Week 7
4The nurse manager is mentoring a nurse on strategies for empowerment. Which statement from the nurse manager describes the empowered nurse leader's role in conflict resolution?
"Be sure to resolve conflict in a timely manner to prevent it from getting out of hand."
2The nurse leader is mentoring a new nurse manager about the use of patient classification systems to predict staffing needs on the unit. The nurse manager asks why it is necessary to use electronic systems to predict staff needs. What response from the nurse leader is appropriate?
"They can increase the efficiency with which patient data can be entered and evaluated."
4The nurse coordinator in the intensive care unit is preparing employee feedback for the charge nurse. Which statement by the coordinator demonstrates effective feedback?
"You have a great rapport with the patients, but I noticed you're struggling with time management skills. Let's discuss some strategies for improvement."
1The Urgent Care Manager is planning to assign one of the charge nurses as an employee coach. Which charge nurse would be the best choice?
A full-time charge nurse who has experience as a preceptor
A nurse manager is evaluating new marketing strategies to attract new nurses. How can the nurse manager most effectively find quality applicants to fill staff nursing positions?
Collaborate with the hospital marketing department Include virtual tours and testimonials on the hospital web page Develop a web page with job openings, relocation benefits, and other useful information
9The nurse manager on the maternal-newborn unit is preparing a performance appraisal for a staff nurse. Despite frequent reinforcement, the staff nurse consistently calls in sick or is late to work. The manager has documented each encounter with the nurse regarding these concerns. What is the manager's best next step?
Contact the human resources (HR) department
2The nurse manager walks into the break room and sees a staff nurse crying at the table. The nurse states, "This is the worst day! No matter what I do, I can't please my patients!" Which coaching role should the nurse manager assume with the staff nurse?
Counselor
3Which are benefits of the nurse leader's empowerment of others?
Decrease in nurse burnout Higher efficiency in day-to-day tasks Development of a support base for the leader
4The nurse manager has calculated overtime hours for the regular and temporary staff, reviewed the costs of new nurse training and orientation, and added up the total labor costs for each patient over a number of days. The nurse has acted to improve patient outcomes by implementing which step of nurse management?
Develop a unit productivity report
5The nurse manager is preparing for an upcoming review process by The Joint Commission (TJC). Which actions can the nurse manager take to ensure a successful evaluation?
Ensure an adequate number of staff for patientsTo prepare for the upcoming survey done by a TJC reviewer, the manager can work toward having an adequate number of staff for patients. Correct Work toward improving quality of care in the unitDuring the review process, TJC reviewers will be looking at any overlapping issues between quality of care and specific problems with staff. Addressing quality of care concerns early in the process will help to ensure a successful evaluation. Correct Implement a structure to evaluate staff capabilities Check to see if the quality of care is aligning with current staffing problems
It is the holiday season and the nurse leader of a busy psychiatric unit notices that many staff members seem to be experiencing nursing burnout. Which action should the nurse manager take to address this issue?
Ensure an adequate nurse-patient ratio on the unit throughout the holiday season
1Which situations show a nurse leader using structural empowerment to increase employee satisfaction?
Establishing a mentoring program for new nurses Providing continuing education courses for nursing staff Engaging staff in a weekly status meeting to discuss organizational change that will affect the staff
7vThe clinical director is concerned about the poor performance of a staff nurse. What is the first action the director should take prior to implementing a disciplinary plan?
Gather all the supporting data and assess the nurse's outlook of the situation
The nurse manager of a busy medical/surgical unit is concerned because patient satisfaction on the unit has decreased from 90% to 65%, incident reports for falls on the unit have doubled in the past 30 days, and staff morale is low. How can the manager help improve patient outcomes and raise staff morale?
Implement a team nursing strategy for performing patient care on the unitBoth team collaboration and improved workflow have been shown in studies to increase staff morale. The nurse manager should be mindful of staff morale and find ways to improve efficiency and staff collegiality. Correct Schedule a staff meeting to start a dialogue with the nursing staff on the unit about these concernsCommunication with the staff members would be an important step for the unit manager to take. Increased communication lends itself to improved empowerment of staff and increased staff morale, which will result in better patient outcomes and higher patient satisfaction rates on the unit. Correct Check patterns of nurse-patient ratio to ensure adequate number of staff members have been scheduled during the past 30 days
5A new nurse manager wants to empower the staff in an effort to increase staff productivity and decrease burnout. Which personality traits should the nurse manager adopt to accomplish this goal?
Kind and polite demeanorEmpowered leaders should be courteous and should smile. These actions translate to a kind and polite demeanor. Correct Adaptable to all situationsEmpowered leaders should be flexible with change because empowering staff can lead to new and innovative ideas. An empowered leader must be comfortable adapting to that change. Correct Willingness to try new approaches
6A nurse manager has received reports from other staff members that Jeannie, a staff nurse, is very abrupt with colleagues and patients. Which should the nurse manager consider prior to providing feedback to Jeannie?
Observing Jeannie interacting with her colleagues and patients Being ready to provide positive feedback if Jeannie responds poorly to criticism Preparing for the possibility that Jeannie will want to know who complained about her behavior
4The registered nurse (RN) has delegated several tasks to the licensed vocational/licensed professional nurse (LVN/LPN) to be completed by the end of the shift. Which is the most important action for the RN to take?
Outline the time frame for each task
2The registered nurse (RN) would question which activity if delegated to a licensed vocational/licensed professional nurse (LPN/LVN) by the nurse manager?
Pain assessment of a postoperative patient is delegated to the LVN/LPN.
3A nurse manager suggests implementing a productivity system instead of a structured acuity model due to key issues with patient classification systems. Which statement supports the justification behind this decision?
Productivity models bypass many key issues associated with patient acuity systems. The credibility of the data reports generated from patient classification systems is questionable. Adequate staffing suggested by the patient classification may not available by the facility, leaving the unit short staffed.
1The nurse manager is evaluating staffing needs for the next shift to ensure that the unit will be adequately staffed. The nurse manager notes that the current patients do not drastically differ in levels of acuity. Which model or system should the nurse use to estimate staffing needs?
Prototype
6Several new nurses have just been hired on the pediatrics unit. The nurse manager wants to take steps to ensure nurse satisfaction and increase staff retention on the unit. Which actions show that the nurse manager is implementing effective strategies to empower the staff?
Provide free continuing education training at the hospital Establish a committee of veteran nurses designed to provide advice and supportNetworking supports empowerment through the refinement of interpersonal skills by interacting with others who are good sources of information, advice, and support. Correct Pair new nurses with nurse leaders to provide an on-the-job preceptor program and mentorship after orientation
3The charge nurse has been delegated to act as a coach for a newly hired nurse. Which actions demonstrate ineffective coaching by the charge nurse?
Providing feedback only when incorrect actions are noted Using general group coaching techniques with the new hire Refraining from providing feedback until after the orientation period
2Which examples indicate that a nurse leader on a rehabilitation floor understands and utilizes effective empowerment principals?
Providing ongoing positive feedbackGiving positive feedback, coaching, and achievement recognition enhances an employee's feelings of empowerment. Correct Encouraging voluntary sign up for mentorship programs Allowing staff nurses to schedule patients' weekly physical therapy around nursing care
The nurse manager is having problems recruiting and hiring an adequate number of qualified nurses on the unit. Which actions indicate the nurse manager has a good grasp on various factors that can have an adverse effect on recruiting efforts?
Quickly addressing any concerns or complaints among staff members Fostering a relationship of mutual respect and trust with employees Interacting closely with employees to build a good reputation in the community
The nurse leader has weekly staff meetings with the nurses on the unit and asks for input on major decisions affecting staff; some of the input has led to the creation of a task force team, and the nurse leader has asked a staff nurse to join the team. Which strategies are being used to help retain employees?
Respect Empowerment Shared governance
5The registered nurse (RN) of a busy urgent care center has noticed that the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) has not been satisfactorily completing assigned tasks. What is the best action by the nurse?
Review and discuss the concerns with the UAP
6The charge nurse is assigning a patient care activity to an unlicensed assistive professional (UAP) who has expressed her willingness to help. To ensure patient safety, the nurse places the highest priority on which factor related to the UAP?
Skill
Which statement indicates that the nurse leader understands the significance of implementing successful recruitment strategies?
Successfully recruiting qualified nurses who plan to stay on the job long-term will save money.
3The RN supervisor leaves a note on the unit instructing the LVN/LPN and UAP to "make out your own assignments today." Which right of delegation has the RN supervisor omitted?
The RN supervisor did not provide clear and concise directions.
5A nurse manager is gathering information to provide feedback to a nurse who recently completed the orientation period. Which behavior should be discussed?
The nurse takes a long time to get reports and begin patient care.
8The nurse educator places highest priority on completing the performance appraisal of which staff nurse?
The nurse who will receive feedback on an incident that occurred this morning
1The registered nurse (RN) manager at a nursing home has hired a certified nursing assistant (CNA) from a neighboring state. Which delegation strategies may prove challenging for the RN?
The right task The right person
6The charge nurse on a post-surgical unit is being asked by the shift supervisor to float one of the staff to another floor during the 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. day shift. What information is vital for the charge nurse to convey to the shift supervisor before allowing one of his staff members to be reassigned to a different floor?
There are two new admissions scheduled for mid-day on the unit."New admissions require a lot of time and therefore a need for extra nursing staff. This is vital information to convey to the shift supervisor before letting a staff member float to another floor. Correct "Several patients will be returning from surgery mid-morning to early afternoon."Patients returning from surgery will increase the acuity ratings because they will need frequent vital signs checks and more intensive nursing care. This is very important information for the charge nurse to convey before allowing a nurse to float from his or her unit. Correct "The patient acuity level on the unit is always higher during the day shift than any other shift."
