Choose the word whose meaning is closest to the bold lettered word. Amelia is a stout, complacent woman with an irritating air of being always right.

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

The word 'complacent' describes a state of self-satisfaction accompanied by a lack of awareness or concern for potential dangers or deficiencies.
Therefore, 'unconcerned' is the closest synonym as it captures the essence of not being worried or anxious, which is a direct result of being overly self-satisfied.
The context clue 'an irritating air of being always right' strongly suggests a personality that is smug and unconcerned about the possibility of being wrong.

Option B: 'Fair' means being just and impartial. This is a character trait that is completely unrelated to the meaning of 'complacent,' which deals with self-satisfaction.
Option C: 'Concerned' means worried or anxious. This is the direct antonym (opposite) of 'complacent.' A complacent person is specifically not concerned.
Option D: 'Innocent' means not guilty or naive. This concept has no connection to the self-satisfaction and lack of awareness implied by 'complacent.'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vocabulary: Synonym Identification as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
In nursing, complacency is a significant patient safety risk. A nurse who becomes complacent may skip crucial safety checks, like the 'five rights' of medication administration, believing the task is too routine to make a mistake.
Patient complacency about vaccine-preventable diseases can lead to vaccine hesitancy, where the perceived risks of the disease are low, and vaccination is not seen as a necessary preventive action.
What if? If a nurse becomes complacent during a routine dressing change for a chronic wound, they might fail to notice subtle new signs of infection, assuming the wound's condition is unchanged. This lack of concern can lead to delayed treatment and serious complications.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the bolded word, 'complacent'. Try to define it based on your own vocabulary.
Next, use the context clues in the sentence. The phrase 'irritating air of being always right' suggests self-satisfaction and a lack of worry about being wrong.
Evaluate each option against this understanding. 'Unconcerned' means not worried, which aligns perfectly with the context.
Eliminate the other options. 'Concerned' is an opposite, while 'fair' and 'innocent' are unrelated in meaning.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 57-59

Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

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