FREE CNO Safe and Effective Care Environment Questions and Answers
Mary Elizabeth, an RPN, is at her son’s bluegrass concert and someone asks for medical assistance for a man who has collapsed. She assesses that the man’s vital signs are absent and CPR is initiated. What should she consider when applying an automated external defibrillator (AED)?
Explanation:
In this emergency situation, Mary Elizabeth must consider several factors before applying an automated external defibrillator (AED) to the collapsed individual. These include determining if it's an emergency, if she has the knowledge and skill to use the AED if the client's condition warrants the procedure, and recognizing that defibrillation is just one part of the care needed during a cardiac arrest. Therefore, the correct answer is E) All of the above.
The RN in our family health clinic forgot to sign for a narcotic wastage prior to leaving for the day. The oncoming RPN discovered the partially used ampule during the evening shift. Can the evening shift nurse sign for the RN’s wastage?
Explanation:
The RPN cannot sign for the other nurse’s wastage. In medication management, it's essential to adhere to strict protocols and ensure accurate documentation, especially when handling controlled substances like narcotics. Only the individual who administered or wasted the medication should sign for the wastage to maintain accountability and legal compliance. Therefore, it is not appropriate for the evening shift nurse (RPN) to sign for the RN's wastage.
A nurse gives a double dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) to a client who only requires a single dose. What, if anything, must the nurse do?
Explanation:
In this scenario, the nurse has made a medication error by giving a double dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) to the client. The appropriate action for the nurse to take is to report the error as soon as possible. Reporting medication errors promptly allows for proper documentation, assessment of the client's condition, and implementation of corrective actions to ensure the client's safety. It is essential to follow organizational policies and procedures for reporting medication errors to prevent harm to the client and improve patient safety.
Your client has reviewed his health record. You answered his questions to ensure he understood the record, but he wants corrections made to a consulting physician's note. What do you do?
Explanation:
Health records are legal documents, and altering another healthcare provider's notes without their consent is not permissible. However, patients can request additions or corrections to their health records. In this scenario, the appropriate action is to inform the client that you cannot change the consulting physician's note directly. Instead, you can assist the client in adding a note of their own or yours to provide clarification or additional information. This maintains the integrity of the original note while addressing the client's concerns.
I am an RPN in an acute setting. I think that a medical directive for narcotic use for patients with chronic pain would be helpful. Is this appropriate?
Explanation:
In an acute setting, the use of medical directives for narcotic administration, especially for patients with chronic pain, may not be appropriate. Medical directives typically apply to specific procedures or interventions and may not be suitable for managing chronic conditions like pain. Instead, patients with chronic pain should have individualized care plans developed in collaboration with healthcare providers, including physicians, RNs, and other members of the healthcare team. RPNs should adhere to established protocols and obtain orders from authorized healthcare providers for medication administration, including narcotics, to ensure patient safety and legal compliance. Therefore, relying solely on a medical directive for narcotic use in this situation may not provide comprehensive and individualized care for patients with chronic pain.
James, a pre-grad practical nursing student who is working on a busy surgical unit, has decided to use a portable bladder ultrasound to assess for urinary retention in a post-operative client. Can James perform this procedure?
Explanation:
If the procedure of using a portable bladder ultrasound to assess for urinary retention is not considered a controlled act in the province of Ontario, then James, as a pre-grad practical nursing student, may indeed be able to perform this procedure under appropriate supervision and within the scope of his training.
I’m an RPN working in a long-term care home. At my workplace, off-site physicians sometimes prescribe antihypertensive medications via telephone. Can I use a physician’s signature stamp on orders received by telephone?
Explanation:
It is not appropriate to use the stamp. Using a physician's signature stamp on orders received by telephone is not appropriate practice in healthcare settings, especially in long-term care homes. It's essential to ensure the authenticity of orders, maintain accurate documentation, and adhere to professional standards. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use a signature stamp in this situation, as it could compromise patient safety and legal validity of the orders.
A client writes to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) stating that a nurse assaulted him during care. What action may CNO take in this situation?
Explanation:
When a client reports an allegation of assault by a nurse, the appropriate action for the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is to investigate the allegation. The CNO is responsible for investigating complaints against nurses to ensure the safety and well-being of the public. This investigation process involves gathering information, interviewing relevant parties, and determining whether disciplinary action or further steps are necessary to address the complaint. Referring the complaint to the nurse's employer, requesting employment termination, or involving law enforcement may occur depending on the outcome of the investigation and the severity of the allegation, but the initial step is to investigate the allegation internally.
A nurse gives a double dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) to a client who only requires a single dose. What, if anything, must the nurse do?
Explanation:
In this scenario, the nurse has made a medication error, which is a safety issue. Reporting the error promptly allows for proper documentation, assessment of the client's condition, and implementation of corrective actions to ensure the client's safety.
An RPN orders an RPN colleague to insert a urethral catheter into a newly admitted client. What should the RPN colleague do?
Explanation:
This scenario involves a situation where an RPN is being asked to perform a procedure that may be beyond their scope of practice. To ensure safe and effective care, the RPN colleague should decline to accept the order. RPNs are required to work within their scope of practice and should not perform tasks for which they are not qualified or authorized. Consulting with an RN or confirming the order with a physician may be appropriate steps if there is uncertainty about the order or if clarification is needed regarding the client's care plan. However, the primary action should be to decline the order to ensure patient safety and adhere to professional standards.
At every stage of life, health is determined by complex interactions among social and economic factors, the physical environment, and individual behaviour. They do not exist in isolation from each other. These determinants, in combination, influence health status.
Explanation:
The passage describes how health is influenced by various factors, including social and economic factors, the physical environment, and individual behavior. These factors collectively shape an individual's health status and are known as determinants of health.