The staff nurse has been invited to become a member of the hospital policy and procedure committee. What should the nurse expect in regard to this committee?

Question

1. The committee will meet on an ad hoc basis but will have designated meeting times, will keep minutes, make decisions, and develop reports.
2. The decisions that the committee makes will be the final authority for policy and procedures in the facility.
3. The first step the committee will take to develop policies and procedures is to ask the administration to identify the overall objectives for the committee.
4. The committee will be comprised of 10 or more members, with a chairperson.

Answer 1

3
Explanation: 1. This is a standing, permanent committee, not an ad hoc committee.
2. The committee works in an advisory capacity and therefore does not have the ultimate authority for the approval of a policy or procedure.
3. The first step in the processes needs to be formulation of objectives for the policy and procedure committee; otherwise, the committee will not be organized or effective.
4. The policy and procedure committee should be limited in size from 6-8 members, with terms of at least two years.