Chapter 1, Introduction to Nursing
An oncology nurse with 15 years of experience, certification in the area of oncology nursing, and a master‘s degree is
considered to be an expert in her area of practice and works on an oncology unit in a large teaching hospital. Based upon
this description, which of the following career roles best describes this nurse‘s role, taking into account her
1. qualifications and experience?
A) Clinical nurse specialist
B) Nurse entrepreneur
C) Nurse practitioner
D) Nurse educator
Ans: A
Feedback:
A clinical nurse specialist is a nurse with an advanced degree, education, or experience who is considered to be an expert
in a specialized area of nursing. The clinical nurse specialist carries out direct patient care; consultation; teaching of
patients, families, and staff; and research. A nurse practitioner has an advanced degree and works in a variety of settings
to deliver primary care. A nurse educator usually has an advanced degree and teaches in the educational or clinical
setting. A nurse entrepreneur may manage a clinic or health-related business.
What guidelines do nurses follow to identify the patient‘s health care needs and strengths, to establish and carry out a
2. plan of care to meet those needs, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan to meet established outcomes?
A) Nursing process
B) ANA Standards of Professional Performance N
C) Evidence-based practice guidelines
D) Nurse Practice Acts
Ans: A
Feedback:
The nursing process is one of the major guidelines for nursing practice. Nurses implement their roles through the nursing
process. The nursing process is used by the nurse to identify the patient‘s health care needs and strengths, to establish
and carry out a plan of care to meet those needs, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan to meet established
outcomes.
Which of the following organizations is the best source of information when a nurse wishes to determine whether an
3. action is within the scope of nursing practice?
A) American Nurses Association (ANA)
B) American Association of Colleges in Nursing (AACN)
C) National League for Nursing (NLN)
D) International Council of Nurses (ICN)
Ans: A
Feedback:
The ANA produces the 2003 Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, which defines the activities specific and unique
to nursing. The AACN addresses educational standards, while the NLN promotes and fosters various aspects of nursing.
, The ICN provides a venue for national nursing organizations to collaborate, but does not define standards and scope of
practice.
4. Who is considered to be the founder of professional nursing?
A) Dorothea Dix
B) Lillian Wald
C) Florence Nightingale
D) Clara Barton
Ans: C
Feedback:
Florence Nightingale is considered to be the founder of professional nursing. She elevated the status of nursing to a
respected occupation, improved the quality of nursing care, and founded modern nursing education. Although the other
choices are women who were important to the development of nursing, none of them is considered the founder.
5. Which of the following nursing pioneers established the Red Cross in the United States in 1882?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Clara Barton
C) Dorothea Dix
D) Jane Addams
Ans: B N
Feedback:
Clara Barton volunteered to care for wounds and feed union soldiers during the civil war, served as the supervisor of
nurses for the Army of the James, organized hospitals and nurses, and established the Red Cross in the United States in
1882.
A nurse practitioner is caring for a couple who are the parents of an infant diagnosed with Down Syndrome. The nurse
6. makes referrals for a parent support group for the family. This is an example of which nursing role?
A) Teacher/Educator
B) Leader
C) Counselor
D) Collaborator
Ans: C
Feedback:
Counseling skills involve the use of therapeutic interpersonal communication skills to provide information, make
appropriate referrals, and facilitate the patient‘s problem-solving and decision-making skills. The teacher/educator uses
communication skills to assess, implement, and evaluate individualized teaching plans to meet learning needs of clients
and their families. A leader displays an assertive, self-confident practice of nursing when providing care, effecting
change, and functioning with groups. The collaborator uses skills in organization, communication, and advocacy to
facilitate the functions of all members of the health care team as they provide patient care.
A nurse is providing nursing care in a neighborhood clinic to single, pregnant teens. Which of the following actions is
7. the best example of using the counselor role as a nurse?
,A) Discussing the legal aspects of adoption for teens wishing to place their infants with a family
B) Searching the Internet for information on child care for the teens who wish to return to school
C) Conducting a client interview and documenting the information on the client‘s chart
D) Referring a teen who admits having suicidal thoughts to a mental health care specialist
Ans: D
Feedback:
The role of the counselor includes making appropriate referrals. Discussing legal issues is the role of the advocate and
searching for information on the Internet is the role of a researcher. Conducting a client interview would fall under the
role of the caregiver.
A nurse instructor explains the concept of health to her students. Which of the following statements accurately describes
8. this state of being?
A) Health is a state of optimal functioning.
B) Health is an absence of illness.
C) Health is always an objective state.
D) Health is not determined by the patient.
Ans: A
Feedback:
N
Health is a state of optimal functioning or well-being. As defined by the World Health Organization, one‘s health
includes physical, social, and mental components and is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is often a
subjective state; a person may be medically diagnosed with an illness but still consider himself or herself healthy.
A nurse incorporates the health promotion guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health document: Healthy
9. People 2010. Which of the following is a health indicator discussed in this document?
A) Cancer
B) Obesity
C) Diabetes
D) Hypertension
Ans: B
Feedback:
The 10 leading indicators of health established by Healthy People 2010 are: physical activity, excessive weight and
obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible sexual behavior, mental health, injury and violence, environmental
quality, immunizations, and access to health care.
10. Which of the following is a criteria that defines nursing as profession?
A) an undefined body of knowledge
B) a dependence on the medical profession
C) an ability to diagnose medical problems
D) a strong service orientation
, Ans: D
Feedback:
Nursing is recognized increasingly as a profession based on the following defining criteria: well-defined body of specific
and unique knowledge; strong service orientation; recognized authority by a professional group; code of ethics;
professional organization that sets standards; ongoing research; and autonomy.
After graduation from an accredited program in nursing and successfully passing the NCLEX, what gives the nurse a
11. legal right to practice?
A) Enrolling in an advanced degree program
B) Filing NCLEX results in the county of residence
C) Being licensed by the State Board of Nursing
D) Having a signed letter confirming graduation
Ans: C
Feedback:
The Board of Nursing in each state has the legal authority to allow graduates of approved schools of nursing to take the
licensing examination. Those who successfully meet the requirements for licensure are given a license to practice
nursing in the state. It is illegal to practice nursing without a license issued by the State Board of Nursing. A nurse does
not have the legal right to practice nursing by enrolling in an advanced degree program, filing NCLEX results, or having
a letter confirming graduation.
A health care facility determined that a nurse employed on a medical unit was documenting care that was not being
given, and subsequently reported the action to the State Board of Nursing. How might this affect the nurse‘s license to
12. practice nursing? N
A) It will have no effect on the ability to practice nursing.
B) The nurse can practice nursing at a less-skilled level.
C) The nurse‘s license may be revoked or suspended.
D) The nurse‘s license will permanently carry a felony conviction.
Ans: C
Feedback:
The license and the right to practice nursing can be denied, revoked, or suspended for professional misconduct, such as a
crime. Other areas of professional misconduct include incompetence, negligence, and chemical impairment. Committing
a felony does affect the legal right to practice nursing, does not allow the nurse to practice at a lower level, and is not
attached to the license.
While providing care to the diabetic patient the nurse determines that the patient has a knowledge deficit regarding
13. insulin administration. This nursing action is described in which phase of the nursing process?
A) evaluation
B) implementation
C) planning
D) nursing diagnosis
Ans: D
