PCC Prep Exam 1 Questions & Answers
2024/2025
Describe the educational requirements for current nursing practice. - ANSWERSGraduate from an
accredited nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Five levels of education for entry into practice:
*Diploma*: Hospital-based programs, modeled after the Nightingale Schools of Nursing apprenticeship
style of learning. The typical program lasts 3 years and focuses on clinical experience in direct client care.
Since the 1960s, the number of diploma programs has steadily decreased to less than 10% of registered
nursing programs.
*ADN*: This type of program, conceptualized by Mildred Montag, emerged during the nursing shortage
following World War II. Most associate degree (AD) programs are offered in community colleges.
Although the nursing component typically lasts 2 years, students are required to take numerous other
courses in liberal arts and the sciences. ADN nurses are prepared to provide direct client care.
*BSN*: The course of study in pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs lasts at least
8 semesters. Graduates are prepared to assume administrative responsibilities, address complex clinical
situations, oversee and provide direct client care, work in community care, apply research findings, and
enter graduate education. The Institute of Medicine (2011) established a goal to increase the proportion
of baccalaureate-prepared nurses to 80% by 2020. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing
(AACN) recognizes the baccalaureate degree as the minimum education for professional-level nursing
practice (2019). However, the AACN acknowledges support of licensure at the ADN level.
*RN to BSN*: Nurse who has an associate degree enrolls in a program of study that leads to a BSN
degree. The length of time required to complete the BSN varies according to the program and the
number of credits each student can transfer.
*Master's*: Prepare RNs to function in a more independent and autonomo
Define patient centered care and healthcare settings. - ANSWERS*Provide client-centered care*:
-Respect clients' differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs.
-Relieve pain and suffering.
-Coordinate continuous care.
-Communicate and provide client education.
-Focus on health promotion and illness prevention.
,*Provide goal-directed, client-centered care*:
-Establish mutual goals with clients.
-Show respect for client values, religious beliefs, needs, and preferences.
-Implement interventions to promote client comfort, promote health, prevent illness, or transition to a
peaceful death.
-Provide client education to foster informed decisions and involvement in care and to facilitate
postdischarge health.
List important nursing organizations. - ANSWERS*American Nurses Association (ANA)*
-National professional organization.
-Originally, the ANA focused on establishing standards of nursing to promote high-quality care and work
toward licensure as a means of ensuring adherence to the standards. The ANA continues to update its
standards. Representatives are elected from the local branches of the state organizations to bring their
concerns to the national level. As such, they track healthcare legislation, serve as liaisons with national
government representatives to inform them of how current and proposed legislation will affect nursing,
and develop and sponsor legislation that will have a positive effect on nursing and on client care. The
ANA publishes educational materials on nursing news, issues, and standards. The official publication is
The American Nurse.
*National League for Nursing (NLN)*
-Establishes and maintains a universal standard of education
-Sets standards for all types of nursing education programs, studies the nursing workforce, lobbies and
participates with other major healthcare organizations to set policy for the nursing workforce, aids
faculty development, funds research on nursing education, and publishes the journal Nursing Education
Perspectives.
*International Council of Nurses (ICN)*
-Federation of national nursing organizations
-Aims to ensure quality nursing care for all, supports global health policies that advance nursing and
improve worldwide health, and strives to improve working conditions for nurses throughout the world.
*National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA)*
, -Represents nursing students in the United States. It is the student counterpart of the ANA. Like the ANA,
this association comprises elected volunteers who advocate on behalf of student nurses. The NSNA
sponsors yearly conventions to address the concerns of nursing stude
Explain the many roles of the nurse (10 roles), including the role of how to use evidence-based practice. -
ANSWERSRoles:
*Direct care provider*: addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the client. (i.e.
listening to lung sounds, giving medications, client teaching).
*Communicator*: using interpersonal and therapeutic communication skills to address the needs of the
client, to facilitate communication in the healthcare team, and to advise the community about health
promotion and disease prevention. (i.e. counseling a client, discussing staffing needs at a unit meeting,
providing HIV education at a local school).
*Client/family educator*: assessing and diagnosing the teaching needs of the client, group, family, or
community. Once the diagnosis is made, nurses plan how to meet these needs, implement the teaching
plan, and evaluate its effectiveness. (i.e. postoperative teaching, prenatal education for siblings,
community classes on nutrition).
*Client advocate*: supporting clients' right to make healthcare decisions when they are able to voice
their opinions and protecting clients from harm when they are unable to make decisions. (i.e. helping a
client explain to his family that he does not want to have further chemo).
*Counselor*: using therapeutic communication skills to advise clients about health-related issues. (i.e.
counseling a client on weight-loss strategies).
*Change agent*: advocating for change on an individual, group, family, community, or societal level that
enhances health. The nurse may use counseling, communication, and educator skills to accomplish this
change. (i.e. working to improve the nutritional quality of the lunch program at a school).
*Leader*: inspiring others by setting an example of positive health, assertive communication, and
willingness to improve.(i.e. Florence Nightingale).
*Manager*: coordinating and managing the activities of all members of the team. (i.e. charge nu
Assess and intervene to promote patient safety. - ANSWERS*General interventions related to safety*:
Specific nursing activities are designed to monitor and manipulate the physical environment to promote
safety.
-The following general activities provide an overview of your role in safe, effective nursing care (Thinking,
Doing, Caring) in all types of settings and circumstances:
