Swiss cheese is often used as the paradigm for explaining medical error. In this model, the
holes in the cheese represent - ANSWER latent weakness
Full term newborns that are asymptomatic & born to a woman who was pretreated for GBS
with penicillin may be observed in the normal newborn nursery. A limited diagnostic evalua-
tion & antibiotic therapy is indicated in which of the following circumstances? - ANSWER
rupture of membranes occurred 18 hours prior to birth
Implantation of the embryo outside the uterus is called - ANSWER ectopic pregnancy
You are assigned to a patient who is at 38 weeks and 6 days gestation. She is being admitted
for an elective induction of labor because her husband is going on an extended business trip
in 2 days and he wants to be present for the delivery. The hospital has no policy regarding
elective induction, but you know that the AWHONN "Go the Full 40" campaign doesn't sup-
port early elective induction. You approach the physician with your concerns. He responds
that he's been doing this for 30 years and has never had a bad outcome from an elective in-
duction at this gestation. - ANSWER normalization of deviance
A shared understanding of what is going on & what is likely to happen next is known as - AN-
SWER situational awareness
A patient safety event, unrelated to the natural course of the underlying illness, that reaches
a patient and results in death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm with intervention
required to sustain life is an example of - ANSWER sentinel event
Which tool is used when an adverse event has occurred to identify variations in
performance that led to the outcome? - ANSWER root cause analysis
1
,Yearly objectives developed by The Joint Commission that focus on problems in healthcare
safety are known as - ANSWER National patient safety goals
Authoritative statements of the duties that all registered nurses, regardless of role, popula-
tion, or specialty are expected to perform competently are defined - ANSWER standards
of care
Position statements are recommendations for - ANSWER a pathway of action regarding a
particular issue
In health care, an unplanned event that did NOT result in injury, illness, or damage but had
the potential to do so is referred to as a - ANSWER near miss
All of the following are elements of good documentation EXCEPT - ANSWER inclusion of
nursing opinion as to causes of error.
Which of the following is NOT a component of the risk reduction strategy known as closed
loop communication? - ANSWER is only used in emergency patient care situations
You are a nurse on the mother/baby unit caring for a woman who is 12 hours postpartum
from an operative vaginal delivery with midline episiotomy. The woman has severe rectal
pain and reports inability to urinate. You suspect a vaginal hematoma and call her physician
to request an evaluation. The physician does not respond. Under these circumstances it is
appropriate to - ANSWER institute the chain of communication.
Team training is an effective risk management strategy because it - ANSWER outlines ef-
fective communication tools and techniques.
2
, Which two medications frequently used in the perinatal setting are identified as high-risk
medications by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)? - ANSWER magnesium
sulfate & oxytocin
Successful defense against malpractice claims is enhanced by which of the following? - AN-
SWER Following national professional standards.
One of the MOST common and well documented risk factors for preterm labor is - AN-
SWER previous history of preterm birth
Ms. Linghu arrived at the obstetric care unit for a labor evaluation. She is 28 weeks gestation
and is complaining of a lower back ache and cramping. The physician has asked for assis-
tance in obtaining a sample to assess for fetal fibronectin (fFN). Which statement about fFN
is MOST accurate? - ANSWER fFN is a strong predictor or marker for identification of pre-
term labor.
A cerclage placed in women with documented shortened cervical length by ultrasound ex-
amination is called - ANSWER ultrasound indicated cerclage
Current recommendations for antenatal glucocorticoid administration for acceleration of fe-
tal lung maturation is appropriate - ANSWER for women at 24 0/7-33 6/7 weeks gesta-
tion at risk for preterm birth within 7 days.
Which of the following is a contraindication for magnesium sulfate administration? - AN-
SWER nifedipine
Amniotic band syndrome is associated with what complication in pregnancy? - ANSWER
rupture of membranes
Risk factors for placenta previa include - ANSWER previous uterine surgery, smoking, and
hypertension.
3
holes in the cheese represent - ANSWER latent weakness
Full term newborns that are asymptomatic & born to a woman who was pretreated for GBS
with penicillin may be observed in the normal newborn nursery. A limited diagnostic evalua-
tion & antibiotic therapy is indicated in which of the following circumstances? - ANSWER
rupture of membranes occurred 18 hours prior to birth
Implantation of the embryo outside the uterus is called - ANSWER ectopic pregnancy
You are assigned to a patient who is at 38 weeks and 6 days gestation. She is being admitted
for an elective induction of labor because her husband is going on an extended business trip
in 2 days and he wants to be present for the delivery. The hospital has no policy regarding
elective induction, but you know that the AWHONN "Go the Full 40" campaign doesn't sup-
port early elective induction. You approach the physician with your concerns. He responds
that he's been doing this for 30 years and has never had a bad outcome from an elective in-
duction at this gestation. - ANSWER normalization of deviance
A shared understanding of what is going on & what is likely to happen next is known as - AN-
SWER situational awareness
A patient safety event, unrelated to the natural course of the underlying illness, that reaches
a patient and results in death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm with intervention
required to sustain life is an example of - ANSWER sentinel event
Which tool is used when an adverse event has occurred to identify variations in
performance that led to the outcome? - ANSWER root cause analysis
1
,Yearly objectives developed by The Joint Commission that focus on problems in healthcare
safety are known as - ANSWER National patient safety goals
Authoritative statements of the duties that all registered nurses, regardless of role, popula-
tion, or specialty are expected to perform competently are defined - ANSWER standards
of care
Position statements are recommendations for - ANSWER a pathway of action regarding a
particular issue
In health care, an unplanned event that did NOT result in injury, illness, or damage but had
the potential to do so is referred to as a - ANSWER near miss
All of the following are elements of good documentation EXCEPT - ANSWER inclusion of
nursing opinion as to causes of error.
Which of the following is NOT a component of the risk reduction strategy known as closed
loop communication? - ANSWER is only used in emergency patient care situations
You are a nurse on the mother/baby unit caring for a woman who is 12 hours postpartum
from an operative vaginal delivery with midline episiotomy. The woman has severe rectal
pain and reports inability to urinate. You suspect a vaginal hematoma and call her physician
to request an evaluation. The physician does not respond. Under these circumstances it is
appropriate to - ANSWER institute the chain of communication.
Team training is an effective risk management strategy because it - ANSWER outlines ef-
fective communication tools and techniques.
2
, Which two medications frequently used in the perinatal setting are identified as high-risk
medications by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)? - ANSWER magnesium
sulfate & oxytocin
Successful defense against malpractice claims is enhanced by which of the following? - AN-
SWER Following national professional standards.
One of the MOST common and well documented risk factors for preterm labor is - AN-
SWER previous history of preterm birth
Ms. Linghu arrived at the obstetric care unit for a labor evaluation. She is 28 weeks gestation
and is complaining of a lower back ache and cramping. The physician has asked for assis-
tance in obtaining a sample to assess for fetal fibronectin (fFN). Which statement about fFN
is MOST accurate? - ANSWER fFN is a strong predictor or marker for identification of pre-
term labor.
A cerclage placed in women with documented shortened cervical length by ultrasound ex-
amination is called - ANSWER ultrasound indicated cerclage
Current recommendations for antenatal glucocorticoid administration for acceleration of fe-
tal lung maturation is appropriate - ANSWER for women at 24 0/7-33 6/7 weeks gesta-
tion at risk for preterm birth within 7 days.
Which of the following is a contraindication for magnesium sulfate administration? - AN-
SWER nifedipine
Amniotic band syndrome is associated with what complication in pregnancy? - ANSWER
rupture of membranes
Risk factors for placenta previa include - ANSWER previous uterine surgery, smoking, and
hypertension.
3
