Z.H. asks what is going to happen to her career. What are the regulatory issues related to impaired nurses that will guide your response?
What will be an ideal response?
Although stipulations vary according to individual state regulatory laws and nurse practice acts, in
general:
• Most state nurse practice acts require that impaired nurses be reported to the licensing body.
• Nurses are usually required to appear before the designated board or committee regulating
nursing practice. Some state boards of nursing allow impaired nurses to avoid disciplinary action if
they seek treatment.
• They are required to report on rehabilitation progress to the designated board or committee
regulating nursing practice at regularly scheduled meetings.
• Usually there is at least a 2-year time period in which the nurse is required to attend peer support
groups, meet with an identified support person representing the peer assistance program, and
undergo random urine drug screens to ensure that there has not been a relapse.
• They are denied access to controlled substances for a specified time.
• If the nurse complies with the terms of probation and is rehabilitated, the license can be fully
restored. If it is violated in any way, further action is taken.
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The Iowa Model identifies problem-focused triggers for implementing an EBP project. Which of the following is a problem-focused trigger in the Iowa Model?
A) A finding published recently in a nursing journal B) A new clinical guideline issued by a federal agency C) An increase in latex allergy among emergency room nurses D) Questions from hospital committee
Dwayne has recently started on carbamazepine to treat seizures. He comes to see you and you note that while his carbamazepine levels had been in the therapeutic range, they are now low. The possible cause for the low carbamazepine levels include:
1. Dwayne hasn't been taking his carbamazepine because it causes insomnia. 2. Carbamazepine auto-induces metabolism, leading to lower levels in spite of good compliance. 3. Dwayne was not originally prescribed the correct amount of carbamazepine. 4. Carbamazepine is probably not the right antiseizure medication for Dwayne.
What could be a likely cause of this?
It is summer and an 82-year-old woman is brought to you from her home after seeing her primary care doctor 2 days ago. She was started on an antibiotic at that time. Today, she comes to the emergency room not knowing where she is or what year it is. A) Alzheimer's dementia B) Stroke C) Delirium D) Meningitis
A type of study nurses are likely to appraise is the ____________, which is often found in the nursing literature and is important to the advancement of EBP
a. Randomized experiment b. Descriptive study c. Case control study d. Randomized controlled trial