NUR 445: MODULE 1 Questions and
Answers
Difference between ICUs in large and small hospitals - answer- -Large medical
centers have multiple ICUs defined by specialty
-Small hospital's may only have one ICU designed to care for a
What must nurses caring for high acuity patients be able to do? - answer- Must be
able to analyze clinical situations, make decisions based on this analysis, and rapidly
intervene to ensure optimal patient outcomes
Who is the only member of the healthcare team who is at the bedside and frequently
coordinates patient care? - answer- Nurses
Who detects early signs of an impending complication with the patient? - answer-
Nurses
What is one of the primary goals for the acute care nurse? - answer- The prevention
of complications
What changes led to decreased job satisfaction and nurses leaving practice in the
high acuity environment? - answer- Nurses required to cross-train and "float" to care
for patients outside their specialty areas. Unlicensed assistive personnel were
trained and supervised by nurses to complete patient care tasks. Fewer young
people are choosing nursing as a career. As population continues to age more
patients will require high-acuity care causing nursing shortage.
What really should be considered when making decisions about nursing staffing
patterns? - answer- The needs of patient and the skill mix of the nursing staff must
be considered when making decisions about staffing patterns. Adequate resources
must be available to evaluate the patient/family response to treatment, education,
and pharm interventions.
What should the first principle of staffing be? - answer- Safe and effective patient
care.
What does the ANCC award hospitals Magnet designation for? - answer- If they are
able to create working environments that are successful in recruiting and retaining
professional nurses.
Which patients are often stereotyped as not being candidates for aggressive
treatment? - answer- Oncology patients
Who must "goals of care" be discussed with and what must be ensured? - answer-
Goals for care must be discussed with the patient and family, allowing ample time for
meaningful discussion; and facilitating these decisions requires adequate training,
, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative effort by the interdisciplinary
team.
What is a major advantage of having technology available in the high acuity
environment? - answer- The patient status can be monitored continuously, using
sensitive physiologic indicators changing status. In unstable patients, the ability to
assess a possible problem before it becomes a full-blown complication may make
the difference between life and death for the patient.
What is a major criticism of nurses who work in high acuity environments? - answer-
Nurses who work with high-acuity patients is that they are too technologically
oriented. The focus nursing care in high-acuity care is on monitoring patients for
subtle physiologic changes
What is alarm fatigue? - answer- Occurs when the number and frequency of alarms
becomes overwhelming, resulting in delayed alarm responses and deliberate alarm
deactivations, both of which adversely affect patient safety
What does working in a healthy environment increase? - answer- Working in a
healthy environment increases job satisfaction and provides a buffer against stress
and burnout
Which professional organization made a commitment to promote healthy work
environments that support quality patient care and high levels of nurse satisfaction? -
answer- The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) made a
commitment to promote healthy work environments that support quality patient care
and high levels of nurse satisfaction.
Who are the gatekeepers of patient safety? - answer- High-acuity nurses
What is burnout? - answer- Feelings of personal and professional frustration, job
dissatisfaction, job insecurity, and emotion and physical exertion. It is a syndrome of
emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishments
that occurs among individuals who work with people on a daily basis.
Symptoms of burnout - answer- a. Behavioral
i. Withdrawal, ambivalence, decreased productivity, increased substance use
b. Physiologic
i. Sleep changes, sexual difficulty, appetite change
c. Psychologic
i. Depression, hostility
d. Cognitive
i. Forgetfulness, poor judgement
What can serve as a buffer against the negative effects of stress? - answer- A
positive social climate, characterized by strong managerial support and
cohesiveness among the staff, serves as a buffer against the negative effects of
stress.
Answers
Difference between ICUs in large and small hospitals - answer- -Large medical
centers have multiple ICUs defined by specialty
-Small hospital's may only have one ICU designed to care for a
What must nurses caring for high acuity patients be able to do? - answer- Must be
able to analyze clinical situations, make decisions based on this analysis, and rapidly
intervene to ensure optimal patient outcomes
Who is the only member of the healthcare team who is at the bedside and frequently
coordinates patient care? - answer- Nurses
Who detects early signs of an impending complication with the patient? - answer-
Nurses
What is one of the primary goals for the acute care nurse? - answer- The prevention
of complications
What changes led to decreased job satisfaction and nurses leaving practice in the
high acuity environment? - answer- Nurses required to cross-train and "float" to care
for patients outside their specialty areas. Unlicensed assistive personnel were
trained and supervised by nurses to complete patient care tasks. Fewer young
people are choosing nursing as a career. As population continues to age more
patients will require high-acuity care causing nursing shortage.
What really should be considered when making decisions about nursing staffing
patterns? - answer- The needs of patient and the skill mix of the nursing staff must
be considered when making decisions about staffing patterns. Adequate resources
must be available to evaluate the patient/family response to treatment, education,
and pharm interventions.
What should the first principle of staffing be? - answer- Safe and effective patient
care.
What does the ANCC award hospitals Magnet designation for? - answer- If they are
able to create working environments that are successful in recruiting and retaining
professional nurses.
Which patients are often stereotyped as not being candidates for aggressive
treatment? - answer- Oncology patients
Who must "goals of care" be discussed with and what must be ensured? - answer-
Goals for care must be discussed with the patient and family, allowing ample time for
meaningful discussion; and facilitating these decisions requires adequate training,
, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative effort by the interdisciplinary
team.
What is a major advantage of having technology available in the high acuity
environment? - answer- The patient status can be monitored continuously, using
sensitive physiologic indicators changing status. In unstable patients, the ability to
assess a possible problem before it becomes a full-blown complication may make
the difference between life and death for the patient.
What is a major criticism of nurses who work in high acuity environments? - answer-
Nurses who work with high-acuity patients is that they are too technologically
oriented. The focus nursing care in high-acuity care is on monitoring patients for
subtle physiologic changes
What is alarm fatigue? - answer- Occurs when the number and frequency of alarms
becomes overwhelming, resulting in delayed alarm responses and deliberate alarm
deactivations, both of which adversely affect patient safety
What does working in a healthy environment increase? - answer- Working in a
healthy environment increases job satisfaction and provides a buffer against stress
and burnout
Which professional organization made a commitment to promote healthy work
environments that support quality patient care and high levels of nurse satisfaction? -
answer- The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) made a
commitment to promote healthy work environments that support quality patient care
and high levels of nurse satisfaction.
Who are the gatekeepers of patient safety? - answer- High-acuity nurses
What is burnout? - answer- Feelings of personal and professional frustration, job
dissatisfaction, job insecurity, and emotion and physical exertion. It is a syndrome of
emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishments
that occurs among individuals who work with people on a daily basis.
Symptoms of burnout - answer- a. Behavioral
i. Withdrawal, ambivalence, decreased productivity, increased substance use
b. Physiologic
i. Sleep changes, sexual difficulty, appetite change
c. Psychologic
i. Depression, hostility
d. Cognitive
i. Forgetfulness, poor judgement
What can serve as a buffer against the negative effects of stress? - answer- A
positive social climate, characterized by strong managerial support and
cohesiveness among the staff, serves as a buffer against the negative effects of
stress.
