Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

Which type of clinical pathway provides recommendations rather than strict directives?

1. Prescriptive

2. Descriptive

3. Regulatory

4. Authoritarian

The correct answer is: Descriptive

The correct response highlights the role of a descriptive clinical pathway, which offers guidelines and recommendations instead of imposing strict directives. This means that while it provides a framework to guide clinical decision-making, it allows for flexibility and professional judgment in managing patient care. Descriptive clinical pathways serve to promote best practices and streamline processes without dictating exact steps to be followed, accommodating the varying needs of patients and the unique circumstances that healthcare providers may encounter. This approach allows clinicians to adapt their care plans based on individual patient preferences and clinical situations, fostering a more patient-centered approach to healthcare. In contrast, prescriptive pathways tend to provide detailed instructions that must be followed closely, regulatory pathways typically adhere to legal and policy mandates, and authoritarian pathways might impose rigid controls that limit clinician discretion. Each of these other types restricts flexibility in clinical practice, emphasizing the distinct advantage of the descriptive model in supporting evidence-based care while still considering the nuances of patient management.