A staff nurse loses their job after reporting instances of patient abuse at their hospital to the State Board of Nursing. The nurse thinks they were unfairly dismissed and initiates a whistleblower lawsuit against their former employer. Which of these scenarios closely resembles employer retaliation?
The nurse was discharged after writing a detailed social media post discussing the alleged patient abuse.
The nurse was discharged after three unsuccessful attempts at progressive discipline had failed.
The nurse was fired after formally filing a complaint in writing to hospital administration.
The nurse was fired after threatening to give full details of the patient abuse to local media sources.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A Reason:
The nurse being discharged after writing a detailed social media post discussing the alleged patient abuse could be seen as a violation of hospital policy regarding social media use and patient confidentiality. While this action might seem retaliatory, it is more likely related to the breach of confidentiality and professional conduct standards.
Choice B Reason:
The nurse being discharged after three unsuccessful attempts at progressive discipline had failed indicates that the termination was due to performance issues rather than retaliation. Progressive discipline is a standard procedure used to address performance or behavior issues, and if the nurse failed to improve, the termination would be justified based on those grounds.
Choice C Reason:
The nurse being fired after formally filing a complaint in writing to hospital administration closely resembles employer retaliation. Filing a formal complaint is a protected activity under whistleblower protection laws, and retaliating against an employee for engaging in such activity is illegal. This scenario fits the definition of retaliation as it directly follows the nurse’s protected action.
Choice D Reason:
The nurse being fired after threatening to give full details of the patient abuse to local media sources could be seen as a breach of confidentiality and professional conduct. While this action might seem retaliatory, it is more likely related to the potential harm to the hospital’s reputation and breach of confidentiality.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
“Critical pathways ensure cost-effective outcomes at a reduced cost.” While critical pathways can help in managing costs by standardizing care and reducing unnecessary variations, the primary focus is on improving patient outcomes. Cost-effectiveness is a benefit, but it is not the main purpose of critical pathways.
Choice B Reason:
“Critical pathways result in better care outcomes.” This statement accurately reflects the primary goal of critical pathways. These pathways are designed to standardize care processes, reduce variability, and ensure that patients receive evidence-based care. By following critical pathways, healthcare providers can improve the quality of care, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure consistency in treatment.
Choice C Reason:
“Critical pathways must be followed in the prescribed order to meet optimal outcomes.” While it is important to follow critical pathways to achieve the desired outcomes, there should be some flexibility to accommodate individual patient needs. Strict adherence without considering patient-specific factors can lead to suboptimal care. Critical pathways provide a framework, but clinical judgment is essential to tailor care to each patient.
Choice D Reason:
“Critical pathways are utilized to guide health promotion activities.” Critical pathways are primarily used to manage clinical care processes and ensure that patients receive standardized, evidence-based treatment. While they can include elements of health promotion, their main focus is on managing specific clinical conditions and improving patient outcomes.
Choice E Reason:
“Individual healthcare providers create critical pathways to guide the care they offer to their patients.” Critical pathways are typically developed by multidisciplinary teams, including physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. They are based on best practices and evidence-based guidelines. Individual providers may contribute to the development of critical pathways, but they are not created by a single provider.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason
Asking a candidate to choose a single approach for handling conflicts is more of a theoretical question rather than a behavioral one. Behavioral questions are designed to elicit responses based on past experiences, which can provide insight into how a candidate might handle similar situations in the future. This question does not effectively address the goal of using behavioral questions to understand past behavior and its outcomes.
Choice B Reason
Inquiring about a candidate’s favored method of resolving conflicts is also more theoretical. While it can provide some insight into their preferred conflict resolution style, it does not offer concrete examples of how they have handled conflicts in the past. Behavioral questions should focus on specific past experiences to better predict future behavior.
Choice C Reason
Asking a candidate to share an experience when they faced a project-related conflict and describe their role in both the conflict and its resolution is a classic behavioral interview question. This type of question requires the candidate to provide a specific example from their past, detailing the situation, their actions, and the outcome. This approach helps the interviewer understand how the candidate has handled real-life conflicts and their problem-solving skills.
Choice D Reason
Rating one’s ability to work in teams and handle conflicts within a group is more of a self-assessment question. While it can provide some insight into the candidate’s self-perception, it does not offer concrete examples of past behavior. Behavioral questions should focus on eliciting specific examples to better understand the candidate’s actual experiences and actions.
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