Exam 1: Leading, Managing, and Following

As the charge nurse on the night shift in a small long-term care facility,you have found that there is little turnover among your licensed practical nurse and nursing assistant (NA)staff members,but they are not very motivated to work beyond their job descriptions.Which of the following strategies might motivate the staff and lead to greater job satisfaction?

As the nurse manager,you want to increase motivation by providing motivating factors.Which action would you select?

Shortly after being informed of fetal death,a labouring woman asks why she is not able to hear her baby's heartbeat on the monitor anymore.Although the monitor volume had been turned off so that the patient would be able to sleep between contractions,the nurse responded that there was no heartbeat to hear because the baby had died in utero; then the nurse asked whether the patient would like to talk about how she was feeling.This response demonstrates

An RN staff member had to inform a licensed practical nurse on the unit nursing team that the care that she was providing needed improvement.The RN provided her with some practical examples of ways to improve her nursing care.After the discussion,the licensed practical nurse thanked the RN for the constructive criticism,and the two nurses proceeded to the cafeteria to have a coffee break together.Which follower characteristic did the RN display during this encounter?

You walk into a patient's room and find him yelling at the licensed practical nurse.The patient is obviously very upset,and after you speak with him regarding his behaviour,you determine that he has not slept for three nights because of unrelieved pain levels.The licensed practical nurse is very upset with him and calls him an "ugly,old man." You acknowledge her feelings and concerns and then suggest that the patient's behaviour was aggressive but is related to lack of sleep and to pain.You ask,"Can both you and the patient together determine triggers for the pain and effective approaches to controlling his pain?" This approach demonstrates

A nurse manager of a 20-bed medical unit finds that 80% of the patients are older adults.She is asked to assess and adapt the unit to better meet the unique needs of older adult patients.According to complexity principles,what would be the best approach to take in making this change?

The chief nursing officer has asked the staff development coordinator to facilitate the development of a clinical competency program for the facility.While making rounds on the units,the staff development coordinator overhears RN staff complaining that they believe it is insulting to be required to participate in a competency program.Which behaviour by the staff development coordinator is most appropriate in this situation?

As the head of a nursing program,you consistently invite the ideas of your team about innovations in teaching,community partnerships,and curriculum design and invite participation in decisions.Many of these ideas have been implemented successfully,and your staff members are keen to try other ideas.You are employing _____ leadership.

Chart audits have revealed significant omissions of data that could have legal and funding guidelines.As the unit manager,you meet with the staff to discuss audit findings and to find approaches that will address the gaps in charting and achieve desired goals.This is an example of

A family is keeping vigil at a critically ill patient's bedside.Other,distant family members,not yet able to come,call the unit continuously,asking for updates and wanting to express concern.You speak with the distant family members and suggest that you are going to refer them to the hospital social worker,whose role is to work with such situations.What role are you assuming through this action?

Sarah is concerned about your direction regarding management of incontinent,confused patients.She brings you evidence that she has found regarding incontinence interventions and asks you whether she and you could talk about the guidance that you have given after you have had an opportunity to read the articles.This is an example of

You recently acquired a position as a unit manager.During your time on the unit,you have formed a strong social network among your staff,have promoted the development of relationships between your staff and workers in other areas of the organization,and have formed relationships that generate ideas from patient organizations and the local nursing education program.According to complexity science,you are engaging which principle?

The unit is shifting from primary nursing to a team model in an effort to contain costs.Staff members are angry and ask for a meeting to discuss the change.After hearing their concerns related to reduction in professional autonomy and care quality,you

A grievance brought by a staff nurse against the unit manager requires mediation.At the first mediation session,the staff nurse repeatedly calls the unit manager's actions unfair,and the unit manager continues to reiterate the reasons for the actions.What would be the best course of action at this time?

Marie-Claire,the nursing unit manager,finds it difficult to work with Thomas,a new graduate.Thomas has many ideas,and his manner of presenting them irks Marie-Claire.After reflection and discussion with others,Marie-Claire recognizes that she also feels threatened by his behaviour.She comes to understand that Thomas is trying to establish his own role on the unit,is not trying to challenge her,and needs guidance,coaching,and affirmation.Marie-Claire is demonstrating

A unit manager of a 25-bed medical/surgical area receives a phone call from a nurse who has called in sick five times in the past month.He tells the manager that he very much wants to come to work when scheduled but must often care for his wife,who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.In practice of a strengths-based nursing leader,what would be the best approach to satisfying the needs of this nurse,other staff,and patients?

A charge nurse on a busy 40-bed medical/surgical unit is approached by a patient's son,who begins to complain loudly about the quality of care his mother is receiving.His behaviour is so disruptive that it is overheard by staff,physicians,and other visitors.The family member rejects any attempt to intervene therapeutically to resolve the issue.He leaves the unit abruptly,and the nurse is left feeling frustrated.Which behaviour by the charge nurse best illustrates refined leadership skills in an emotionally intelligent practitioner?

Which category is unique to leadership but is not part of management?

You overhear a newly graduated RN telling one of your colleagues that leadership and management belong to the unit manager and not to her.Because you are a nursing colleague,your response demonstrates understanding that the perception of the new graduate

According to complexity science,which of the following should be the focus of measurement?