Clinical Nurse Leader Practice Exam

What should be the CNL's primary goal when facing a lack of compliance with DVT prophylaxis among stroke patients?

1. Challenging the American Stroke Association guidelines

2. Gaining an understanding of how DVT prophylaxis is initiated

3. Developing an organization-wide educational program on DVT prophylaxis

4. Forming a unit-based team to investigate the problem

The correct answer is: Gaining an understanding of how DVT prophylaxis is initiated

The CNL's primary goal when facing a lack of compliance with DVT prophylaxis among stroke patients should focus on gaining an understanding of how DVT prophylaxis is initiated. This step is crucial because it allows the CNL to identify barriers to compliance and consider any underlying issues that may be preventing effective implementation of DVT prophylaxis protocols. By understanding the initiation process, the CNL can determine if there are gaps in education, communication, or clinical practice among nursing staff or if there are systemic barriers within the healthcare system contributing to the non-compliance. Knowing the specifics of how prophylaxis is currently being applied helps to inform what changes may be necessary. This could involve analyzing current protocols, staff education, and even the workflow in place that may affect compliance. Understanding the initiation of DVT prophylaxis can effectively lead to targeted interventions, ensuring that preventive measures are appropriately utilized in stroke patients at risk for deep vein thrombosis. While forming a unit-based team to investigate the problem could be valuable in addressing compliance issues more broadly, it's essential that the team has sufficient background knowledge first. Similarly, developing an organization-wide educational program on DVT prophylaxis may be an effective long-term solution but wouldn't address the immediate need to understand the reasons behind non-compliance