leadership

20. As a manager in a new nursing home, where might you consult for guidance and evidence to support the development of safe patient practices? a. Hospitals b. Business c. Industry d. Outpatient clinics

A Practices that were once mostly studied in hospital settings are now scrutinized for implementation in other settings, such as outpatient clinics, rural settings, and nursing homes.

21. What facilitate the development of decision-making skills related to safe patient care for a nurse manager? a. Regular reflection on decisions b. A culture of perfectionism c. Recognition of who should be held responsible for individual errors d. A culture of trust between the staff and you

A Reflection on how well decisions were enacted enables knowledge of the complexity of situations and ramifications of the decisions made. Reflection enables elimination of strategies and methods that are inappropriate in meeting needs and aids in narrowing choices of best actions to take.

23. A client requires an appendectomy. The surgeon explains the procedure and asks the client to sign the consent. The patient speaks very little English and looks worried. What is the appropriate action by the nurse? a. Suggest that an interpreter explain the procedure to the client and answer any questions. b. Ask the client if he has any questions. c. Draw a picture to show the incision. d. Not intervene.

A The Five Steps to Safer Patient Care identifies that encouraging patients to ask questions when there are doubts and concerns and ensuring understanding before surgery is performed are ways in which nurses can support patients in having greater influence in their own care. In this situation, asking an interpreter to help enables access to information for the patient and active assessment of his understanding.

2. With regard to nursing practice, nurse managers are held responsible for: (Select all that apply.) a. practicing within legal guidelines established under state law and nurse practice acts. b. ensuring that nursing staff under their supervision are currently licensed to practice. c. referring all errors in nursing judgment to state discipline boards. d. ensuring that physicians are properly licensed to provide care on patient care units.

A B Nurses are responsible for knowing and practicing under state law and nurse practice acts. Managers are responsible for monitoring staff practice and ensuring that staff hold current, valid licensure.

1. One of your staff nurses asks for your advice because a patient refuses to sign a consent for surgery. The patient says that he won't sign because he doesn't understand the nature of the surgery. You advise that: (Select all that apply.) a. consent must not be coerced. b. the patient has a right to choose not to consent. c. the patient must sign the consent because the doctor wants him to sign. d. witnessing a consent is related only to the voluntary nature of the signature.

A B D

15. A family is keeping vigil at a critically ill patient's bedside. Distant family members call the unit continuously asking for updates and expressing concern. The nurse speaks with the distant family members and states she is referring them to the hospital social worker, whose role is to work with family in this situation. What role is the nurse assuming through this action? a. Manager b. Leader c. Follower d. Laissez-faire

ANS: A As a manager, you are concerned with managing and coordinating resources to achieve outcomes in accordance with established clinical processes. Referral to a social worker alleviates demand on staff time and is consistent with hospital procedures.

17. The adage "leaders are born and not made" reflects which of the following ideas around leadership? a. Management can be taught; leadership depends on abilities. b. Mentorship is important in developing innate skills of leaders. c. Leadership is a natural skill that cannot be refined or developed. d. Succession planning and formal education related to leadership are ineffective.

ANS: A Leadership is an abilities role that is reflective of rich personal experience. It can be developed and refined through such strategies as coaching, mentorship, and reflection. Management can be taught and learned.

23. During a discussion of concern about approaches used with aggressive patients in the Emergency Department, several staff members express concern for their safety. As a leader, the nurse manager should: a. look directly at speakers and acknowledge their comments. b. promise to implement each suggestion that is made. c. implement the idea that receives the most discussion. d. listen but implement the plan that she had in mind before the discussion began.

ANS: A One of the five rules for leaders is to listen to the constituents—in this instance, the staff members who have safety concerns. Active listening in the United States means establishing direct eye contact and asking probing questions. Listening does not obligate the leader to any one course of action. Action will be based on what is best for the group.

5. After being interviewed for the unit manager position, the staff nurse reflects on the interview process. The staff nurse is aware that leadership begins: a. within. b. through a relationship with a mentor. c. with the job description. d. with the chief nursing officer of the organization.

ANS: A People notice differences in workplaces and tend to choose those that evidence a high degree of trust between leaders and followers. Stephen M.R. Covey suggests that trust begins with self and that leaders must focus first on developing character and confidence, which is their credibility. Credibility enables leaders to trust themselves and gives others someone or something that they can trust.

19. Mr. M. complains to you that one of your staff asked him details about his sexual relationships and financial affairs. He says that these questions were probing and unnecessary to his care, but he felt that if he refused to answer, the nurse would be angry with him and would not provide him with good care. Mr. M.'s statements reflect concern with: a. privacy. b. confidentiality. c. veracity. d. informed consent.

ANS: A Privacy protection includes protection against unwarranted intrusion into the patient's affairs.

9. A colleague asks you to give her your password access so that she can view her partner's healthcare record without using her login. This request violates the patient's right to: a. privacy. b. confidentiality. c. undue authorization of treatment. d. protection against slander.

ANS: A Privacy refers to the right to protection against unreasonable and unwarranted interference with the patient's solitude. Privacy standards limit how personal health information may be used or shared and mandate safeguards for the protection of health information. Institutions can reduce potential liability in this area by allowing access to patient data, either written or oral, only to those with a "need to know." Persons with a need to know include physicians and nurses caring for the patient, technicians, unit clerks, therapists, social service workers, and patient advocates. Others wishing to access patient data must first ask the patient for permission to review a record.

12. As a charge nurse, you counsel your RN staff member that they have has their duty of care by notifying a child's physician regarding concerns about deterioration in the child's status at 0330 hours. The physician does not come in to assess the child and does not provide additional orders. The child dies at 0630 hours. As the charge nurse, you could be held liable for what? a. Professional negligence b. Assault c. Avoidance d. Murder

ANS: A Professional negligence can be asserted when there is failure to do what a reasonable and prudent nurse would do in the same situation. In this situation, the charge nurse might have advocated further for the patient in light of the evident seriousness of the child's condition.

19. What does the SBAR approach to patient safety encourage? a. Consistency in assessment and practices b. Continuing education c. Multidisciplinary approaches d. Patient feedback

ANS: A The use of SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation) checklists are designed to decrease omission of important information and practices.

22. Knowing when to have the entire team participate in the decision-making process or when to have only the team leader make the decisions depends on the situation and the desired outcomes. The autocratic process is used in which of the following situations? a. The task and the outcome are relatively simple and defined. b. It is unlikely that the group will reach a consensus. c. A decision has to be discussed thoroughly. d. A number of options need to be considered.

ANS: A An autocratic style is appropriate when rapid decision making is required and in situations where the task and the potential outcome are well-defined.

14. A good nursing decision maker is one who: a. uses various models to guide the process based on the circumstances of the situation. b. adopts one model and uses it to guide all decision making. c. decides not to use any models because they are all useless. d. develops a new model each time a decision has to be made.

ANS: A The decision model that a nurse uses depends on specific circumstances. Is the situation routine and predictable or complex and uncertain? Is the goal to make a decision that is "just good enough" (conservative) or one that is optimal?

4. The nurse on the 7-7 shift is assigning a specific component of care to an unlicensed nursing personnel (UNP) employee. The night nurse would remain: a. accountable. b. responsible. c. authoritative and liable. d. responsible and task-oriented.

ANS: A When a registered nurse delegates care to a UNP, responsibility is transferred; however, accountability for patient care is not transferred. Thus, "accountability rests within the decision to delegate while responsibility rests within the performance of the task" (Anthony and Vidal, 2010, p. 3).

1. An example of a nursing care activity that would not be delegated by an RN to a UNP is: (Select all that apply.) a. teaching self-catheterization to a patient with paraplegia who has limited English. b. basic care for a patient with a head injury who is rapidly deteriorating. c. one-to-one observation with a suicidal patient. d. assessment of patients being admitted through the Emergency Department. e. basic hygienic care for a patient who is post MI and stable.

ANS: A, B, D Functions such as assessment, diagnosis, planning, and evaluation cannot be delegated. In addition, stability, critical thinking, time, and safety are factors that are considered in assessing whether or not to delegate care to a UNP. Teaching self-catheterization to a patient with limited English requires critical thinking; basic care for a patient who is rapidly deteriorating exemplifies concern with stability; and assessment of patients through Emergency is related to the factor of time. An exception to safety and stability in which patients may be delegated to UNPs is when patients are placed on suicide precautions

1. What patients would be considered "at risk" consumers during a healthcare visit? (Select all that apply.) a. Clyde requires an anticoagulant. He tells the nurse about his medications. He does not include an herbal supplement. b. George is very shy and withdrawn. He asks the nurse to leave him alone. c. Sarah is a new parent who finds that nurses on the children's unit are very helpful. She is eager to accept all suggestions, including those that she does not yet understand. d. Claude is booked for bowel surgery. His doctor explains about the colostomy. Later, Claude tells his wife that he really doesn't know what the doctor meant by colostomy.

ANS: A, C, D Safer health care involves the patient as an active consumer who keeps and brings a list of all medications, including natural remedies and questions if there are doubts, concerns, or lack of understanding.

16. Three gravely ill patients are candidates for the only available bed in the ICU. As the supervisor, you assign the bed to the patient with the best chance of recovery. This decision reflects which of the following ethical principles? a. Beneficence b. Autonomy c. Veracity d. Nonmaleficence

ANS: ABeneficence refers to doing what's good for the patient; in this situation, doing what's good means providing care to the patient with the best likelihood of recovery.

21. A group of managers is meeting to discuss ideas related to the successful implementation of evidence-based practice on their units. Susan has been asked by the director of care to assume leadership of these discussion groups. After two such sessions, Susan expresses disappointment to her mentor that the group seems disinterested in her ideas and that they are listening to Ken, who has much less experience with leadership. In discussing this with Susan, the mentor understands that leadership: a. is a designated role. b. must be earned. c. is more likely to be taken by someone who is more talkative. d. rarely is taken over by someone with less experience.

ANS: B A person can have an impressive title, but title or designation does not make the person a leader. A leader must have the ability to inspire others to follow.

8. Recruiting among the emerging work force (18 to 35 year olds) is a challenge for healthcare agencies. Marketing brochures should address the leadership and vision of the healthcare agency. Which of the following workplace environments will attract applicants in the emerging work force? a. A highly professional environment b. A nurturing and receptive environment c. An environment highlighted by lots of meetings, so staff members can have lots of input d. A totally online environment, so staff members will not have to interface with uncaring colleagues

ANS: B A study of student nurses who represent this age-group indicates that they want a leader who is receptive, approachable, a team player, and motivating.

You overhear a new graduate RN telling a nurse colleague that leadership and management belong to the unit manager, not to her. As a nursing colleague, what do you know to be true in regard to the statement? a. The statement is correct. Leadership is not the role of the staff nurse. b. The new graduate would benefit from further understanding of her role as a professional, whose influence may affect the decision making of patients, colleagues, and other professionals. c. The new graduate has been influenced by nurse leaders and managers who leave for other positions. d. The general perception is that nurse leaders and managers are not satisfied in their

ANS: B Care coordination that involves the intersection of individual, family, and community-based needs requires that nurses have self-confidence, knowledge of organizations and health systems, and an inner desire to lead and manage. There is often a view that leadership is isolated to those holding managerial positions, and that a direct care nurse is subject to following by adhering to the direction of others. Such views fail to acknowledge that to be a nurse requires each licensed individual to lead, manage, and follow when practicing at the point-of-care and beyond.

A nurse manager of a 20-bed medical unit finds that 80% of the patients are older adults. She is asked to assess and adapt the unit to better meet the unique needs of the older adult patient. Using complexity principles, what would be the best approach to take for implementation of this change? a. Leverage the hierarchical management position to get unit staff involved in assessment and planning. b. Engage involved staff at all levels in the decision-making process. c. Focus the assessment on the unit and omit the hospital and community environment. d. Hire a geriatric specialist to oversee and control the project.

ANS: B Complexity theory suggests that systems interact and adapt and that decision making occursthroughout the systems, as opposed to being held in a hierarchy. In complexity theory, everyvoice counts, and therefore, all levels of staff wou

8. One means of ensuring that the nurses floated to other patient care areas in healthcare organizations are qualified to work in the areas they are floated is: a. employing additional staff to assist with orientation processes. b. cross-educating staff members to other areas of the institution. c. transferring patients to units where the staffing pattern is optimal. d. orienting staff members to all patient care areas as part of their general orientation to the institution.

ANS: B Nurses should be floated to units as similar as possible to their own to decrease the potential for liability. Negotiating cross-training, a proactive approach to temporary staffing problems, reduces the potential for liability.

14. Chart audits have revealed significant omissions of data that could have legal and financial guideline ramifications. The unit manager meets with the staff to discuss audit findings and to find approaches that will address the gaps in charting and achieve desired goals. What is the manager demonstrating? a. Leadership b. Management c. Decision making d. Vision

ANS: B The process of guiding others to meet established goals, outcomes, and procedures is management. This can require collaborative decision making to determine how best to reach predetermined goals and follow established practices.

18. Kari, a head nurse on the dialysis unit, has been informed during budget planning meetings that budget cuts are likely. She discusses this at the next unit meeting and tells staff members that unless they do their jobs well, their positions may be terminated, and there will be no replacement. Kari is enacting which management style? a. Transformational b. Transactional c. Trusting d. Truthful

ANS: B Transactional leaders tend to rely on position and power, and they tend to reward and punish according to performance and conformity with expectations.

20. The style of leadership that Kari is exhibiting is likely to: a. ensure that the organization is financially stable. b. stifle innovative thinking about ways to move out of financial jeopardy. c. lead to apathy and disinterest in the organizational goals. d. lead to decreased attrition of staff on her unit.

ANS: B Whether or not the organization achieves financial stability is a function of financial envisioning and planning, but the style of leadership (transactional) that Kari is demonstrating is likely maintaining the status quo within the organization, without generating creative and innovative ideas to address the financial issues. Staff commitment is low to stable, and conformity to organizational goals is motivated by external rewards.

4. During a fire drill, several psychiatric patients become agitated. The nurse manager quickly assigns a staff member to each patient. This autocratic decision style is most appropriate for: a. routine problems. b. crisis situations. c. managers who prefer a "telling" style. d. followers who cannot agree on a solution.

ANS: B An autocratic style is appropriate when rapid decision making is required, such as in a crisis situation.

20. You ask Evelyn, a new UNP, to check what is left in Mrs. N.'s inhaler when Evelyn makes visits to Mrs. N. and also to check whether Mrs. N. is receiving any positive effect from the medication. Evelyn reports for 3 weeks that Mrs. N. is using the inhaler and that there is enough medication left in the device. The day of her last visit to Mrs. N., Mrs. N. is admitted to the hospital in severe respiratory distress. When she is admitted, she tells the physician that she has not been using the inhaler for 4 weeks. Determination of Evelyn's educational preparation and certification is related to the concept of: a. accountability. b. authority. c. role performance. d. assignment.

ANS: B Authority refers to the right to do and may be designated by law, educational preparation, or job description.

8. During staff-development programs, staff nurses verbalize their frustration about their workloads and having to delegate so many tasks to others. One of the main reasons that delegation has emerged as an issue is because of: a. the amount of paperwork required to complete care. b. the complexity of care required by patients. c. earlier discharge practices. d. the numbers of other disciplines present on a given unit.

ANS: B Complexity of client care, a multilevel nursing model (registered nurses, mixed with LPNs/LVNs, and UNPs), and community-based care provide many challenges in determining the care required and outcomes desired and/or mandated, and in matching needs with various abilities and authority of regulated and unregulated healthcare providers. The nurse manager should ensure that staff is clinically competent and trained in their roles in patient safety.

10. An outpatient surgery manager is evaluating new infusion pumps for purchase to use in the operating room. The manager should: a. select the least expensive brand. b. use a decision-making tool to evaluate brands. c. ask the nursing staff which brand they prefer. d. select the vendor the institution usually buys from.

ANS: B Decision-making tools such as decision grids and SWOT analyses are most appropriate when information is available and options are known.

9. The day shift nurse asks an LPN/LVN to complete a task for a patient. The day shift nurse is engaging in what function? a. Delegating b. Assigning c. Sharing d. Authorizing

ANS: B Delegation refers to transfer of responsibility for work; the day shift nurse retains accountability for the outcomes of patient care therefore is using assigning of the task rather than delegation.

11. With delegation, responsibility and accountability remain with the: a. physician. b. professional who delegates. c. individual who receives the delegation. d. individual who previously performed the task.

ANS: B Even though the delegatee (the one who receives the delegation) receives direction from the professional who delegates a task and must have the authority to complete it, the delegator retains accountability for the overall outcome and completion of the activity. The delegatee has responsibility (obligation to engage in the task) and authority for the task.

20. The institution where you are a nurse manager has resisted the adoption of a new document management software, citing cost as a concern. You meet with other nurse managers who are in favor of the software and prepare a proposal to take to the senior executive with the goal of persuading the executive to adopt the software. This is an example of: a. collaboration. b. a coalition. c. networking. d. policy building.

ANS: B The formation of temporary groups to achieve particular goals involves the development of coalitions.

16. Decision making is described by the nursing educator as the process one uses to: a. solve a problem. b. choose between alternatives. c. reflect on a certain situation. d. generate ideas.

ANS: B The hallmark of decision making is choosing among options.

6. During a fire drill, the nurse manager becomes very assertive and directive in her communications with staff. This type of situational leadership depends on: a. supportive behavior by the leader and immature followers. b. the development level of the followers and the behavior based on the situation. c. well-developed followers combined with a strong leader who acts quickly. d. the leader's ability to evaluate personnel and communicate that evaluation.

ANS: B When abilities, relationships, and/or time is limited (as in a crisis situation), the leader assumes a bigger role in guiding and in making decisions, or "telling" behavior. Leaders need to behavior differently and use different leadership styles in different situations.

19. You ask Evelyn, a new UNP, to check what is left in Mrs. N.'s inhaler when Evelyn makesvisits to Mrs. N. and also to check whether Mrs. N. is receiving any positive effect from the medication. Evelyn reports for 3 weeks that Mrs. N. is using the inhaler and that there is enough medication left in the device. The day of her last visit to Mrs. N., Mrs. N. is admitted to the hospital in severe respiratory distress. When she is admitted, she tells the physician that she has not been using the inhaler for 4 weeks. Before assigning Evelyn to Mrs. N.'s care, the most appropriate action of the care coordinator would have been to: a. determine Evelyn's educational background and preparation for this role. b. ask Evelyn if she has worked with inhalers before and to describe what she knows about them. c. advise that if Evelyn has any questions about what to do with the inhaler, she should come to the coordinator. d. advise Evelyn that working the inhaler is not really complicated and that she should ask the patient how to check medication levels in the inhaler.

ANS: B When delegating tasks, in addition to specifying the task to be completed, outcomes, priorities, time lines, deviations, report time frames, monitoring, and resources, asking the delegatee to give examples of each is helpful in ensuring that communication is clear and has been understood. Preparation of UNPs lacks consistency; therefore, the safest practice is to determine the knowledge and skill level of the UNP in relation to the skill and the patient before delegating.

16. The new head nurse on G Unit has been the subject of a great deal of discussion and complaining during breaks. She is a competent nurse of tremendous integrity with approximately 30 years' experience. Her predominant method of problem solving and communication is through meetings, which can go over the allotted time. The staff may: a. be represented by a high number of Baby Boomers. b. be presenting different generational values and attitudes than the head nurse. c. be unresponsive to her transactional leadership style. d. want a leader rather than a manager.

ANS: B Leaders who come out of the Baby Boomer generation may be more comfortable with collective action than followers who come out of the Emerging Work force generation, who are more comfortable with interactions if they are seen as having value for them and with activities if they are seen as having benefit. A group that is highly weighted toward the Emerging Work force generation may find the approach of a leader who is part of the Baby Boomer generation frustrating and may not understand the meaning or value of the meetings.

1. As a senior executive, you are keen to develop your hospital as a learning organization. Part of your purpose in translating this vision into practice is to: (Select all that apply.) a. retain funding from third-party payers. b. develop leaders. c. maintain and/or improve quality of care. d. stay abreast of new knowledge and evidence.

ANS: B, C, D Learning organizations are concerned with providing opportunities and incentives for individuals and groups to engage in lifelong learning, in recognition of the positive impact that learning has on patient outcomes and staying abreast of new knowledge. Lifelong learning and reflection are also characteristics of leaders.

15. You volunteer at a free community clinic. A 13-year-old girl presents with chlamydia. The team leader at the clinic advises that: a. the state-defined age of legal consent is 18; therefore, no treatment can be delivered. b. the teen is underage and should be referred to the family general practitioner. c. care can be provided as long as consent is voluntary and information about treatment and options is provided. d. treatment is provided as long as telephone consent is obtained from a parent or legal guardian.

ANS: C All states have a legal age for consent; generally, this age is 18. However, emancipated minors, minors seeking treatment for substance abuse, and minors seeking treatment for communicable diseases can provide their own consent.

3. A patient refuses a simple procedure that you believe is in the patient's best interest. What two ethical principles are in conflict in this situation? a. Fidelity and justice b. Veracity and fidelity c. Autonomy and beneficence d. Paternalism and respect for others

ANS: C Autonomy refers to the freedom to make a choice (e.g., refuse a procedure), and beneficence to doing good (performing a procedure that will benefit the patient).

10. The hospital administration is discussing the possibility of closing hospital beds in your unit because of a nursing shortage and the increased amount of overtime required to care for patients. As the leader on the unit, which of the following examples best demonstrates your transformational leadership style? a. Your entire staff walks out on strike. b. Your staff sends an ultimatum to the clinic director demanding higher pay. c. A group of your staff members goes to the administration to propose closing of a different unit. d. A group of your staff members goes to the administration to request that they be allowed to work the overtime hours.

ANS: C Commitment to the vision that has been created is seen in the ability of the leader to influence, motivate, and persuade others. The transformational leader can motivate employees by encouragement of novel, innovative thinking. True transformational leadership as occurring when the leader is able to motivate followers to create new ways to problem solve and manage the changes together.

The principle that requires nurses to uphold a professional code of ethics, to practice within the code of ethics, and to remain competent is which of the following? a. Veracity b. Autonomy c. Fidelity d. Honesty

ANS: C Fidelity refers to promise keeping or upholding one's promise to practice as a reasonable and prudent nurse would do and in an ethically competent manner.

2. The Rehabilitation Unit at Pleasant Valley Hospital has a high number of falls. What interventions might assist to reduce the number of falls on the unit? a. Determining who is responsible for the falls b. Strengthening unit policies to avoid inappropriate admissions c. Encouraging involvement of nurses in education related to falls and safety d. Ensuring that patients are appropriately restrained if they are at risk for falls

ANS: C The IOM (2010) emphasizes the need for nurses to engage in lifelong learning and to use evidence and best practices to inform practice and ensure safety.

How would the nurse executive begin to increase safety in patient care areas of the Valley Hospital? a. Asking the community what the safety issues are b. Consulting with a management expert about staffing schedules c. Ensuring that the senior nursing officer attends the board meetings d. Instituting improved practices to reduce needlestick injuries

ANS: C The IOM report (2004) highlighted the importance of the attendance of the senior nurse executive at board meetings to be a key spokesperson on safety and quality issues.

2. A staff nurse in the area that you manage has excelled in the delivery of patient education. You are considering implementing a new job description that would broaden her opportunity to teach patients and orient new staff members to the value of patient education. What ethical principle is being reinforced? a. Justice b. Fidelity c. Paternalism d. Respect for others

ANS: C The principle of paternalism allows one person to make partial decisions for another and is most frequently deemed to be a negative or undesirable principle. Paternalism, however, may be used to assist persons to make decisions when they do not have sufficient data or expertise. Paternalism becomes undesirable when the entire decision is taken away from the employee.

2. The charge nurse is making patient assignments for the next shift on the unit. There is one critical patient on the unit, who is going to require more care than the other patients. Before delegating this patient in an assignment, what is the appropriate action by the charge nurse? a. Delegate the admission assessment to the LPN. b. Review the employee's performance assessment for the most recent period. c. Assess the amount of guidance and support needed for the nursing care of the patient. d. Create a task analysis of critical behaviors for the individual.

ANS: C To delegate effectively, the charge nurse must assess the abilities required in the situation and the abilities that staff have to anticipate the amount of direction, monitoring, explanation, and independence that can be assumed.

3. Several nurses on an adolescent psychiatric unit complain that the teens are becoming unmanageable on the 0700-1900 shift. To resolve this problem, the nurse manager decides that the staff should have a brainstorming session. The goal of brainstorming is to: a. evaluate problem solutions. b. critique the ideas of others. c. generate as many solutions as possible. d. identify only practical and realistic ideas.

ANS: C Brainstorming encourages creativity when one is beginning to problem-solve and avoids premature shutting down of ideas through early evaluation. The goal is to generate ideas, no matter how seemingly unrealistic or absurd.

7. The unit manager is working in a large metropolitan facility and is told that two UNPs are to be assigned to work with her. Delegation begins with: a. acknowledging the arrival of the second UNP on the unit. b. providing clear directions to both UNPs. c. matching tasks with qualified persons. d. receiving reports from the prior shift.

ANS: C In delegating to the UNPs, the nurse must consider what cannot be delegated, as well as the factors of safety, time, critical thinking, and stability of patients.

15. From the information supplied in this chapter, which statement best defines critical thinking? Critical thinking is a: a. high-level cognitive process. b. process that helps to develop reflective criticism for the purpose of reaching a conclusion. c. high-level cognitive process that includes creativity, problem solving, and decision making. d. discussion that guides the nursing process.

ANS: C It is generally accepted by many authors and researchers that this statement best defines critical thinking.

16. One day, at coffee, your co-worker suggests that you and she sit with unit members of the hospital research committee. She suggests that this would be an excellent way to get to know people who share her interest in research. Her actions are an example of: a. mentorship. b. politics. c. networking. d. empowerment.

ANS: C Meeting individuals outside the normal work group to share ideas and gain support and encouragement is an example of networking.

21. High-quality decisions are most likely to be made in nursing situations when: a. team leaders make the crucial decisions. b. individuals are advised of the problems. c. group size is neither too small nor too large. d. members are passively involved.

ANS: C Research has shown that group size is important. Too small a group means a limited number of options generated. Too large a group can mean lack of structure or lack of meaningful discussion.

6. To solve a problem, the nurse manager understands that the most important problem-solving step is: a. the implementation phase. b. identification of numerous solutions. c. accurate identification of the problem. d. evaluation of the effectiveness of problem resolution.

ANS: C To proceed effectively, it is important to determine if a problem exists and to accurately identify a problem. Failure to resolve problems is most often linked to improper identification of the problem.

12. The charge nurse walks into Mr. Smith's room and finds him yelling at the LPN. He is obviously very upset. The charge nurse determines that he has not slept for three nights because of unrelieved pain levels. The LPN is very upset and calls Mr. Smith an "ugly, old man." The charge nurse acknowledges the LPN's feelings and concerns and then suggests that Mr. Smith's behavior was aggressive but was related to lack of sleep and to pain. The charge nurse asks, "Can you, together with Mr. Smith, determine triggers for the pain and effective approaches to controlling his pain?" This situation is an example of what? a. Lack of empathy and understanding for Miss Jones b. Concern with placating Mr. Smith c. Leadership behavior d. Management behavior

ANS: CT he situation between Mr. Smith and Miss Jones is a complex situation involving unrelieved patient symptoms and aggressiveness toward a staff member. Providing engaged, collaborative guidance and decision making in a complex situation where there is no standardized solution reflects leadership.

22. The senior executive praises John for the positive patient evaluations that his unit has received. As an effective leader, John: a. thanks the senior executive for having confidence in him and celebrates by going out to a special restaurant. b. points out the impact that the changes he has initiated have had on the unit. c. advises the senior executive that the mission statement and goals are important to him. d. points out the contributions of his staff to the outcomes and shares the praise with his staff.

ANS: D An effective leader is eager to share the glory with those who have worked with him or her to achieve outcomes and success. The act of acknowledging the achievement to the senior executive and of sharing the positive feedback with his staff empowers the staff and builds a support base for the leader.

8. What would be the primary emphasis in designing and implementing a quality, safe healthcare environment? a. Evidence-based practice b. Informatics c. Staffing d. The patient

ANS: D Focusing on the patient moves care from concern about who controls care to a focus on what care is provided to and with patients, which was an aim identified in the IOM report Crossing the Quality Chasm.

15. In delegating to a UNP in a home health setting, which of the following represents the most appropriate delegation communication? a. "You will be taking care of Mrs. S., who needs assistance with her bath." b. "You will need to help Mrs. S. get into and out of her shower. Ensure that you check the condition of her feet, and let me know if you have any concerns when you check in." c. "I am not sure that you know how to do this, but I am giving you Mrs. S. She is quite obese and needs skin care." d. "Mrs. S. needs help to get into and out of her bathtub. Her bath will need to be completed by 10:00. When you are helping her to dry, please check between her toes and toenails, and phone me by 10:30 if you notice nail discoloration or redness."

ANS: D Delegation communication includes what is being delegated (and what is not), outcomes, specific deadlines (if applicable), specific reporting guidelines (what, when), and who may be consulted. Communication also includes conveying recognition of the authority to do what is expected.

1. The risk manager informs the nurse manager of an orthopedic unit that her unit has had an increase in incident reports related to patients falling during the 11-7 shift. The nurse manager knows that the best way to resolve the problem is to: a. use creativity. b. obtain support from the 7-3 shift. c. use institutional research. d. identify the problem.

ANS: D Identification of a problem is the first step in problem solving and occurs before any other step. The most common cause for failure to resolve problems is the improper identification of the problem/issue; therefore, problem recognition and identification are considered the most vital steps.

7. A clinic nurse has observed another nurse deviating from agency policy in performing wound care. The best approach for the clinic nurse to take is to: a. stay out of it. b. inform the nursing supervisor. c. fill out a notification form (incident report). d. assess the risk to the client and the agency before proceeding.

ANS: D If the situation is subjective, nonroutine, and unstructured or if outcomes are unknown or unpredictable, the nurse leader and manager may need to take a descriptive or behavioral approach. More information (such as degree of risk to the client and to the agency) needs to be gathered to address this situation effectively.

5. The night nurse understands that certain factors need to be considered before delegating tasks to others. These factors include the: a. complexity of the task and the age of the delegatee. b. potential for benefit and the complexity of the task. c. potential for benefit and the number of staff. d. complexity of the task and the potential for harm.

ANS: D In delegating tasks to others, the nurse considers factors such as stability of the patient, safety of the situation and of the patient, time and intensity involved, and level of critical thinking required to achieve desired outcomes.

19. What interaction is MOST consistent with the idea of networking? a. Meet with the same colleagues daily to have coffee and share concerns about the workplace and stories about colleagues. b. Join an online workplace forum to gain ideas about how to handle workplace conflict. c. Suggest that you and a new team member meet after work for coffee to review unit guidelines. d. Join a nurse executive interest group to meet other executives for support and for sharing ideas of expertise.

ANS: D Networking is the result of identifying, valuing, and maintaining relationships with a system of individuals who are sources of information, advice, and support. Many nurses have relatively limited networks within the organizations where they are employed. Active participation in nursing organizations is the most effective method of establishing a professional network outside one's place of employment. Successful networking involves sharing similar ideas and maintaining relationships within a system of individuals who serve as sources of information, advice, and support.

18. Justin is a nurse manager in a rehabilitation unit in a small urban center. There is a high turnover rate among rehab-assistants because of the heavy work assignments. Despite his need for staff, Justin decides to review each application thoroughly and interview candidates carefully because he recognizes that it is important to hire staff who can best provide high-quality care and who will fit well with the team. Which of the following decision-making solutions should Justin consider to have a more efficient department? a. Replace staff only with qualified applicants. b. Determine what the problem or problems are before hiring new staff. c. Consult with the human resources department and develop a plan for hiring new staff. d. All listed are appropriate to consider.

ANS: D The unit manager did not begin with an accurate identification of the problem. Problem solving needs to begin with "why?".

As the head of a nursing program, you consistently invite the ideas of your team about innovations in teaching, community partnerships, and curriculum design and invite participation in decisions. Many of these ideas have been implemented successfully, and your staff members are keen to try on other ideas. What is the leadership you are employing? a. Situational b. Trait-based c. Contingency-based d. Transformational

ANS: D Transformational leadership involves attending to the needs and motives of followers, which results in creativity, improvement, and employee development.

19. Susan, a new graduate on the dialysis unit, appears to take Kari's remarks very seriously and works even harder, often volunteering for extra assignments. She also is often in Kari's office, advising of successes with her patients and of the extra effort that she is committing. This behavior suggests that Susan: a. is fearful of losing her job. b. lacks understanding of Kari's leadership style. c. is not intimidated by Kari's leadership style. d. knows how to "play the game."

ANS: D Followers under transactional leadership feel secure about what will happen next or what is needed to be rewarded; therefore, they learn to "play the game."

6. The nurse manager in the Emergency Department needs to implement new staffing patterns. As a transformational leader, the nurse manager would: a. explain in detail how well the new idea will work. b. reinforce how this change will respond to the ideas and solutions generated by staff members. c. reason with staff members that the new idea will save money and allow more free time. d. imply that raises will be smaller than anticipated if the new idea is not accepted.

B Transformational leadership inspires and motivates others through influence and persuasion rather than through rewards (e.g., free time) and punishment (e.g., smaller raises). This type of leader listens to the views of others (such as those of the staff members), empowers others to lead (such as in generating solutions for staffing problems), finds ways to remove barriers, and serves as an advocate for those who care for patients.

When caring for a patient who had a hip replacement that morning, a nurse is providing what level of care? A) Primary B) Secondary C) Tertiary D) Essential

B) Secondary Secondary Care - disease restorative care Primary Care - preventive care Tertiary Care - rehabilitative or long term care

1. As the clinical director of 24 employees, you have been asked to explain to staff members why they are not getting a raise this year, even though they have been working short-handed for many months and patient satisfaction scores have never been higher. Because you believe yourself to be a transformational leader, you will approach this problem by: a. telling the assistant clinical director and asking her to share the bad news with the other staff members. b. posting a note on the bulletin board that includes the phone number of the chief nursing officer, so anyone who has complaints may express them. c. showing staff members the budget and asking for input about how to cut costs so that raises will be possible in the future. d. meeting with a small group of seasoned staff members and asking them how to break the news.

C Transformational leadership involves engaging those being led and inspiring shared vision in moving toward a goal that all will accept as desirable. This involves enabling and empowering others to believe that their input and effort will make a difference in solving problems.

22. Mary, an 85-year-old patient with cognitive impairment and gross instability, wanders continuously. Lately, she has fallen twice, and the family demands that she be restrained. As the unit manager, you have initiated a least restraint practice. What is an appropriate action in this situation? a. Setting up a nursing team meeting to review practices b. Calling the family to inform them of the practice c. Initiating a multidisciplinary and family meeting to focus on Mary's needs d. Restraining Mary to satisfy the family's wishes

C Crossing the Quality Chasm emphasizes the importance of rendering care with the client (client-centered) rather than to the client. In this situation, the patient includes family in transparent discussions about quality needs and takes a team approach that involves healthcare professionals, the family, Mary's needs, and evidence associated with safe practice.

complexity

Complexity According to Yoder-Wise (2019), complexity concerns the division of labor, how specialized that labor is, the number of hierarchical levels, and the geographic dispersion of the units. Division of labor and specialization refer to the designation of processes into tasks. An organizational chart is a graphic representation of the work units and the reporting relationships. Hierarchy refers to the lines of authority and responsibility and how distant the patient-side nurse is from the chief nursing officer and the chief executive officer. Chain of command refers to the hierarchy and is the vertical view of organizational charts.

24. As the manager on an acute care medical unit, you note that the incidence of medication errors has increased since the implementation of staffing changes. What is an important stratagem to reduce errors? a. Revisit reporting standards for medication errors in your organization. b. Ensure that medication errors are consistently reported. c. Provide staff with additional education related to safe practice in medication administration. d. Involve RN staff in determining reasons for errors and practice solutions to increase the safety of medication administration.

D ANS: DKeeping Patients Safe: Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses (2004) identified many past practices that had a negative impact on nurses, and thus on patients, and recommended the inclusion of nurses in direct care in decision making involving their practice. Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2010) also emphasizes the role of nurses as leaders in changes that improve health.

4. The director of nursing has been observing staff interactions in a 20-bed coronary care unit. Based on her observations, which of the following staff members is an obvious leader? a. The unit secretary who knows everyone's business b. The chief nursing officer who is in charge and is responsible for nursing services c. The chief cardiologist who admits the largest number of patients and brings in more revenue than any other physician d. The staff nurse who persuades other staff members to practice by making evidence-based decisions

D Leaders are those who do the best job of sharing their vision of where the followers want to be and how to get there. It is the ability to inspire others to bring a vision (such as evidence-based decision making) to reality and is not necessarily tied to status or information flow

1. The manager in the coronary care unit believes an important ethical consideration in performance evaluations is to include the employee's good qualities and give positive direction for professional growth. What ethical principle does this represent? a. Justice b. Fidelity c. Beneficence d. Nonmaleficence

D Nonmaleficence refers to "doing no harm." For a nurse manager following this principle, performance evaluation should emphasize an employee's good qualities and give positive direction for growth. Destroying the employee's self-esteem and self-worth would be considered doing harm under this principle.

17. How would a nurse manager and the staff prepare for redesignation as a Magnet® Hospital? a. Commit staff resources over a 6-month period to updating procedure manuals. b. Educate staff through meetings and training sessions regarding appropriate answers to questions. c. Prepare a manual that outlines orientation procedures and ensure that all safety issues are addressed. d. Ensure that there are empirical data to support review of patient outcomes, actions taken, and results of actions.

D Through the Magnet® model, organizations must demonstrate how they provide excellence in five areas. Between designation and redesignation as a Magnet® organization, greater emphasis is placed on empirical quality results.

2. After a newly hired director of nursing has reviewed the hospital's strategic plans, she develops a time line for achieving those plans. The new leader is: a. not expecting that novice leaders will have a vision. b. demonstrating mistrust of the abilities of her staff to implement the plans. c. instituting deadlines against which the performance of staff will be evaluated. d. translating a global document into realistic plans for nursing.

D Followers need three things from leaders: direction, trust, and hope. Developing time lines for the strategic plan involves translating a vision into reality and being able to communicate a vision meaningfully, which is an example of a leader's influencing behavior.

Primary Care

Early detection and prevention of disease Maintenance of health and wellness

17. The manager calls the staff together to assess a situation in which the family of a seriously ill patient is anxious and is absorbing a great deal of staff time in consultation, discussion, and questioning of treatment decisions. Staff members are becoming distanced from the family. After inviting the concerns of staff, the manager explains that the organization values patient-centered care and that evidence supports that acting as an advocate and a listener is helpful to families. The manager asks the staff for ideas and strategies that are effectively patient-centered in dealing with families in similar situations. What is the role of the nurse manager in this situation? a. Leadership b. Management c. Follower d. Visionary

a As a leader, the manager is providing and communicating vision and direction based on evidence and experience. The manager is engaging others in decision making that moves them toward the vision with a reasonable level of risk taking.

16. What would managers and staff review annually in order to ensure compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) to improve patient safety? a. Appropriateness of charting terms and abbreviations b. Nursing hours per patient c. Acuity of patient admissions d. Wait times for care

a The Joint Commission issues setting-specific patient goals annually, as well as a list of "do-not-use" terms, abbreviations, and symbols and sentinel events.

15. Pleasant Valley Hospital has amended its safety practices and policies. What has the hospital elected to emphasize accordance with changes by The Joint Commission (TJC)? a. Safety goals specific to Pleasant Valley b. Decision-making processes c. Sufficient staffing for safe care d. Increased numbers of baccalaureate-prepared RNs

a When TJC, a not-for-profit organization that accredits healthcare organizations, changed its focus from processes to outcomes, it emphasized patient safety and issues setting-specific annual patient safety goals.

As a nurse manager, you are a leader and a follower in health care and on the unit you manage. Looking at the larger picture of health care and patient environment on the unit, what is the primary role of the followers on the unit, as defined in nursing? a. Direct care provider b. Implements leader's policy unquestioned c. Passive role on unit d. Devalued staff member

a. Direct care provider

A staff nurse is taking leadership classes in an advanced degree program with a goal to become a nurse manager. The nurse is studying the leader-follower relationship. What has the nurse discovered as accurate part of the leader-follower relationship? a. Leaders are also followers. b. Followers need to linear structures . c. Followers are submissive in nature. d. Leaders should dictate to the group

a. Leaders are also followers.

As a nurse manager in a hospital, you would expect what to be the major contributor to funding and revenues in your organization? a. The federal government b. Medicare c. Medicaid d. Blue Cross/Blue Shield

a. The federal government

With the help of a federal grant, the local school nurse has established a spreadsheet that contains relevant nursing data so that she can analyze children's health. School health programs are: a. increasingly seen as primary care sites for children. b. providing only health education programs for children and their parents. c. capable only of providing referrals for health problems to primary care providers . d. funded exclusively by local authorities.

a. increasingly seen as primary care sites for children.

14. The NQF provides a model for advancement of healthcare quality that could be used in healthcare organizations. What does the use of this model by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services specificity link with adverse patient events for healthcare facilities? a. Staffing b. Funding c. Composition of executive councils d. Composition of consumer-based councils

b The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have adopted a policy based on the NQF's "Never Events." The CMS will no longer pay for patient conditions or events that result from poor practice while patients are under the care of a health professional.

17. Which ethical principle is primarily involved in informed consent? a. Veracity b. Autonomy c. Beneficence d. Nonmaleficence

b. Autonomy

21. A staff nurse has been recently promoted to unit manager. During the time on the unit, the nurse formed a strong social network among staff, has promoted the development of relationships between staff and workers in other areas of the organization, and has formed relationships that generate ideas from patient organizations and the local nursing education program. According to complexity theory, what principle is being engaged? a. Empowerment b. Systematic thinking c. Development of networks d. Bottom-up interactions

c According to complexity theory, social networks evolve around areas of common interest and are able to respond to problems in creative and novel ways.

7. To retain supervisory staff members, the director of nursing develops a mentoring program. The best person to be a mentor for a new supervisor in a leadership position is someone who has: a. been in the same position and can relate to the new supervisor's problems. b. had vast leadership opportunities and likes to talk about his or her past experiences. c. leadership experience and time to spend communicating with the new supervisor about his or her experiences. d. people who can help the new supervisor get what he or she needs to make the organization grow quickly and prosper in the process.

c Mentors need to have experience and some success in the leadership area of interest, as well as interest in the future development of the novice. The mentor can be geographically distant or close and able to provide advice and feedback.

As a new nurse manager, you are aware of leadership, management, and followership principles. The concept of followership is rather new as relating to leadership. What is the role of the follower in followership? a. Leading the group in task b. Submission position in organization c. Person who may influence team d. Negative meaning for worker

c. Person who may influence team

A nurse manager at a home healthcare service has resigned to take a position at a local ambulatory care center. She has been hired because of her expertise in TJC accreditation. To initiate the changes, the nurse manager has to be knowledgeable about the differences between a home healthcare institution and an ambulatory care center, which is a primary care institution. Primary care institutions are facilities that provide: a. rehabilitative or long-term care. b. disease-restorative care. c. first access to care. d. only outpatient services

c. first access to care.

The definition of leader refers to a person who has ability to guide people. In nursing, the leader does more. What is NOT a role of a leader in nursing? a. Active listening b. Open communication c. Accountability in decisions d. Tight control of decisions

d. Tight control of decisions