Deck 6: Distinguishing the RN Role From the LPN/LVN Role

Question 1

A nurse on a postsurgical unit is alarmed by the number of postoperative infections that have been reported for her unit over the last year. The nurse acquires data from other hospitals and begins observing the health care team to determine the hand washing rates. This nurse is functioning in which care provider role?

A) Manager
B) Change agent
C) Researcher
D) Counselor

Answer 1

C
The nurse who researches the infection rate and begins data gathering by observing is functioning in the researcher role. Managers oversee change, change agents initiate change, and counselors assist patients and families with psychosocial needs.

Question 2

The student understands that the LPN/LVN role differs from the RN role in many areas. She shows understanding when she can state that the LPN/LVN and RN are similar in which area?

A) Educational preparation
B) Thinking skills
C) Assessment skills
D) Basic psychomotor skills

Answer 2

D
LPN/LVNs and RNs have similar preparation in basic psychomotor skills such as wound care, urinary catheterization, patient hygiene, and so on. It is the critical thinking and assessment skills that go beyond the basic task that make a difference.

Question 3

The RN is caring for the following patients. Which patient and task are most appropriate to assign to the LPN/LVN?

A) A 34-year-old female patient who will need discharge teaching
B) A 40-year-old postoperative male patient who needs a dressing change
C) A 64-year-old female patient who needs a bed bath
D) A 79-year-old patient whose plan of care needs to be updated

Answer 3

B
The LPN/LVN is skilled in dressing changes. The nursing assistant is skilled in giving a bed bath. Discharge teaching and updating the plan of care are tasks that must be performed by the RN.

Question 4

A nurse manager is discussing the RN's scope of practice with a new hire. Which statement, made by the new hire, is not true of the RN's scope of practice?

A) "A nurse may be disciplined by the Board of Nursing for practicing beyond his or her scope of practice."
B) "Scope of practice is legally defined by the American Nurses Association."
C) "Scope of practice defines the responsibilities of nurses."
D) "Scope of practice can be found in state nurse practice acts."

Question 5

An RN has called the physician to explain that the patient is having second thoughts about a procedure and would like to learn more about the alternatives before proceeding. In this instance the RN is enacting the element of the RN role known as:

A) counselor.
B) researcher.
C) advocate.
D) mentor.

Question 6

An LPN/LVN in RN school is experiencing frustration because the expectations of her as a nurse at work are very different from her role as a student in nursing school, and fulfilling both is confusing at times. She has an appropriate understanding of her situation when she states that it is known as:

A) role conflict.
B) dissociative behavior.
C) coping mechanism.
D) license confusion.

Question 7

Which function falls within the LPN/LVN's scope of practice?

A) Formulating the plan of care
B) Collecting data
C) Selecting nursing diagnoses
D) Setting goals, objectives, and outcomes

Question 8

A nurse manager is teaching a class about the different role elements of RNs. If she has an adequate understanding, she can state that a care provider is:

A) "a nurse who medically manages patients."
B) "an RN who carries out interventions that assist patients to meet positive outcomes."
C) "a nurse who seeks out new endeavors."
D) "a nurse who seeks out positive changes in the best interest of his or her patients."

Question 9

The nursing student is reviewing the different organizations that provide services for nurses. She interprets the American Nurses Credentialing Center as:

A) an association that provides accreditation for baccalaureate and higher degree nursing education programs.
B) the unifying body for the state boards of nursing.
C) an association that offers certification in many nursing specialties.
D) an organization that offers the national licensure examination.

Question 10

The student is studying the history of nursing education. She is able to identify which nursing degree program as the first one in the United States for RNs?

A) Associate's degree
B) Bachelor's degree
C) Diploma degree
D) Master's degree

Question 11

The RN utilizes problem-solving skills to do all of the following except:

A) establish mutual goals with the patient and family.
B) formulate a care plan.
C) assist patients to achieve expected outcomes in the plan of care.
D) oversee implementation and evaluation of the plan.

Question 12

A student in an LPN to RN transition program is at the clinical site and monitoring the vital signs of a patient receiving blood. At 15 minutes into the infusion, the patient begins to complain of itching and shortness of breath. It is evident that the student nurse is developing critical thinking skills when she does which of the following?

A) Stops the infusion, calls for the patient's nurse, and reports a possible reaction to the blood.
B) Calls for the patient's nurse and asks whether she can slow the infusion down.
C) Continues with routine monitoring and reports the patient's condition as unremarkable.
D) Calls for the patient's nurse and asks whether she can speed up the infusion to deliver the blood faster.

Question 13

Which action defines the nurse as a care provider in an inpatient setting?

A) Holding an information session on diabetes management and prevention
B) Running a blood pressure screening in the lobby of the hospital
C) Assisting new parents after the delivery of preterm twins
D) Handing out pamphlets on how to lower cholesterol

Question 14

The charge nurse is creating assignments for the oncoming shift. She notices that today staffing consists of three RNs and one LPN. Which assignment would be most appropriate for the LPN?

A) Acute MI: needs preparation for the catheter lab
B) Flu-like symptoms: needs reassessment of vital signs every hour
C) Possible stroke: needs anticoagulation therapy
D) Dehydration: needs IVF boluses and IV antiemetics

Question 15

The registered nurse takes on different care provider roles in the health care setting. Which roles could the nurse assume when caring for a patient who has just been diagnosed with cancer? (Select all that apply.)

A) Counselor
B) Educator
C) Advocate
D) Collaborator
E) Medical power of attorney

Question 16

The RN understands that the National League for Nursing (NLN) delineates three professional roles of the associate degree nurse when she lists all of the following except:

A) manager of care.
B) team player.
C) provider of care.
D) member of profession.

Question 17

The nurse would assume the care provider role of educator during which action?

A) Leading a hand washing initiative to reduce infection rates
B) Answering a new mother's questions about breastfeeding
C) Working with colleagues to transfer a patient into a rehab center
D) Requesting more pain medications for a patient who is recovering from a total hip replacement

Question 18

An RN student is discussing formal role socialization with her nursing professor. The professor believes the RN student has a good understanding when she states that formal role socialization:

A) "can occur in any informal setting."
B) "occurs during patient teaching."
C) "does not occur in the classroom setting."
D) "only occurs spontaneously."

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of professional advocacy in nursing?

A) Charting and writing up a medication error
B) Writing up a nursing assistant for excessive absences
C) Writing one's senator concerning mandatory overtime
D) Mentoring a new graduate RN who is new to the unit

Question 20

A student is preparing for an exam on the different role elements of an RN. She is prepared for the exam when she can state that all of the following are elements of the RN role except:

A) collaborator.
B) manager.
C) counselor.
D) therapist.