CoursePoint Modules Exam 2
An experienced nurse is applying for a nurse manager position on a similar unit at another hospital. In developing a list of appropriate questions to ask of the recruiter at the first interview, which should the nurse applicant select? (Select all that apply.)
-Can you tell me about shared governance for nursing at the facility?, What is the turnover rate for staff nurses on this unit?, How does the unit currently handle staff scheduling?, Do you provide continuing education opportunities? -rationale: Appropriate questions to ask of an interviewer relate to the organization (mission, philosophy) or to the specific job. As the applicant is seeking a nurse manager position, questions related to shared governance and/or Magnet status, staff turnover, and staff scheduling practices are appropriate. The applicant should avoid asking 'what's in it for me' type questions, including salary, early on in the first interview. Negotiations related to salary and benefits would typically occur in subsequent interviews for higher-level positions. Asking about continuing education opportunities is appropriate, as it demonstrates the applicant's commitment to lifelong learning. Note that this is different than asking about educational benefits, as in that instance the applicant is asking about compensation.
A nurse manager is performing a daily assessment of staffing needs. Which types of nursing units can successfully use a predetermined standard of nursing staffing for the patient census? (Select all that apply.)
-General medical-surgical units, Home health care, Operating room, Specialty care units -rationale: Predetermined standards of nursing care time and patient number can be used for inpatient hospital units, home health care agencies, and operating rooms. Because the census is very highly variable in the emergency department, a predetermined staffing standard cannot be easily used.
A new graduate nurse is interviewing for a position on a medical-surgical floor at a local hospital. During the interview, the nurse manager states, 'Tell me about your wife and kids.' Which response by the new graduate nurse best addresses the inappropriateness of the question while maintaining a positive interview environment?
-If you are concerned that family may interfere with my work, my record of attendance speaks for itself -rationale: It is unacceptable for the nurse manager to ask about marital status and children. A knowledgeable candidate understands that this question either relates to the nurse manager having concerns about attendance and commitment, or is just an inappropriate attempt at having general conversation, both of which are not proper for an interview. Acknowledging the potential concern about attendance and commitment and addressing it without answering the question is the best response in this situation. Calling out the nurse manager as not being allowed to ask that question or stating that it is none of their business may both be factually accurate, but can lead to an abrupt end to the interview or a more awkward remainder of the interview. This could be important if the interviewee is really hoping to secure a job on this unit. Some nurses may choose to honestly answer the question, even though it is an unacceptable one. However, this answer could lead the nurse manager to have concerns about attendance and commitment
A nurse manager is performing a daily assessment of staffing needs. Which data would be needed to calculate the NCH/PPP? (Select all that apply.)
-Staff on duty for 24 hours beginning at 11 p.m., Patient census as of midnight on day two, Work hours for each staff member on duty -rationale: The data needed to calculate the NCH/PPP include the staff on duty for 24 hours from 11 p.m. on day one to 11 p.m. on day two; patient census as of midnight on day two; and the number of hours worked by each staff member on duty. A census for the entire calendar year is not necessary.
A nurse manager is performing a daily assessment of staffing needs. Which statements about calculating the NCH/PPP are most accurate? (Select all that apply.)
-The first step is to calculate the number of staff for the 24-hour period., The total staff for 24 hours is divided by the patient census at 12 a.m. (midnight), The calculation should include all members of the nursing staff on duty -rationale: The first step is to calculate the total number of all nursing staff for 24 hours (including all three 8-hour shifts for nursing staff including the ward clerk) and then divide that by the patient census at 12 a.m. on day two. The standard is flexible to be adjusted for the staff mix and patient acuity.
A nurse was suspended following excessive absences. The absences continued after the suspension, and now the nurse is to be terminated. The nurse manager is completing a termination conference with the nurse. What response would be the most appropriate for the nurse manager to conclude the conference?
-You are a skilled nurse and I wish you the best -rationale: When ending a termination conference, it is best for the nurse manager to finish on a positive note. Although the employee had serious attendance issues, it does not mean that the individual is not a good nurse. Other extraneous circumstances could have led to the absences and eventual termination. Stating that the individual is a skilled nurse and wishing the nurse the best in the future ends the conference positively. The other choices would end the conference on a more negative note. Human resources issues, such as future references or a 'Do Not Rehire' list, if discussed, should be covered prior to the end of the conference. For the nurse manager to state that there was nothing else they could do would be a way for the nurse manager to avoid taking responsibility for the termination; even if accurate, this would not be the most appropriate or professional statement to make
A nurse manager is performing a daily assessment of staffing needs. If the current NCH/PPP is greater than the budgeted NCH/PPP for the unit, which action should be implemented to keep staffing on track? The nursing staff should:
-be reduced for the current shift -rationale: If the current NCH/PPP is greater than budgeted, staffing must be reduced. If the current NCH/PPP is less than budgeted, staffing must be increased
A nurse manager is performing a daily assessment of staffing needs. When determining if staffing adjustments are needed, to which data should the current NCH/PPP calculation be compared?
-budgeted NCH/PPP for the unit -rationale: To determine if staffing adjustments are needed, the current NCH/PPP should be compared to the budgeted NCH/PPP for the unit. If the current NCH/PPP is greater than budgeted, staffing must be reduced. If the current NCH/PPP is less than budgeted, staffing must be increased.
