Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

A clinician utilizing internal and external resources to resolve a patient problem is demonstrating which practice?

1. Consultation

2. Risk management

3. Coordination

4. Performance evaluation

The correct answer is: Consultation

The process of utilizing both internal and external resources to address a patient problem is referred to as consultation. In the context of nursing and clinical practice, consultation involves seeking the expertise of other healthcare professionals or utilizing available resources to address complex patient care issues. This practice is essential in providing comprehensive care, as it allows clinicians to gather insights from other specialists or services that may contribute to better patient outcomes. For instance, a clinician might consult with a social worker for community resources or refer to a specialist for expert guidance on a particular medical condition. By doing so, they enhance their ability to manage patient problems effectively. While risk management, coordination, and performance evaluation are all important components of clinical practice, they do not focus specifically on the act of seeking help or resources in the way that consultation does. Risk management is primarily concerned with identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks in the clinical environment. Coordination refers to the organization and management of patient care across various services and providers, while performance evaluation focuses on assessing healthcare practices and outcomes. Each of these areas plays an important role in clinical practice, but none encapsulates the specific act of resolving patient problems through the use of diverse resources as clearly as consultation.