Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

Which standard is illustrated when a nurse assesses a patient's readiness to quit smoking?

1. Standard I - Provides Professional Care

2. Standard II - Performs Client Assessments

3. Standard V - Intervenes Through Teaching-Coaching

4. Standard IV - Facilitates Patient Education

The correct answer is: Standard V - Intervenes Through Teaching-Coaching

When a nurse assesses a patient's readiness to quit smoking, it aligns with the standard of intervening through teaching and coaching. This standard emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with the patient to facilitate behavior change. By assessing readiness, the nurse is not just gathering information but is also preparing to provide tailored support and education that encourages the patient to take steps towards quitting. This process involves understanding the patient’s motivation, beliefs, and potential barriers to quitting, which are crucial components in the teaching-coaching intervention. The nurse aims to empower the patient with knowledge, skills, and strategies that can lead to successful smoking cessation. This demonstrates the nurse's role in guiding the patient through their smoking cessation journey, making it a clear example of the application of coaching in nursing practice. While the other standards involve important aspects of nursing, they do not specifically capture the dynamic interaction of assessing and motivating a patient in the context of behavior change through educational support as effectively as the standard focusing on teaching-coaching does.