Leadership

c

An RN is a team leader for a small module of clients. While listening to a recorded report on a client, one of the team members remarks, "My mother lives near him, and she says his home life is in chaos." How should the RN best respond? a. Politely ask the team member to be quiet. b. Include the information in report for the next shift. c. Ask the team member how this information relates to the client's care. d. Ignore the team member's comment.

a

Feedback from a nurse-manager's peers suggests that the manager's face-to-face communication is often ineffective. The manager should consider what potential cause of this problem? a. Incongruence between the manager's verbal and nonverbal messages b. Ineffective listening skills on the part of subordinates and colleagues c. Inadequate formal training on communication skills d. Career stagnation by the nurse-manager

b

The nurse is caring for a postoperative client whose pain is not being relieved by the current analgesia regimen. When using the SBAR model for communicating with the client's health-care provider, how should the nurse best address the "A" component of the model? a. "The client is postoperative day 2 following total hip arthroplasty." b. "The client's pain control might be inadequate because she's been rating it at 9 out of 10 for the past hour." c. "The client also has type 2 diabetes and atrial fibrillation." d. "An increase in her hydromorphone dose is probably a good idea."

b, c

The nurse-manager has been approached by an angry employee whose vacation request was denied. What should the manager do when communicating with this employee? Select all that apply. a. Tell the employee that anger will not be tolerated and then leave the situation. b. State, "I understand that you are angry that your vacation request wasn't approved." c. Allow the employee sufficient opportunity to express what she wants from the manager. d. Tell the employee how her mode of communication is hindering the message. e. Ask the employee, "Are you accusing me of bullying you by turning down your request?"

b

Which principle should guide the nurse-manager's use of nonverbal communication? a. It is generally consistent across cultures, unlike verbal communication. b. It supersedes verbal communication when the two are incongruent. c. Nonverbal communication should be minimized because it confuses the receiver regarding the true intent of the message. d. Nonverbal communication is a significant part of the communication exchange only when it is not congruent with the verbal exchange

b

A hospital is downsizing, but the RNs have been assured that everyone on the unit will keep their jobs and that downsizing will occur through normal attrition. Today, the evening charge nurse reported to the manager that the staff was discussing rumors about mass layoffs. What is the best approach to take? a. Tell an informal leader the truth and let the leader spread the news informally. b. Hold a meeting for all staff members and tell them that the rumor is not true. c. Ignore the rumor because it will soon pass. d. Find out who started the rumor and correct the information.

c, d

A nurse is careful to address nonverbal aspects of communication when communicating with employees. What practices should the manager adopt? Select all that apply. a. Have communications in public places as much as possible to reduce intimidation. b. Stand between 12 and 18 inches from an employee when having an important conversation. c. Be thoughtful about aspects of appearance that can be controlled by the manager. d. Avoid crossing arms across the chest. e. Limit eye contact with employees to avoid being perceived as aggressive.

c

A nurse-manager has a reputation as being an assertive communicator. How does this manager most likely communicate? a. Through confrontation and intimidation b. In an unfeminine way that is clear and direct c. Directly and honestly, while respecting the rights of others d. In a clear, but occasionally offensive, manner

A

A nurse-manager is orienting a new graduate nurse to the unit and has found this individual's charting regarding assessment to be inadequate. What is the most appropriate statement to initiate a discussion with the new RN? a. "I'm concerned that your assessment charting seems to be unclear. Can I help you with this?" b. "Unfortunately, your charting is inadequate in every way." c. "Do you think a refresher course in charting would help you?" d. "Are you having difficulty assessing your client?"