education, quality). (2–3 sentences)
• A (incorrect): This reverses the distinction. (1 sentence)
, • C (incorrect): They are related but distinct frameworks. (1
sentence)
• D (incorrect): Standards of Professional Performance apply
to all RNs, not just managers. (1 sentence)
Teaching Point: Standards of Practice = nursing process;
Professional Performance = professional role.
3.
Chapter 1 — Section: Nursing Process — Title: Nursing Process
Stem: A nurse completes assessment and identifies a problem.
Which next step in the nursing process immediately follows
assessment?
A. Implementation
B. Outcomes identification
C. Nursing diagnosis
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct: After assessment, nurses analyze data to
formulate nursing diagnoses (clinical judgments about
responses to health conditions). (2 sentences)
• A (incorrect): Implementation follows planning and
outcomes identification. (1 sentence)
Stem: A newly licensed RN asks what best describes the “scope
of nursing practice.” Which definition is most accurate?
A. The specific medical procedures a nurse is licensed to
prescribe.
B. The set of services and activities that a nurse is educated,
competent, and authorized to perform.
C. A hospital’s internal policy dictating nursing tasks.
D. The list of tasks only advanced practice nurses may perform.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: The scope of nursing practice defines services and
activities for which a nurse is educated, competent, and
authorized under their license; it answers the
who/what/when/where/how of nursing practice. (2–3
sentences)
• A (incorrect): Nurses do not typically have authority to
prescribe unless they are APRNs with prescriptive
authority; scope is broader than prescribing. (1 sentence)
• C (incorrect): Agency policies guide practice but do not
define the profession-wide scope; they are context-
specific. (1 sentence)
• D (incorrect): The scope includes all RNs, not only APRNs;
APRN tasks are a subset. (1 sentence)
,Teaching Point: Scope = what nurses are educated and
authorized to do.
2.
Chapter 1 — Section: Standards Development — Title:
Standards of Professional Nursing Practice
Stem: Which statement best distinguishes the Standards of
Practice from the Standards of Professional Performance?
A. Standards of Practice describe behavior; Standards of
Professional Performance describe clinical actions.
B. Standards of Practice describe clinical actions through the
nursing process; Standards of Professional Performance
describe professional role behaviors.
C. Both sets are identical and interchangeable.
D. Standards of Professional Performance are only for nurse
managers.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Standards of Practice outline the nursing process
(assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning,
implementation, evaluation); Standards of Professional
Performance describe professional behaviors (ethics,
education, quality). (2–3 sentences)
• A (incorrect): This reverses the distinction. (1 sentence)
, • C (incorrect): They are related but distinct frameworks. (1
sentence)
• D (incorrect): Standards of Professional Performance apply
to all RNs, not just managers. (1 sentence)
Teaching Point: Standards of Practice = nursing process;
Professional Performance = professional role.
3.
Chapter 1 — Section: Nursing Process — Title: Nursing Process
Stem: A nurse completes assessment and identifies a problem.
Which next step in the nursing process immediately follows
assessment?
A. Implementation
B. Outcomes identification
C. Nursing diagnosis
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct: After assessment, nurses analyze data to
formulate nursing diagnoses (clinical judgments about
responses to health conditions). (2 sentences)
• A (incorrect): Implementation follows planning and
outcomes identification. (1 sentence)
