As per American Nurses Association (ANA), an authoritative statement by which the quality of nursing practice, service or education can be judged is known as :

Appeared in: IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025

Explanation

The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines standards as authoritative statements that describe the responsibilities for which nurses are accountable.
These standards serve as a definitive benchmark to evaluate and judge the quality of nursing practice, service, and education across all settings.
They provide a framework for ensuring competent, safe, and ethical performance in professional nursing roles.
The standards are divided into Standards of Practice (related to the nursing process) and Standards of Professional Performance (related to professional behaviors).

Option A: A policy refers to specific rules and guidelines established by an organization or institution, not the overarching professional benchmarks set for the entire nursing profession.
Option C: Professional ethics, as outlined in the ANA's Code of Ethics, are the moral principles and values guiding a nurse's conduct. They define right and wrong but are not the specific statements used to measure the quality of practice itself.
Option D: Power is the ability to influence or control the actions of others. It is a concept related to leadership and social dynamics, not a formal statement for evaluating professional quality.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Definition of Nursing Standards by the American Nurses Association (ANA) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Adherence to ANA standards is a core component of a nurse's professional accountability and is essential for ensuring patient safety and quality care.
In legal situations, such as malpractice lawsuits, nursing standards are used as the legal benchmark to determine whether the care provided was appropriate and competent.
Nurse managers and healthcare organizations use these standards for performance evaluations, developing job descriptions, and creating quality improvement programs.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'American Nurses Association (ANA)' and 'authoritative statement to judge quality'.
Recognize that the question is asking for a specific term defined by a major professional nursing organization.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about the foundational documents of nursing.
Evaluate each option. 'Policy' is too institution-specific. 'Professional ethics' relates to moral conduct, not a quality measure. 'Power' is irrelevant.
Conclude that 'Standards' is the specific term used by the ANA to define the benchmarks for quality in nursing practice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Definition of Nursing Standards by the American Nurses Association (ANA)
Stem keywords: American Nurses Association, ANA, authoritative statement, quality of nursing practice
Lead-in keywords: is known as

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E6 One-Stop Resource for All Your Exam Needs in Nursing Management & Leadership jogindra Vati (pp 11-229 of 239) p. 88-90

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 70-72

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 1 p. 20-22

Practise the full IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.