A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a patient who is also a hospital employee. Several nurses have called seeking information about the patient.
What should the nurse do in response to these inquiries?
Refer Questions to the nursing supervisor
Transfer calls directly to the patient’s room
Acknowledge that the person is a patient on the unit, but give no specific details about the patient’s condition
Contact the patient’s provider
The Correct Answer is C
Rationale for Choice A:
Refer Questions to the Nursing Supervisor:
While it's essential to involve the nursing supervisor in situations that require their expertise or authority, it's not always necessary for basic inquiries about a patient's presence on the unit.
Disadvantages of referring calls to the nursing supervisor in this scenario:
It could delay the dissemination of essential information to concerned colleagues.
It could increase the workload of the nursing supervisor, potentially diverting their attention from more critical tasks. It could create a perception of a lack of transparency or openness among staff members.
Rationale for Choice B:
Transfer calls directly to the patient’s room:
Transferring calls directly to a patient's room without their consent breaches their privacy and confidentiality. It could also place undue stress on the patient, especially if they are not prepared to receive calls or discuss their health status.
Disadvantages of transferring calls directly to the patient’s room:
It violates the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality. It could disrupt the patient's rest and recovery.
It could place the patient in an uncomfortable position of having to answer questions about their health when they may not feel ready to do so.
Rationale for Choice C:
Acknowledge that the person is a patient on the unit, but give no specific details about the patient’s condition:
This approach strikes a balance between protecting the patient's privacy and providing necessary information to concerned colleagues. It verifies the patient's presence on the unit without disclosing any sensitive details about their health, thus adhering to ethical and legal guidelines.
Advantages of acknowledging the patient’s presence without providing details:
Respects the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality. Aligns with ethical and legal principles of healthcare.
Provides basic information to concerned colleagues without compromising patient information. Helps to establish trust and transparency among staff members.
Rationale for Choice D:
Contact the patient’s provider:
Contacting the patient's provider for every inquiry about the patient's presence is not practical or efficient. It could overburden the provider and delay the relay of information to concerned colleagues.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Establishing an open airway is the most crucial and immediate action in any respiratory arrest situation, including when a client has heart failure. Here's a detailed explanation: 1. Airway patency is paramount for survival: Oxygen, the essential element for life, cannot reach the lungs and bloodstream without a clear and unobstructed airway. Brain cells are extremely sensitive to oxygen deprivation and start to die within minutes without it, leading to irreversible brain damage or death. 2. Respiratory arrest in heart failure: Heart failure often leads to fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema), which can significantly impair breathing. Respiratory arrest can occur due to: Excessive fluid accumulation in the lungs. Weakening of respiratory muscles due to fatigue or heart failure itself. Arrhythmias or heart blocks affecting heart's ability to pump effectively. 3. Steps to establish an open airway: Head tilt-chin lift maneuver: Gently tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway. Jaw thrust maneuver: If a neck injury is suspected, use the jaw thrust maneuver to avoid further injury. Removal of any visible obstructions: Clear any visible foreign objects or fluids from the mouth or throat. Use of airway adjuncts: Consider using oral or nasal airways to maintain airway patency, especially if the patient is unconscious.
4. Rationale for other choices:
A. Auscultating for breath sounds: While important for assessment, it does not address the immediate need to establish airflow.
C. Establishing IV access: IV access is necessary for medications and fluids, but airway takes priority in respiratory arrest.
D. Feeling for a carotid pulse: Checking for a pulse is essential, but only after ensuring an open airway and attempting to restore breathing.
5. Importance of prioritizing airway: Establishing an open airway allows for potential rescue breaths and ventilation, which can help restore oxygen levels and prevent further deterioration. Even if a pulse is present, without a clear airway, oxygen cannot reach the vital organs, leading to organ failure and death.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Malnutrition is a risk factor for HAIs, but it is not a common cause. Malnutrition weakens the immune system, making it less able to fight off infection. However, malnutrition is not directly responsible for the introduction of pathogens into the body, which is a necessary step for the development of an HAI.
Choice C rationale:
Multiple caregivers can contribute to the spread of pathogens, but it is not a common cause of HAIs. When multiple caregivers are involved in a patient's care, there is a greater chance that one of them may be carrying a pathogen and transmit it to the patient. However, this is not the most common way that HAIs are spread.
Choice D rationale:
Chlorhexidine washes are actually used to prevent HAIs, not cause them. Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic that kills bacteria and other pathogens. It is often used to clean the skin before surgery or other invasive procedures.
Choice B rationale:
Urinary catheterization is a common cause of HAIs. A urinary catheter is a tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain urine. Catheters can introduce bacteria into the bladder, which can lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are the most common type of HAI.
Here are some of the reasons why urinary catheterization is a common cause of HAIs:
Catheters can introduce bacteria into the bladder. The catheter itself can act as a conduit for bacteria to enter the bladder. Bacteria can also enter the bladder around the catheter, where the catheter enters the urethra.
Catheters can irritate the bladder. This can make the bladder more susceptible to infection. Catheters can obstruct the flow of urine. This can allow bacteria to grow in the bladder.
Catheters can be difficult to keep clean. This can increase the risk of bacteria growing on the catheter and being introduced into the bladder.
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