A nurse enters the room of a critically ill child and has a sense ...

[james]

A nurse enters the room of a critically ill child and has a sense that something isn't right.
 
  After performing an initial physical assessment and finding that the child is stable, the nurse continues to perform a check of all the lines and equipment in the room and finds that the last IV solution hung by the previous nurse was not the correct solution. This nurse was utilizing which method of problem solving?
  1. Trial and error
  2. Intuition
  3. Judgment
  4. Scientific method

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a client who has unstable cardiac dysrhythmias. The client has orders for medications, one of which is by oral route, the other by IV delivery.
 
  The nurse realizes that the IV route would be fastest, but is also concerned about the side effects that this drug may produce and the fact that the client has never taken the drug, so any adverse effect is unknown. The nurse is implementing which step of the decision-making process?
  1. Identify the purpose
  2. Seek alternatives
  3. Project
  4. Implement

[jgranad15]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Trial and error is solving problems through a number of approaches until a solution is found.
Rationale 2: Intuition is the understanding or learning of things without the conscious use of reasoning. It is also known as sixth sense, hunch, instinct, feeling, or suspicion. Clinical experience allows the nurse to recognize cues and patterns and begin to reach correct conclusions using intuition. Finding no cause for concern in the physical assessment of the client, the nurse is not satisfied and continues to assess the client's surroundings, finding the error.
Rationale 3: Judgment is not part of problem solving.
Rationale 4: The scientific method requires that the nurse evaluate potential solutions to a given problem in an organized, formal, and systematic approach.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: In this step, the decision maker (nurse) identifies possible ways to meet the criteria. Alternatives considered are which route to give a certain medication: IV versus oral. The nurse is utilizing his experience, taking what he knows about cardiac problems and pharmacology, and will make a selection based on that information. Identifying the purpose, in this case, would be determining that the client needs intervention to control the dysrhythmia. Projecting is when the nurse applies creative thinking and skepticism to determine what might go wrong as a result of a decision and develops plans to prevent, minimize, or overcome any problems. Implementation is taking the plan into action.

[james]

Thank you!

[jgranad15]

Always glad to help...