Comprehensive Predictor
Study Guide
Professional Responsibilities: Durable Power of Attorney for
Health Care
A. A durable power of attorney for health care/health care proxy is a legal
document that designates a health care surrogate, who is an individual
authorized to make healthcare decisions for a client who is unable.
B. The person who serves in the role of health care surrogate to make
decisions for the client should be very familiar with the client’s wishes.
C. Living wills can be difficult to interpret, especially in the face of unexpected
circumstances. A durable power of attorney for health care, as an adjunct to a
living will, can be a more effective way of ensuring that the client’s decisions
about health care are honored.
Managing Client Care: Organizing Workload to
Manage Time Effectively TIME MANAGEMENT
A. Organize care according to client care needs and priorities.
B. What must be done immediately (administration of analgesic or antiemetic,
assessment of unstable client)?
C. What must be done by a specific time to ensure client safety, quality care, and
compliance with facility
policies and procedures (routine medication administration, vital signs, blood
glucose monitoring)?
D. What must be done by the end of the shift (ambulation of the client,
discharge and/or discharge teaching, dressing change)?
o What can the nurse delegate?
o What tasks can only the RN perform?
E. What client care responsibilities can the nurse delegate to other health care
,team members, such as practical nurses (PNs) and assistive personnel (APs)?
F. Use time-saving strategies and avoid time wasters. (1.2)
G. Good time management
o Facilitates greater productivity.
o Decreases work-related stress.
o Helps ensure the provision of quality and appropriately prioritized client
care.
o Enhances satisfaction with care provided.
H. Poor time management
I. Impairs productivity.
J. Leads to feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed.
K. Increases omission of important tasks.
L. Creates dissatisfaction with
care provided. Time management
is a cyclic process.
A. Time initially spent developing a plan will save time later and help to avoid
management by crisis.
B. Set goals and plan care based on established priorities and thoughtful
utilization of resources.
C. Complete one client care task before beginning the next, starting with the
highest priority task.
D. Reprioritize remaining tasks based on continual reassessment of client care
needs.
E. At the end of the day, perform a time analysis and
determine if time was used wisely. TIME MANAGEMENT AND
SELF-CARE
,A. Take time for yourself.
B. Schedule time for breaks and meals.
C. Take physical and mental breaks from work and the unit.
Professional Responsibilities: Educating Staff About Client Advocacy
A. As advocates, nurses must ensure that clients are informed of their rights
and have adequate information on which to base health care decisions.
B. Nurses must be careful to assist clients with making health care decisions
and not direct or control their decisions.
C. Nurses mediate on the client’s behalf when the actions of others are not
in the client’s best interest or changes need to be made in the plan of care.
D. Do not need a lawyer
E. Situations in which nurses might need to advocate
o End-of-life decisions
o Access to health care
o Protection of client privacy
o Informed consent
o Substandard practice
NURSING ROLE IN ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
A. Providing written information regarding advance directives
B. Documenting the client’s advance directives status
C. Ensuring that advance directives are current and reflective of the client’s
current decisions
D. Recognizing that the client’s choice takes priority when there is a conflict
between the client and family, or between the client and the provider
E. Informing all members of the health care team of the client’s advance
, directives
Professional responsibilities: Client Advocacy
Managing Client Care: Responding to an Incomplete Delegated Task
SUPERVISION
A. Occurs after delegation. A supervisor oversees a staff member’s
performance of delegated activities and determines if:
B. Completion of tasks is on schedule.
C. Performance was at a satisfactory level.
D. Unexpected findings were documented and reported.
E. Assistance is needed to complete assigned tasks
in a timely manner. Assignment should be
reevaluated and possibly changed
Cultural and Spiritual Nursing Care: Working With an Interpreter
A. Use only a facility-approved medical interpreter. Do not use the client’s
family or friends, or a nondesignated employee to interpret.
B. Inform the interpreter about the reason for and the type of questions
that will be asked, the expected response (brief or detailed), and with whom
to converse.
C. Allow time for the interpreter and the family to be introduced and become
acquainted before starting the interview.
D. Ask one question at a time
E. Direct the questions to the family, not
to the interpreter. Use lay terminology
F. Do not interrupt the interpreter, the client, or the family as they talk.
Following the interview, ask the interpreter for any additional thoughts about
the interview and the client’s and family’s responses, both verbal and nonverbal.
Study Guide
Professional Responsibilities: Durable Power of Attorney for
Health Care
A. A durable power of attorney for health care/health care proxy is a legal
document that designates a health care surrogate, who is an individual
authorized to make healthcare decisions for a client who is unable.
B. The person who serves in the role of health care surrogate to make
decisions for the client should be very familiar with the client’s wishes.
C. Living wills can be difficult to interpret, especially in the face of unexpected
circumstances. A durable power of attorney for health care, as an adjunct to a
living will, can be a more effective way of ensuring that the client’s decisions
about health care are honored.
Managing Client Care: Organizing Workload to
Manage Time Effectively TIME MANAGEMENT
A. Organize care according to client care needs and priorities.
B. What must be done immediately (administration of analgesic or antiemetic,
assessment of unstable client)?
C. What must be done by a specific time to ensure client safety, quality care, and
compliance with facility
policies and procedures (routine medication administration, vital signs, blood
glucose monitoring)?
D. What must be done by the end of the shift (ambulation of the client,
discharge and/or discharge teaching, dressing change)?
o What can the nurse delegate?
o What tasks can only the RN perform?
E. What client care responsibilities can the nurse delegate to other health care
,team members, such as practical nurses (PNs) and assistive personnel (APs)?
F. Use time-saving strategies and avoid time wasters. (1.2)
G. Good time management
o Facilitates greater productivity.
o Decreases work-related stress.
o Helps ensure the provision of quality and appropriately prioritized client
care.
o Enhances satisfaction with care provided.
H. Poor time management
I. Impairs productivity.
J. Leads to feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed.
K. Increases omission of important tasks.
L. Creates dissatisfaction with
care provided. Time management
is a cyclic process.
A. Time initially spent developing a plan will save time later and help to avoid
management by crisis.
B. Set goals and plan care based on established priorities and thoughtful
utilization of resources.
C. Complete one client care task before beginning the next, starting with the
highest priority task.
D. Reprioritize remaining tasks based on continual reassessment of client care
needs.
E. At the end of the day, perform a time analysis and
determine if time was used wisely. TIME MANAGEMENT AND
SELF-CARE
,A. Take time for yourself.
B. Schedule time for breaks and meals.
C. Take physical and mental breaks from work and the unit.
Professional Responsibilities: Educating Staff About Client Advocacy
A. As advocates, nurses must ensure that clients are informed of their rights
and have adequate information on which to base health care decisions.
B. Nurses must be careful to assist clients with making health care decisions
and not direct or control their decisions.
C. Nurses mediate on the client’s behalf when the actions of others are not
in the client’s best interest or changes need to be made in the plan of care.
D. Do not need a lawyer
E. Situations in which nurses might need to advocate
o End-of-life decisions
o Access to health care
o Protection of client privacy
o Informed consent
o Substandard practice
NURSING ROLE IN ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
A. Providing written information regarding advance directives
B. Documenting the client’s advance directives status
C. Ensuring that advance directives are current and reflective of the client’s
current decisions
D. Recognizing that the client’s choice takes priority when there is a conflict
between the client and family, or between the client and the provider
E. Informing all members of the health care team of the client’s advance
, directives
Professional responsibilities: Client Advocacy
Managing Client Care: Responding to an Incomplete Delegated Task
SUPERVISION
A. Occurs after delegation. A supervisor oversees a staff member’s
performance of delegated activities and determines if:
B. Completion of tasks is on schedule.
C. Performance was at a satisfactory level.
D. Unexpected findings were documented and reported.
E. Assistance is needed to complete assigned tasks
in a timely manner. Assignment should be
reevaluated and possibly changed
Cultural and Spiritual Nursing Care: Working With an Interpreter
A. Use only a facility-approved medical interpreter. Do not use the client’s
family or friends, or a nondesignated employee to interpret.
B. Inform the interpreter about the reason for and the type of questions
that will be asked, the expected response (brief or detailed), and with whom
to converse.
C. Allow time for the interpreter and the family to be introduced and become
acquainted before starting the interview.
D. Ask one question at a time
E. Direct the questions to the family, not
to the interpreter. Use lay terminology
F. Do not interrupt the interpreter, the client, or the family as they talk.
Following the interview, ask the interpreter for any additional thoughts about
the interview and the client’s and family’s responses, both verbal and nonverbal.
