As a nurse manager, you trial a new pain scale on your unit that is supported by numerous research studies. You compare the patient outcomes with the new scale against the existing scale
Feedback from staff suggests that the new scale is too difficult for patients who have limited language skills and who are already under duress to understand. The difficulty in implementing the new scale refers to testing:
a. Efficacy.
b. Effectiveness.
c. Practice failure.
d. Comparative error.
ANS: B
Comparing the effectiveness of interventions can help to address the needs of clinicians in determining best practices for their patients. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is the "generation and synthesis of evidence that compares the benefits and harms of alternative methods to prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor a clinical condition or to improve the delivery of care" (Institute of Medicine, 2009, p. 29). Efficacy is testing an intervention or treatment in a traditional randomized clinical trial under carefully controlled conditions and is used to determine whether an intervention or treatment works, whereas effectiveness is testing whether the intervention or treatment works in the real world of practice.
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The nurse is examining a patient's lower leg and notices a draining ulceration. Which of these actions is most appropriate in this situation?
a. Washing hands, and contacting the physician b. Continuing to examine the ulceration, and then washing hands c. Washing hands, putting on gloves, and continuing with the examination of the ulceration d. Washing hands, proceeding with rest of the physical examination, and then continuing with the examination of the leg ulceration
An elderly patient is admitted to the CCU with a critical illness. To support the developmental goals and tasks of this patient, what is an appropriate intervention?
A) Restrict visiting to very immediate family members to prevent fatigue. B) Contact the social worker to help place pets in the animal shelter. C) Call the patient by a nickname such as Grandma or Grandpa. D) Ask the patient about his life accomplishments and feelings of satisfaction.
Understanding your feelings, strengths, and weaknesses is:
a. Consideration b. Trustworthiness c. Conscientiousness d. Self-awareness
A patient with schizophrenia receives a dose of risperidone (Risperdal Consta) IM. The nurse teaching this patient about this medication will make which statement?
a. "You will experience therapeutic levels of this drug in 1 to 2 weeks." b. "You will need injections of this drug every 6 weeks." c. "You will need to take an oral antipsychotic drug for 3 weeks." d. "You probably will not have extrapyramidal symptoms with this drug."