Which activity reflects an element of the standard of care in nursing practice?

• A. Providing counseling only
• B. Monitoring patient status and reporting changes
• C. Recording every transcribed note by hand
• D. Refusing to adjust care based on nurse preference

Answer: (B)

The essential idea being tested is that standard of care in nursing includes ongoing assessment and timely communication. Nurses must continuously monitor a patient’s status—watching vital signs, symptoms, and responses to treatments—and then report any changes to the healthcare team so that interventions can be implemented promptly. This ongoing vigilance and communication help ensure patient safety, appropriate care, and coordinated teamwork, which are core expectations of professional practice.

Providing counseling is valuable and often part of care, but it alone does not demonstrate the ongoing monitoring and reporting that protect the patient. Recording notes by hand, while a documentation task, is a method choice and not a direct demonstration of actively monitoring and communicating changes. Refusing to adjust care based on nurse preference contradicts professional responsibilities and evidence-based practice; the standard of care requires adapting care to the patient’s needs and the best available information.