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Antibiotic treatment of a suspected urinary tract infection: This is an example of secondary prevention, as it involves early treatment of a disease that has already developed to halt progression or complications. The goal is to cure or manage the infection.

Occupational therapy to assist a client in adapting his or her home environment following a stroke: This is tertiary prevention, aimed at helping the client recover and live optimally after a serious health event. It seeks to reduce disability and enhance function after the disease has occurred.

Removal of tonsils for a client with recurrent tonsillitis: This is also tertiary prevention, because it addresses a chronic or recurring condition and is intended to reduce further complications or suffering.

Hospitals provide only acute, inpatient services. While hospitals are well known for acute, inpatient care, they often provide outpatient services such as same-day surgery, diagnostic imaging, and physical therapy.

Surgery can only be performed inside a hospital setting. Many minor to moderate surgeries are safely performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and outpatient clinics, which are licensed and equipped for such procedures without requiring hospital admission.

Skilled nursing, extended care, and long-term care facilities provide care for older adults whose insurance no longer covers hospital stays. These facilities provide care based on medical necessity, functional status, and rehabilitation needs, not just when insurance runs out.

A physical therapist is a rehabilitation specialist who helps clients improve physical function, mobility, and strength. While important in the care team, they do not diagnose, prescribe, or coordinate overall medical care, and are not recognized as PCPs.

A case manager/discharge planner typically works within hospitals or health systems to coordinate care, manage transitions, and arrange services after discharge. They are not licensed to serve as a client’s primary care provider.

While pharmacists are medication experts and play a critical role in client safety and education, they do not provide comprehensive medical care or serve as the main access point for health services like PCPs do.

Number of children according to the family’s income: While population growth affects resource allocation, family planning based on income is a sensitive social and ethical issue, and not a central strategy for health care cost control.

Number of physicians and nurses nationwide: Increasing or decreasing the number of health care professionals does not directly control costs. In fact, shortages of providers can increase costs by causing delays in care and reducing access.

Competition among drug and medical equipment manufacturers: While competition can reduce costs in some markets, it is not the most significant factor. The lack of regulation in pricing and the influence of patents and monopolies often limit the effectiveness of competition.

Perform the nursing assessment as quickly as possible so the individual can return to the community. Rushing the assessment can lead to missed information, decreased trust, and a perception of insensitivity. Vulnerable clients often need more time and careful listening to feel safe and understood.

Focus only on the client’s verbal communication. Many clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, may rely heavily on nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, gestures, and body language. Focusing only on verbal communication can result in missed context and misinterpretation.

Refer the client to another nurse who is from the same cultural group as the client. While matching cultural backgrounds may enhance comfort in some cases, nurses are responsible for developing cultural competence themselves, not shifting care based on cultural similarity.

Primary care focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, and early detection. It is typically provided in outpatient or community settings by general practitioners.

Secondary care refers to diagnosis and treatment of acute conditions, usually in hospitals or specialist clinics. This includes surgeries, hospitalizations, and emergency care.

Palliative care focuses on relief of symptoms and improving quality of life for clients with serious, chronic, or terminal illness, often without curative intent.

Patient and family involvement in referral: The nurse did involve the client and her husband in choosing the rehabilitation facility, which reflects appropriate patient and family engagement in the referral process.

Incorporation of referral discipline recommendations into plan of care: The nurse did apply physical therapy recommendations (e.g., for fall prevention), indicating that interdisciplinary input was correctly integrated into the current hospital care plan.

Determination of discharge date: The discharge date was already determined as 3 days from now, so that aspect of the discharge planning process was appropriately addressed.

Nursing is run by a Magnet® manager who makes decisions for the nursing units. Magnet® status does not involve a specific “Magnet manager.” Instead, it emphasizes shared governance where nurses at all levels are involved in decisions that affect their practice.

Nurses in Magnet® hospitals make all of the decisions on the clinical units. While nurses in Magnet® hospitals are highly involved in shared decision-making, they do not make all decisions independently.

Magnet® is a term that is used to describe hospitals that are able to hire the nurses they need. Magnet® status is not about staffing numbers, but rather about nursing quality, leadership, autonomy, and evidence-based practice.

Asking another nurse about how to change the settings on a medication pump: This shows initiative in learning a specific task but does not represent an ongoing or structured activity to maintain competency.

Regularly attending unit staff meetings: Staff meetings are important for communication but are not primarily designed to maintain clinical competency.

Participating as a member of the professional nursing council: While professional councils promote nursing practice, they focus more on governance and policy-making than on maintaining personal clinical competence.

Provision of acute care: Hospitals are designed for managing acute illnesses, injuries, and urgent conditions.

Inpatient services: Hospital stays for surgery, medical treatment, or intensive monitoring are core functions.

Outpatient services: Many hospitals now offer outpatient clinics, diagnostic services, and same-day procedures.