Blended Skills and Critical Thinking

Which of the following is an essential feature of professional nursing? Select all that apply.
A)
provision of a caring relationship to facilitate health and healing
B)
attention to a range of human experiences and responses to health and illness
C)
use of objective data to negate the patient’s subjective experience
D)
use of judgment and critical thinking to form a medical diagnosis
E)
advancement of professional nursing knowledge through scholarly inquiry
F)
influence on social and public policy to promote social justice

What nursing organization first legitimized the use of the nursing process?
A)
National League for Nursing
B)
American Nurses Association
C)
International Council of Nursing
D)
State Board of Nursing

Which of the following group of terms best describes the nursing process?
A)
nursing goals, medical terminology, linear
B)
nurse-centered, single focus, blended skills
C)
patient-centered, systematic, outcomes-oriented
D)
family-centered, single point in time, intuitive

A patient comes to the emergency department complaining of severe chest pain. The nurse asks the patient questions and takes vital signs. Which step of the nursing process is the nurse demonstrating?
A)
assessing
B)
diagnosing
C)
planning
D)
implementing

A nurse is examining a 2-year-old. Based on her findings, she initiates a care plan for a potential problem with normal growth and development. Which step of the nursing process identifies actual and potential problems?
A)
assessing
B)
diagnosing
C)
planning
D)
implementing

A home health nurse reviews the nursing care with the patient and family and then mutually discusses the expected outcomes of the nursing care to be provided. Which step of the nursing process is the nurse illustrating?
A)
diagnosing
B)
planning
C)
implementing
D)
evaluating

Based on an established plan of care, a nurse turns a patient every 2 hours. What part of the nursing process is the nurse using?
A)
assessing
B)
planning
C)
implementing
D)
evaluating

Which of the following statements indicates that a plan to assist a patient in developing and following an exercise program has been effective?
A)
“I have just been too busy to do my daily exercises.”
B)
“I guess I will begin the activity we discussed next week.”
C)
“I know I should exercise, but my health is not very good.”
D)
“I have lost 10 pounds because I walk 2 miles every day.”

What name is given to standardized plans of care?
A)
critical pathways
B)
computer databases
C)
nursing problems
D)
care plan templates

10.

Which of the following groups developed standard language to increase the visibility of nursing’s contribution to patient care by continuing to develop, refine, and classify phenomena of concern to nurses?
A)
NANDA
B)
NIC
C)
NOC
D)
HHCC

11.

Legally speaking, how would the nurse ensure that care was not negligent?
A)
verbally reporting assessments to the patient’s physician
B)
keeping private notes about the care given to each assigned patient
C)
documenting the nursing actions in the patient’s record
D)
tape recording complete information for each oncoming shift

12.

A nurse interviews a pregnant teenager and documents her answers on the patient record. At the same time, the nurse responds to the patient’s concerns and makes a referral for counseling and maternity care. This scenario is an example of which of the descriptors of the nursing process?
A)
systematic
B)
dynamic
C)
outcome oriented
D)
universally applicable

13.

A nurse working in an outpatient surgery center is responsible for taking a health history and performing a physical assessment on each patient scheduled for surgery. Why is establishing this database so important for nursing care?
A)
to ensure good nurse–patient relationships before surgery
B)
to ensure medical and surgical safety
C)
it is a routine part of any admission procedure
D)
to identify strengths and problems

14.

An experienced ICU nurse is mentoring a student. The nurse tells the student, “I think something is going wrong with your patient.” What type of clinical decision making is the experienced nurse demonstrating?
A)
trial-and-error problem solving
B)
intuitive thinking
C)
scientific problem solving
D)
methodical reasoning

15.

A nurse is caring for a patient in the ER who was injured in a snow mobile accident. The nurse documents the following patient data: uncontrollable shivering, weakness, pale and cold skin, and suspects the patient is experiencing hypothermia. Upon further assessment, the nurse notes a heart rate of 53 BPM and core internal temperature of 90°F, which confirms the initial diagnosis. The nurse then devises a plan of care and continues to monitor the patient to evaluate the outcomes. This nurse is using which of the following types of problem solving in her care of this patient?
A)
trial-and-error
B)
scientific
C)
intuitive
D)
critical thinking

16.

Nurses make decisions in their practice every day. Which of the following are potential errors in this decision-making process? Select all that apply.
A)
placing emphasis on the last data received
B)
avoiding information contrary to one’s opinion
C)
selecting alternatives to maintain status quo
D)
being predisposed to multiple solutions
E)
prioritizing problems in order of importance
F)
failing to use appropriate resources

17.

Which of the following is one example of a patient benefit of using the nursing process?
A)
greater personal satisfaction
B)
decreased reliance on the nursing staff
C)
continuity of care
D)
decreased incidence of medical errors

18.

What is a systematic way to form and shape one’s thinking?
A)
critical thinking
B)
intuitive thinking
C)
trial-and-error
D)
interpersonal values

19.

What step in the nursing process is most closely associated with cognitively skilled nurses?
A)
assessing
B)
planning
C)
implementing
D)
evaluating

20.

A nurse asks a multidisciplinary team to collaborate to develop the most appropriate plan of care to meet the needs of an adolescent with a severe head injury. Which of the blended skills essential to nursing practice is the nurse using?
A)
cognitive skills
B)
interpersonal skills
C)
technical skills
D)
ethical/legal skills

21.

A student is asked to perform a skill for which he is not prepared. When using the method of critical thinking, what would be the first step to resolve the situation?
A)
purpose of thinking
B)
adequacy of knowledge
C)
potential problems
D)
helpful resources

22.

Members of the staff on a hospital unit are critical of a patient’s family who has different cultural beliefs about health and illness. A student assigned to the patient does not agree,based on her care of the patient and family. What critical thinking attitude is the student demonstrating?
A)
being curious and persevering
B)
being creative
C)
demonstrating confidence
D)
thinking independently

23.

Nurses apply critical thinking to clinical reasoning and judgment in their nursing practice every day. Which of the following are characteristics of this practice? Select all that apply.
A)
It is guided by standards, policies and procedures, ethics codes, and laws.
B)
It is based on principles of nursing process, problem solving, and the scientific method.
C)
It carefully identifies the key problems, issues, and risks involved.
D)
It is driven by the nurse’s need to document competent, efficient care.
E)
It calls for strategies that make the most of human potential.
F)
It is a skill that has been studied and evaluated to the point of perfection.

24.

As a beginning student in nursing, what is essential to the mastery of technical skills, such as giving an injection?
A)
Read the steps of the procedure before clinical assignments.
B)
Even if you do not know how to give an injection, act as if you do.
C)
Practice giving injections in the learning laboratory until you feel comfortable.
D)
Tell your instructor that you don’t think you can ever give a shot.

25.

Which of the following interpersonal skills is essential to the practice of nursing?
A)
performing technical skills knowledgeably and safely
B)
maintaining emotional distance from patients and families
C)
keeping shared patient personal information confidential
D)
promoting the dignity and respect of patients as people

26.

A nurse believes her employer has violated the law and reports this to the appropriate law enforcement agency. What is this type of action called?
A)
short stopping
B)
whistle-blowing
C)
mud smearing
D)
low balling

Answer Key

A, B, E, F