The patient appears to be in no apparent distress, but vital ...

[Shelles]

The patient appears to be in no apparent distress, but vital signs taken by assistive personnel reveal an extremely low pulse.
 
  The nurse then auscultates an apical pulse and asks the patient whether he has any complaints or a history of heart problems. The nurse is utilizing which critical thinking skill? a. Interpretation
  b. Evaluation
  c. Self-regulation
  d. Explanation

Question 2

A bill has been submitted to the State House of Representatives that is designed to reduce the cost of health care by increasing the patient-to-nurse ratio from a maximum of 2:1 in intensive care units to 3:1 . The nurse realizes that
 
  a. Legislation is politics beyond the nurse's control.
  b. National programs have no bearing on state politics.
  c. The individual nurse can influence legislative decisions.
  d. Focusing on nursing care provides the best patient benefit.

[kristenb95]

Answer to Question 1

A
Interpretation involves being orderly in data collection, looking for patterns to categorize data, and clarifying uncertain data. This nurse is clarifying the data in this situation. Evaluation involves determining the effectiveness of interventions. The nurse in this scenario is assessing the patient, not evaluating interventions. Self-regulation is reflecting on experiences. Explanation is supporting findings and conclusions. The nurse in this question is clarifying uncertain data (determining cause of the low pulse), not supporting the finding of a low pulse.

Answer to Question 2

C
Nurses can influence policy decisions at all governmental levels. One way is to get involved in ANA's national efforts, such as Nursing's Agenda for the Future: A Call to the Nation. This effort is critical in exerting nurses' influence early in the political process. Nurses need to become serious students of social needs, activists in influencing policy to meet those needs, and generous contributors of time and money to nursing organizations and candidates to help legislate conditions that are likely to produce the best care possible.

[Shelles]

TYSM

[brbarasa]

Great answer, keep it coming