NURS 234; Leadership Chapter 8

The critical care unit of a hospital utilizes team huddles at change of shift. This is an opportunity for the clinical supervisors to connect the team members and review the upcoming shift or any quick topics that need to be communicated. This is an example of a(n) _____________________ meeting. A) Information-sharing B) Opinion-seeking C) Problem-solving D) Strategy

Answer: A An information-sharing meeting occurs when a group is gathered to disseminate information

Effective groups will have a variety of roles. Which of the following are examples of group-building roles (select all that apply)? A) Encourager B) Listener C) Summarizer D) Compromiser E) Recorder

Answer: A, B, C Group-building roles include initiator, encourager, opinion giver, clarifier, listener, and summarizer

A pseudoteam is a group of people who believe they are already a team but fall short of the definition of a true team. What are some characteristics of a pseudoteam (select all that apply)? A) Confusion over the purpose of the team B) Unclear goals C) Effective interpersonal communication patterns D) Team needs placed above individual needs E) Lack of evaluation criteria

Answer: A, B, E Characteristics of a pseudoteam include confusion over their purpose, unhealthy or toxic interpersonal issues and communication patterns, members who put individual needs and ambition about the needs of the team, the presence of hierarchical rituals that preclude full participation of all members, unclear goals, and a lack of evaluation criteria

A nursing professional practice council is being formulated within an organization. Nurses from the three acute settings will meet monthly to discuss safety, policy, and practice needs within the organization. What are some of the reasons for this group formation (select all that apply)? A) To provide professional socialization B) To provide an exchange forum C) To provide a mechanism for independent work accomplishment D) To allow members to test a theory E) To create a sense of status and esteem

Answer: A, B, E In nursing, formation of groups occurs primarily to provide a personal or professional socialization and exchange forum, or to provide a mechanism for interdependent work accomplishment. Groups are established within organizations to create a sense of status and esteem, they allow an individual to test and establish reality and they function as a mechanism for getting a job done

Group interactions are composed of which of the following elements (select all that apply)? A) The unique way the group interrelates and begins to work together B) The values and norms of each individual C) The process of problem solving D) The communication that occurs among group members E) The roles played by each member

Answer: A, C, D, E Group interactions are composed of the unique way the group interrelates and begins to work together, the standards that regulate the group's behavior, the process of problem solving and decision making, the communication patterns that occur among group members, and the roles played by each member

What are some of the advantages to group work related to problem solving (select all that apply)? A) There is greater sharing of knowledge and information B) Individuals are less likely to accept a solution C) Complex problems are more manageable in a group D) Groups discourage individual expression E) Groups decision making is cost effective

Answer: A, C, E The major advantages of group problem solving over individual problem solving are: greater sharing of knowledge and information, increased acceptance of solutions, complex problems are more manageable, groups allow for individual expression, and group functioning is less expensive

What are some of the positive aspects of utilizing teams in a professional setting such as health care (select all that apply)? A) Teams help create a competitive edge B) Teams are a way to keep decision making at the management level C)Teams contribute to constraints within the budget D) Teams are able to process innovation E) Teams capitalize on possibilities for patient safety

Answer: A, D, E Effective work teams can create a form of synergism in which the outcome is greater than the sum of individual efforts. Such synergism confers a competitive edge and boosts productivity under conditions of constrained resources. Teams are a way to enlist employee participation and capitalize on possibilities for improved patient safety, increased productivity, better decisions, and process innovation. Team building is a strategy for designing, implementing, developing, and nurturing work teams in organizations.

Group problem solving is known to be more effective over individual problem solving because of a larger knowledge and information base, increased acceptance of solutions, more approaches to a problem, lower economic costs, and the ability for: A) Group development B) Individual expression C) Hierarchical bonding D) Organizational team building

Answer: B Individual expression is one of the major advantages of group problem solving

A type of group that is stable, meets periodically, has an identified purpose, and is part of the organizational structure is called a: A) Club B) Committee C) Group D) Meeting

Answer: B A committee is a type of group that is stable, meets periodically, has an identified purpose, and is part of the organizational structure. An example of a committee is a policy and procedure committee

Group as well as individual accountability exists within a: A) Work group B) True team C) Pseudoteam D) Committee

Answer: B A true team occurs when there is a collective entity in which leadership rotates and is shared by various members of the team. There is group as well as individual accountability

Any collection of interconnected individuals working together for the same purpose is known as a(n): A) Club B) Group C) Meeting D) Organization

Answer: B Any collection of interconnected individuals working together for the same purpose in known as a group

Some of the major disadvantages to group decision making are premature decisions, individual domination, and: A) Autonomous conclusion. B) Disruptive conflicts. C) Group synergy. D) Inaccurate data interpretation.

Answer: B Group decision making can be derailed to a number of points in the process. The main disadvantages commonly noted about group decision making are the potential for premature decisions, individual domination, and disruptive conflicts

Why is teamwork an imperative for leaders (select all that apply)? A) There are static structures of health care delivery B) A higher degree of knowledge is required to meet the demands of patient care C) A collective pool of thinking styles contributes to care delivery D) Rapid information dissemination is necessary at the senior leadership level E) There are increasing governmental regulations

Answer: B, C, E Teamwork has become the imperative for leaders today because of the level of knowledge required to meet the demands of both patients and systems of care requires collective pooling of thinking styles, diversity of professional backgrounds, and the collaboration of many. Rapidly changing structures of care deliver and reimbursement protocols, increasing governmental regulations, increasing complexity, technology advances, rapid information dissemination at the worker level, and the shift to a knowledge worker-based service society are some of the social and economic forces operative in health care

Team dynamics can become dysfunctional over time. What are some factors that can contribute to team dysfunction (select all that apply)? A) Taking accountability B) Absence of trust C) Negotiating expectations D) Fear of conflict E) Lack of commitment

Answer: B, D, E Dysfunctional team behaviors can occur related to an absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoiding accountability, and inattention to results. Articulating and negotiating expectations for health interpersonal behavior benefits team development

A small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable and whose membership should be consistent is known as a: A) Committee B) Group C) Team D) Unit

Answer: C A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable and whose membership should be consistent.

The hospital's regulatory department is experiencing a Joint Commission survey. The surveyors want to review hospital policies for infection control before they leave for the evening. The regulatory team leader states that she can stay past her regulatory hours to wait for them and acknowledges that there will be. a need for a policy change before the surveyors return the following day. All of the department managers stay to assist the regulatory team leader with the required documentation. This is an example of a: A) Work group B) Committee C) True team D) Group

Answer: C A true team is a group where there are collective work products. There is group as well as individual accountability. If one member is having a problem, it is not only that person problem but that of the whole team to resolve.

The stage of group development where control issues arise and disputes or disagreements begin to emerge is the _________ stage. A) Orientation B) Adaptation C) Emergence D) Working

Answer: C Emergence is the third stage of group development and occurs as control issues arise. Disputes, disagreements, confrontations, alliances, and power struggles mark this stage of determining control over the group in order to emerge with a more consolidated identity

In planning for an effective committee meeting, what are some of the roles of the leader (select all that apply) A) Allowing the group to set the agenda during the meeting B) Inviting more than 20 people to ensure adequate attendance C) Identifying the purpose of the meeting D) Ensuring that the meeting starts and ends on time E) Keeping the meeting directed toward accomplishing objectives

Answer: C, D, E An effective meeting checklist includes preparing an agenda and related materials, setting the size at four to seven people, identifying the purpose of the meeting, ensuring that the meeting starts and ends on time, and keeping the meeting directed toward established goals.

Work group disruption has been shown to be linked to negative outcomes. What are some factors that can contribute to work group disruptions (select all that apply)? A) Budget constraints B) Multidisciplinary attendance C) Reorganization D) Absenteeism E) Turnover

Answer: C, D, E Work groups can be disrupted by factors such as downsizing, reorganization, absenteeism, and turnover

A group of people who believe they are a team but fall short of the definition of a true team is known as a: A) Club B) Group C) Meeting D) Pseudoteam

Answer: D A pseudoteam is a group of people who believe they are already a team, although clearly they fall short of the definition of a true team

A multidisciplinary committee meets monthly to discuss medication safety issues within acute care areas. The quality director consistently arrives late for meetings and spends her time in the meeting answering e-mails on her iPhone. What type of disruptive behavior does this exhibit? A) Compulsive talker B) Interrupter C) Squasher D) Busybody

Answer: D Busybodies are not committed to the work of the group and frequently arrive late, leave early, spend time checking e-mails or texting, and simply want to show up for the purpose of appearance.

A collection of individuals who are led by a strong, clearly focused leader and who come together to share information and ideas and possibly make decisions is known as a: A) Committee B) Pseudoteam C) Team D) Work Group

Answer: D A collection of individuals who are led by a strong, clearly focused leader and who come together to share information and ideas and possibly to make decisions is known as a work group. In a work group, there is little or no collective accountability.

The nurse manager within a small department has requested that the staff decide department coverage over the holidays. The department is not associated with patient care and serves as a supportive role to the organization. The staff is to present the manager with the coverage plan during the month of December. This is an example of which type of decision? A) Autocratic decision procedure B) Consultative decision procedure C) Joint decision making D) Delegated decision procedure

Answer: D A delegated decision procedure occurs when the leader allows participants to make the final decision. An autocratic decision procedure occurs when the leader makes all of the decisions. A consultative decision procedure occurs when decisions involve employee participation but the leader still makes the decision. Joint decision making occurs when the entire group decides by vote or consensus

A group of tenured nursing faculty at a major university votes on whether a faculty member should receive tenured status. This type of decision making is referred to as: A)Autocratic decision procedure B) Consultative decision procedure C) Delegated decision procedure D) Joint decision making

Answer: D Joint decision making occurs when the entire group makes the decision by two-thirds vote, a simple majority, consensus, or some other process. In this process, the group members have as much power as the leader

Team Building is the process of ______________ a group A) Forming B) Identifying C) Organizing D) Unifying

Answer: D Team building is the process of deliberately creating and unifying a group into a functioning work unit so that specific goals are accomplished

Individuals join groups because of: A) Monetary rewards B) Mandatory obligations C) Physical needs D) Psychological drives

Answer: D The reasons individuals join groups vary but may include psychological drives and primary needs