Chapter 8
A nurse cared for Senator Bill Smith while he was hospitalized last year. The nurse now wishes to send him a letter supporting a bill that will be voted on in the current legislative session. Which salutation should the nurse use in the letter? 1. Dear Senator: 2. Dear Bill: 3. Dear Sir: 4. To whom it may concern:
1
A staff nurse says, I have so much to do. Why should I spend time being politically aware and active? Which response by the nurse manager would be most appropriate? 1. Being politically active helps you influence events and the decisions of others. 2. You might want to run for political office someday. 3. It might help you increase your salary. 4. It will give you a better understanding of client rights.
1
How can a nurse best influence policies in an organization? 1. Follow the nursing process. 2. React to problems as they occur. 3. Connect with the outside community. 4. Look to administrators to be the policy makers.
1
One of the nurses often fails to attend educational offerings available to the staff. The nurse manager implies the nurse may receive a negative evaluation, which is a use of which type of power? 1. Coercive power 2. Information power 3. Referent power 4. Reward power
1
The nurse has established a reputation for advocating for clients through honesty and hard work. The nurse has worked in the organization for 30 years and often volunteers in local and national political campaigns. This nurse is using which attribute to increase political effectiveness? 1. Image 2. Age 3. Beliefs 4. Political party
1
Which event would likely improve a nurse's position power within an organization? 1. The nurse is promoted to nurse manager. 2. The nurse is voted ;most likable as part of a Nursing Day celebration. 3. The nurse has just graduated from a master's program in nursing. 4. The nurse's wife has just been elected to the town council.
1
Which strategy is best for the newly licensed nurse who wishes to develop power in the organization? 1. Develop a can do attitude and reputation. 2. Develop rapport with other staff members by joining in on complaint sessions. 3. Choose uniforms that do not look better than the ones other nurses wear. 4. Refer to the staff as they when discussing the unit.
1
Why would the strategic planning committee choose shared visioning as a strategy for change? 1. Shared visioning makes change easier. 2. Shared visioning facilitates the more rapid implementation of changes. 3. Shared visioning means responsibility for error is shared. 4. Shared visioning means the leader has less responsibility for getting things done.
1
The nurse manager reviews the policy and procedure for central line (flushes) maintenance. To determine potential changes, the manager considers which of the following areas? Select all that apply. 1. Current policy and procedures 2. Current research 3. Length of stay 4. Infection rates 5. Practice guidelines
1,2
The female nurse identifies that many of the power positions in her organization are held by male nurses. Which strategies should the nurse use to improve her image and increase her power? Select all that apply. 1. Identify what she really wants. 2. Keep her focus on her unit, not the entire organization. 3. Prioritize her needs in order of importance. 4. Identify her current resources. 5. Determine who stands in the way of what she wants.
1,3,4,5
Which strategy could be used by nurses to promote nursing's power image? Select all that apply. 1. Maintaining expertise by attending continuing education events 2. Encouraging clients to write letters of praise for a job well done 3. Encouraging all disciplines to work toward organizational goals 4. Attending local events with influential people 5. Asking questions about reasons behind processes and policies
1,3,4,5
A home health agency has a policy requiring nurses to make routine visits at night. How might politics be used to change this policy? 1. Make visits during the day and tell the supervisor that the clients are not home at night. 2. Obtain research material to provide reasons why routine nursing visits at night are not as effective as during the day. 3. Encourage others to refuse to make routine visits at night so you will not be alone. 4. Take the supervisor to lunch and invite all the staff to join to talk the supervisor into changing the policy.
2
A nurse is overheard saying, I just don't want to be involved in this power struggle. I don't want power; I just want to do my job. What is a common reason nurses may feel power is not desirable? 1. Nurses are knowledge workers, not power workers. 2. Many nurses view power as oppressive. 3. Having power with others is a part of providing nursing care. 4. Remaining powerful reduces self-esteem.
2
The local hospital has recently been acquired by a larger hospital corporation. The nurse manager hangs a poster announcing that the new wage scale and benefits package will be discussed in the next unit meeting to encourage staff to attend. This is an example of which type of power? 1. Referent power 2. Information power 3. Legitimate power 4. Connection power
2
The nurse educator has recruited nursing preceptors to work with senior nursing students. The educator is teaching the preceptors about power and the education process. Which statement by a preceptor indicates learning has been effective? 1. I am only showing the student how to take care of patients, so I have no need for power. 2. I can use power to teach the student how to motivate, communicate, and achieve outcomes. 3. I do not want to give the student the idea that nurses are all about who has the most power. 4. I can use power to ensure that other disciplines know that I am the one who really does the work.
2
The nurse is working on a committee responsible for making policy decisions for the healthcare organization. During the work, the nurse has developed a strong belief that the focus of the committee is incorrect. Which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate? 1. We are going about this all wrong 2. We are a good team, but we need to look at this problem from a different viewpoint. 3.I have to intervene in our work. We are just wasting time 4. This is going nowhere. I am resigning.
2
Which statement reflects the most important use of power in nursing? 1. The nurse manager uses power when evaluating staff. 2. The nurse can use power to impact and improve client care. 3. The nurse uses power in relationships with unlicensed personnel. 4. The nurse manager can use power to assist newly licensed nurses.
2
Which would be the most effective way for nursing to improve the power of its image? 1. All nurses becoming politically active 2. Dressing, speaking, and acting in a professional manner 3. Motivating others to become nurses 4. Encouraging clients to speak positively about their encounters with nurses
2
Which statements reveal that the nurse being described has real power? Select all that apply. 1. She is so powerful. I have to admit that I'm a little afraid of her. 2. I have such respect for her and the work she does. 3. It is an honor to work with her. 4. She had an opportunity to go to another hospital, but she chose to stay here and help us through accreditation. 5. She knows how to use her power to get what she wants.
2,3,4
As part of a career advancement strategy, the nurse has identified a need to increase personal power in the organization. Which abilities should the nurse focus on improving? Select all that apply. 1. Ability to reward others 2. Technical competence and knowledge 3. Ability to access data 4. Relationships with people who are influential in the organization 5. Remain friendly, helpful, and likable
2,3,4,5
Which actions diminish the image of power for nurses? Select all that apply. 1. Wearing a crisp, clean uniform 2. Addressing colleagues in endearing terms 3. Using power plays to achieve goals 4. Aggressively advocating for clients 5. Accepting orders without question
2,3,4,5
Which statement indicates that a nurse has the skills to be politically involved? Select all that apply. 1. The nurse does not take credit for his or her own ideas but attributes them to others. 2. The nurse knows a lot about what is going on in the organization. 3. People often say that the nurse has a way of dealing with difficult people and situations. 4. Staff members seek out this nurse's ideas on how unit problems should be solved. 5. The nurse has a sixth sense about when to present new ideas.
2,3,4,5
Leaders and managers often exercise power differently. Select the powers most frequently used by leaders. Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Reward power 2. Information power 3. Legitimate power 4. Expert power 5. Referent power
2,4,5
A nursing leader wishes to maintain an image of power on a multidisciplinary committee. In a meeting, a committee member makes a statement that the nurse believes is in error. How should the nurse respond? 1. I don't think what you are saying is correct. 2. Would you clarify what you just said? 3. What evidence supports that statement as accurate? 4. Say nothing and research the topic before the next meeting.
3
The nurse leader wishes to develop a culture of shared visioning for the healthcare organization. How should the nurse proceed with this plan? Select all that apply. 1. The leader should be a passive observer in meetings. 2. The leader should encourage a change to a more efficient top-down management system. 3. The leader should survey employees regarding what is important to them for the organization's future. 4. The leader should encourage innovative ideas. 5. The leader should use coercive primary power.
3,4
Which action would help the nurse work with public officials to influence policies? Select all that apply. 1. Contact officials only when necessary to avoid becoming a bother. 2. Avoid social media contact with officials. 3. Address only one issue in each correspondence. 4. Depend on form letters for correspondence. 5. Always make an appointment before visiting an elected official.
3,5
As part of a shared visioning initiative, a new medication administration system has been adopted. A staff nurse has been chosen to relay the unit's dislike of the system to the evaluation committee. Which would be the most effective method to communicate the unit's disapproval? 1. More than 75% of the nurses on unit 3M want to return to the previous process for passing meds 2. The physicians have complained about the new system, and the nurses on 3M have voted to return to the old medication passing routine. 3. The nurses on 3M do not like the new system. Do other units agree? 4. Medication errors have increased 40% on 3M since the new system began. We believe there is a problem.
4
The nurse manager has decided that the only way to deal with an issue is to use coercive power. What strategy is important for this nurse manager to employ? 1. Administer behavioral warnings in public to alert other staff to the seriousness of the issue. 2. Reduce punishments for noncompliance after the majority of staff members have complied. 3. Wait at least 72 hours prior to responding to infractions so that emotions are better controlled during the meeting. 4. Investigate to get the facts of potential infractions before responding to them.
4
The nurse manager realizes that power must be used to influence a change that is needed on the unit. What should this nurse remember when exerting this power? 1. The best strategy is to overwhelm opposition by exerting a great deal of power. 2. The best strategy is to focus the use of power on the individuals who are slow to make the desired change. 3. The best type of power for these situations is coercion. 4. The best strategy is to undertake all power interactions in a polite manner.
4
There is a shortage of nurses on weekends. The unit manager asks nurses to work every other weekend in return for an additional 8 hours of paid vacation per month. Which type of power is this manager using? 1. Legitimate power 2. Expert power 3. Referent power 4. Reward power
4
Which action is most likely to undermine the political power of a nursing department? 1. The nurse executive reports on the accomplishments of the nursing staff at each board meeting. 2. The nurses in the hospital often ask for and do favors for one another. 3. The nurse manager wears a business suit to meetings. 4. The nurse executive does more talking than listening in meetings.
4