Chapter 12 Workforce Advocacy and the Nursing Shortage

Chapter 12  Workforce Advocacy and the Nursing Shortage

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. When a registered nurse (RN) is asked to accept an assignment that he or she may not be qualified to perform, the nurse should
A.
believe the assignment was right if assigned by a legitimate power.
B.
be primarily concerned with the number of patients being assigned.
C.
ask how other nurses have handled the assignment in the past.
D.
determine whether he or she is familiar with the types of patients being assigned.

ANS: D
(D) is correct because nurses should always think critically about assignments so they can communicate what makes them uncomfortable about a particular assignment. If nurses do not have the knowledge or experience required for particular patient assignments, then modification of the assignments is in order to ensure patient safety. (A) is incorrect because even if the person who makes the assignment has legitimate power, he or she may not be aware of the nurse’s work experiences and training. (B) is incorrect because the nurse should not respond on the basis of the actual number of patients assigned but should consider the needs of each patient, his or her age and condition, other factors that contribute to special needs, and the resources available to meet those needs. (C) is incorrect because each nurse possesses individual expertise. Basing decisions on the actions and capabilities of others is incorrect and is potentially unsafe for the patient.

DIF: Application REF: Page 268, Box 12-8 page 270

2. One workplace issue—the nursing shortage—is caused by several complex issues, including
A.
movement of nurses into acute care settings.
B.
the use of unlicensed assistive personnel to replace RNs.
C.
a mass of “baby boomers” who have chosen nursing as a career.
D.
an aging nursing workforce.

ANS: D
(D) is correct because recent research validates that an aging population and an aging nursing workforce are both significant contributors to the nursing shortage issue. (A) is incorrect because movement of nurses into acute care settings would actually be beneficial in terms of the nursing shortage. As patient care technology increases, the number of nurses needed in acute care settings is increasing. (B) is incorrect because unlicensed assistive personnel cannot be used to replace RNs, although they can be placed in positions that allow them to assist RNs in providing patient care. (C) is incorrect because there has not been a mass of “baby boomers” who have chosen nursing as a career.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page 262

3. Studies conducted to determine why enrollment in nursing schools has declined found
A.
that a greater number of individuals chose nursing as a career but could not meet entrance requirements.
B.
fewer young individuals are available to enter the workforce.
C.
fewer career opportunities exist for women outside of nursing.
D.
men have dominated the profession, and women feel that they have experienced discrimination.

ANS: B
(B) is correct because younger birth cohorts (those born after 1955) are smaller in population size resulting in fewer potential nursing profession candidates. (A) is incorrect because many qualified nursing candidates are turned away because of limited enrollment in nursing schools. The shortage of nursing school faculty limits the number of applicants that can be accepted for admission. (C) is incorrect because actually, job opportunities are more numerous than ever for women. (D) is incorrect because men remain a minority in the nursing profession.

DIF: Analysis REF: Pages 258-259

4. Along with the shortage of enrollment reported in nursing schools is a shortage of faculty, which is attributed to several factors, including
A.
substantial salaries, but the burden of research that leads to burnout.
B.
that faculty choose employment where work hours are more flexible.
C.
increased enrollment in doctoral programs but only in the areas of research and clinical practice, not in the specialty of education.
D.
increasing job competition from higher paying clinical sites.

ANS: D
(D) is correct because according to Yordy (2006), academic institutions, especially those faced with budget cuts, generally cannot compete with nonacademic employers. Faculty salaries continue to be a major contributor to the nursing shortage. (A) is incorrect because faculty salaries are not substantial, and research is not a job requirement in many nursing faculty positions. (B) is incorrect because the educational setting is so desperate for nursing faculty that scheduling flexibility usually is not an issue. Most nursing faculty members actually have greater flexibility with regard to weekend and holiday scheduling than do clinical nurses. (C) is incorrect because enrollment in doctoral programs has not increased in any specialty area because of the faculty shortage.

DIF: Comprehension REF: Page 260