SUD Practice Test PDF

**Question 1:** A nurse manager notices that a staff nurse is volunteering for extra shifts, frequently administering pain medications, and isolating from colleagues. What is the **most appropriate initial action** by the nurse manager? - **A.** Confront the nurse directly and demand an explanat...

**Question 1:** A nurse manager notices that a staff nurse is volunteering for extra shifts, frequently administering pain medications, and isolating from colleagues. What is the **most appropriate initial action** by the nurse manager? - **A.** Confront the nurse directly and demand an explanation. - **B.** Review medication administration records for discrepancies. - **C.** Report the nurse immediately to the state board of nursing. - **D.** Encourage other staff to monitor the nurse's behavior. **Correct Answer:** **B.** Review medication administration records for discrepancies.\ **Rationale:** Reviewing medication administration records is a key first step in identifying irregularities or patterns of concern. Jumping to conclusions or immediately reporting without evidence could lead to unnecessary harm and violates due process. **Question 2:** A nurse with a history of substance use disorder (SUD) is returning to work after completing a rehabilitation program. What is the **best way** for the nursing team to support this colleague? - **A.** Avoid discussing the nurse's past issues to prevent discomfort. - **B.** Closely monitor the nurse for any mistakes or suspicious behavior. - **C.** Create a supportive environment that encourages recovery. - **D.** Assign the nurse only non-patient care duties. **Correct Answer:** **C.** Create a supportive environment that encourages recovery.\ **Rationale:** Supporting a colleague in recovery fosters a positive and collaborative workplace environment. Isolation or over-monitoring can hinder recovery and increase stress. **Question 3:** Which of the following is **most consistent** with behavioral changes seen in nurses with substance use disorder (SUD)? - **A.** Frequent errors in documentation. - **B.** Reporting coworkers for minor infractions. - **C.** Excessive focus on teamwork and collaboration. - **D.** Consistently arriving early for shifts. **Correct Answer:** **A.** Frequent errors in documentation.\ **Rationale:** Behavioral changes such as documentation errors, isolation, and discrepancies in medication handling are commonly associated with SUD in healthcare professionals. **Question 4:** A nurse self-administers a narcotic intended for a patient and falsifies documentation to cover the discrepancy. What is the **primary ethical issue** involved in this situation? - **A.** Violation of patient confidentiality. - **B.** Breach of the ANA Code of Ethics. - **C.** Failure to maintain licensure requirements. - **D.** Violation of hospital policy. **Correct Answer:** **B.** Breach of the ANA Code of Ethics.\ **Rationale:** Administering narcotics for personal use violates the ANA Code of Ethics, particularly the principles of patient safety and integrity. **Question 5:** According to the Ohio Nurse Practice Act, what is the **most appropriate action** when a nurse is found to have substance use disorder (SUD)? - **A.** Immediate termination of employment and reporting to the state board of nursing. - **B.** Mandatory enrollment in an employee assistance or alternative-to-discipline program. - **C.** Suspension of licensure without the option to return to practice. - **D.** Referral to law enforcement for criminal charges. **Correct Answer:** **B.** Mandatory enrollment in an employee assistance or alternative-to-discipline program.\ **Rationale:** State nurse practice acts, such as Ohio's, encourage alternative-to-discipline programs to support recovery while protecting public safety. **Question 6:** What is the **best approach** for addressing the stigma surrounding nurses with substance use disorder (SUD)? - **A.** Educate staff on the chronic nature of SUD and recovery success rates. - **B.** Implement strict monitoring and zero-tolerance policies. - **C.** Avoid discussing SUD to maintain workplace harmony. - **D.** Require all nurses to sign a pledge to remain drug-free. **Correct Answer:** **A.** Educate staff on the chronic nature of SUD and recovery success rates.\ **Rationale:** Education reduces stigma by fostering understanding of SUD as a treatable medical condition rather than a moral failing. **Question 7:** A nurse in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) is participating in a monitoring program as a condition of returning to work. Which of the following is **most important** to include in the monitoring program? - **A.** Random drug testing and regular check-ins with a supervisor. - **B.** Mandatory counseling sessions with colleagues. - **C.** Daily medication administration audits. - **D.** Assignment to non-clinical roles only. **Correct Answer:** **A.** Random drug testing and regular check-ins with a supervisor.\ **Rationale:** Monitoring programs for nurses in recovery typically include random drug testing and supervisor evaluations to ensure compliance and support the recovery process. **Question 8:** Which physical sign might indicate a healthcare provider is experiencing substance use disorder (SUD)? - **A.** Persistent fatigue and drowsiness during shifts. - **B.** Gaining weight unexpectedly over a short period. - **C.** Increased interaction and socialization with colleagues. - **D.** Improved performance on patient satisfaction metrics. **Correct Answer:** **A.** Persistent fatigue and drowsiness during shifts.\ **Rationale:** Physical signs of SUD may include fatigue, drowsiness, or other noticeable impairments that could compromise professional duties. **Question 9:** A nurse colleague suspects another nurse is diverting medications but is hesitant to report the behavior. What is the **most appropriate advice** to provide? - **A.** \"If you\'re unsure, wait for additional evidence before reporting.\" - **B.** \"You have an ethical obligation to report suspected impairment to protect patients.\" - **C.** \"Approach the nurse directly and ask if they need help.\" - **D.** \"Discuss your concerns with other coworkers first to confirm your suspicions.\" **Correct Answer:** **B.** \"You have an ethical obligation to report suspected impairment to protect patients.\"\ **Rationale:** Nurses have an ethical and professional responsibility to report concerns that may compromise patient safety, as outlined in the ANA Code of Ethics and state nurse practice acts. **Question 10:** A nurse is returning to work after completing treatment for SUD. Which of the following responsibilities falls on the nurse manager to ensure a successful reintegration? - **A.** Assign the nurse to the least demanding patients. - **B.** Schedule frequent public meetings to discuss the nurse\'s progress. - **C.** Provide consistent support and ensure compliance with monitoring programs. - **D.** Exclude the nurse from team-building activities to avoid discomfort. **Correct Answer:** **C.** Provide consistent support and ensure compliance with monitoring programs.\ **Rationale:** A nurse manager plays a key role in creating a supportive environment while ensuring compliance with monitoring and aftercare requirements. **Question 11:** A nurse denies having a substance use problem despite evidence of impaired practice. What is the **most appropriate initial intervention**? - **A.** Suspend the nurse immediately and involve law enforcement. - **B.** Offer resources for counseling and treatment options. - **C.** Allow the nurse to continue working while gathering more evidence. - **D.** Transfer the nurse to another department until the issue is resolved. **Correct Answer:** **B.** Offer resources for counseling and treatment options.\ **Rationale:** Addressing the issue with a supportive approach and providing resources for treatment helps facilitate recovery while maintaining ethical practice standards. **Question 12:** Which of the following best describes the primary goal of alternative-to-discipline (ATD) programs for nurses with SUD? - **A.** Punishment for professional misconduct. - **B.** Immediate licensure suspension and revocation. - **C.** Rehabilitation and reintegration into safe nursing practice. - **D.** Preventing nurses from returning to patient care roles. **Correct Answer:** **C.** Rehabilitation and reintegration into safe nursing practice.\ **Rationale:** Alternative-to-discipline programs aim to support recovery while protecting patients and ensuring the nurse can safely return to practice. **Question 13:** A nurse supervisor notices discrepancies in medication counts and altered patient records involving a single staff nurse. What is the **priority action**? - **A.** Notify the hospital's legal team. - **B.** Investigate the discrepancies following institutional policy. - **C.** Confront the nurse about the findings. - **D.** Report the nurse immediately to the state board of nursing. **Correct Answer:** **B.** Investigate the discrepancies following institutional policy.\ **Rationale:** Institutional policies often outline the steps for investigating discrepancies, ensuring a thorough and fair process before taking further action. **Question 14:** When educating nursing students about substance use disorder (SUD), which of the following points should be emphasized? - **A.** SUD only occurs in nurses working in high-stress environments. - **B.** Nurses with SUD are less capable of recovery than the general population. - **C.** Early recognition and support can lead to successful recovery. - **D.** Nurses with SUD should not return to direct patient care. **Correct Answer:** **C.** Early recognition and support can lead to successful recovery.\ **Rationale:** SUD is a chronic but treatable condition, and early recognition is crucial to initiating recovery and preventing harm.