TODAY'S ISSUES,
TOMORROW'S TRENDS
9TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)JOSEPH CATALANO
TEST BANK
1) Reference
Chapter 1 — The Development of a Profession: Profession vs.
Job
Stem: A newly licensed RN tells a preceptor, “Nursing is
basically just a job I do for pay.” The preceptor wants to
reinforce a professional view of nursing during orientation.
Which response is best?
,A. “A job is any paid work, so nursing is no different from other
employment.”
B. “Nursing is a profession because it requires specialized
knowledge, accountability, and autonomous judgment.”
C. “A profession is defined mainly by the number of hours
worked each week.”
D. “Nursing becomes a profession only after years of bedside
experience.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
Correct: A profession is more than paid employment; it
involves a specialized body of knowledge, standards,
accountability, and decision-making responsibility. Nursing fits
this professional model because nurses use independent
judgment to protect safety and improve care.
A: This reduces nursing to wage labor and ignores professional
standards, education, and accountability.
C: Hours worked do not determine whether work is a
profession.
D: Experience supports growth, but profession status depends
on knowledge, scope, standards, and responsibility.
Teaching Point: Professions require knowledge, accountability,
and autonomous judgment—not just a paycheck.
,Citation: Catalano, J. (2023). Nursing Now: Today’s Issues,
Tomorrow’s Trends (9th ed.). Ch. 1, The Development of a
Profession.
2) Reference
Chapter 1 — The Development of a Profession: Professional
Autonomy
Stem: During report, a nurse notices that a provider’s order
does not match the patient’s condition. The charge nurse says,
“Just carry it out; that is not our place to question.” What is the
best professional response?
A. Follow the order immediately to avoid conflict.
B. Clarify the order using patient assessment findings and chain
of command as needed.
C. Ask the patient whether the order seems appropriate.
D. Delay all care until the provider returns at the end of the
shift.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
Correct: Professional nursing includes the duty to question and
clarify orders that may be unsafe or inconsistent with
assessment data. This protects patient safety and demonstrates
independent clinical judgment.
, A: Blindly following questionable orders weakens
accountability and may place the patient at risk.
C: Patients should not be burdened with determining whether
an order is clinically appropriate.
D: Withholding care unnecessarily can harm the patient; the
nurse should clarify promptly.
Teaching Point: Professional autonomy includes questioning
unsafe orders and advocating for the patient.
Citation: Catalano, J. (2023). Nursing Now: Today’s Issues,
Tomorrow’s Trends (9th ed.). Ch. 1, The Development of a
Profession.
3) Reference
Chapter 1 — The Development of a Profession: Accountability
Stem: A nurse discovers that a medication was given at the
wrong time and the error was not yet reported. The nurse
manager asks what the first professional action should be.
What should the nurse do?
A. Ignore it because the patient has no obvious symptoms.
B. Report the error according to policy and assess the patient
for harm.
C. Wait until the end of the week and then submit a general
report.