Exam 15: Making Decisions and Solving Problems

High-quality decisions are most likely to be made in nursing situations when:

The maintenance department wishes to have the nursing lounge renovated, so the lounge will be more "user-friendly." The department asks the nursing staff to make a wish list of everything that they would like to see in the new lounge.This process is an example of which part of the decision-making process?

Select the statement that best defines the difference between problem solving and decision making:

The nurse manager of a rehab unit wants to purchase a new antiembolic stocking for use with patients.To make a high-quality decision, the nurse manager would:

An outpatient surgery manager is evaluating new infusion pumps for purchase to use in the operating room.The manager should:

Jane, an experienced head nurse, is given the task of completing the summer vacation schedule for the pediatric unit.She is fully aware of the hospital's restrictions on time off and the number of staff on vacation at any given time, as well as its issues regarding seniority.She weighs the options of allowing staff choice, such as it takes more time but gives employees options.However, if choice is allowed, this could cause arguments.Which of the following is the best alternative?

Sue, a nurse manager, has a staff nurse that has been absent a great deal for the past 3 months.A whistleblower gives some information to Sue indicating that the staff nurse will be resigning and returning to school.Because of this, Sue decides to do which of the following?

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:

From the information supplied in this chapter, which statement best defines critical thinking? Critical thinking is a:

In a busy rehabilitation unit, the team manager decided that the best way to reward the staff was to give them a monetary bonus rather than time off.The staff was very concerned about the decision and went to the administration with a number of complaints.Critical thinking is a process that entails a number of steps.What steps did the manager omit? She should have: (Select all that apply.)

John Smith, one of three managers at BSG Labs, drafted a policy that would allow his department to do more testing in his lab.This policy included the times for regular collection as well as a new process for emergency laboratory testing.The policy and procedures were never followed.The reason was that:

A good nursing decision maker is one who:

To solve a problem, the nurse manager understands that the most important problem-solving step is:

After the nurses who work on an adolescent psychiatric unit have had a brainstorming session, they are ready to resolve the problem of unmanageable teenage patients.To maximize group effectiveness in decision making and problem solving, the nurse manager has:

Decision making is described by the nursing educator as the process one uses to:

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?

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 models did Justin use in making his decision?

In a rural hospital, the unit for which you are charge nurse has a particularly busy morning.A 52-year-old patient is complaining of left-sided chest pain and a multiparous patient is about to deliver.A child with asthma is experiencing early signs of an attack.The other RN on the unit is a recent graduate who has not yet been orientated to the labor room and has limited cardiac nursing experience.An unlicensed assistant is available to assist.You must decide which patient situation you will take and where the new graduate RN's skills can best be used.Given the limitations in skills and experience, number of staff available, and time constraints, you must make a decision that involves:

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 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: