Exam 13: Managing Costs and Budgets

Of the following,which is the most effective strategy that a nurse manager could employ to reduce unnecessary costs in specific health care settings?

For an experienced nurse manager who is new to an organization,it would be important to

Which of the following factors is not implicated in rising health care costs?

A nurse manager gives approval for two staff nurses to attend a national conference.When reviewing the budget,the nurse manager looks at which line item?

Because of the complexity of reimbursement systems and its implications for the services available to patients,the nurse has a key role in which of the following?

In a nurse managers' meeting,the chief nursing officer encourages the managers to brainstorm ways to reduce costs.Nurse managers have the greatest effect on reducing costs by managing

A nurse manager discovers that the actual number of visits per patient in a home health service is 3.8 visits per day,whereas the standard is 5 visits per day.On the basis of this information,the nurse manager

The primary reason for calculating productive hours paid instead of simply calculating work paid per year is that productive hours enable the manager to

The chief nursing officer works with her nurse managers by helping them understand how to develop and implement a budget.How would a nurse manager best describe a budget?

A staff nurse regularly works two 12-hour shifts each week and one 8-hour shift every other week.How many full-time equivalents (FTEs)is this position?

Within a health care environment,where the gap between revenues and costs can mean the difference between sustainability and nonsustainability of an organization or services,it is critical for nurse managers to

The standard of care in a certain labour and delivery unit is 14 hours per patient day (HPPD),and on an average day,three patients are in labour.Analysis of the past month indicates the unit was averaging 38 hours of care.What is the productivity rating for the this situation?

Which of the following is an example of an initiative that may reduce total health care costs?

Physicians in a small rural hospital are reluctant to discharge older adult patients because many of the patients live more than an hour's drive from the hospital.Also,many of the patients lack the resources to travel these long distances for follow-up care.The hospital administration pressures the physicians to discharge patients sooner and to be more consistent with the number of hospitalization days specified within the diagnosis-related groups.Which of the following would most likely prompt the action of administrators?

In preparing a budget,the nurse manager needs to anticipate the cost of benefits (e.g.,health,life insurance,pension,and retirement plans).On the basis of the usual cost of benefits,how much should a nurse manager include for a total full-time salary cost of $312,000?

Choosing and purchasing new eye glasses,Mr.Jones sends the receipt in to his private health insurance provider for which of the following?

After reviewing her monthly budget report,the nurse manager sees that she has a negative variance,which prompts her to change the staffing schedule.A negative or unfavourable variance in a monthly expense report may result from

A nurse manager determines that RN 1 has 5 weeks of vacation time and 3 days of education and has averaged 3 sick days a year.RN 2 has 6 weeks of vacation time,has asked to attend a 3-day conference and a 2-day workshop,and has no history of sick time.RN 3 is new,and you anticipate 3 weeks of orientation,as well as 4 weeks of vacation time.RN 4 has 6 weeks of vacation and has an ongoing health condition,so you anticipate 2 weeks of sick time,as well as 3 days for education.RN 5 has 5 weeks of vacation,has no education plans,and averages 5 sick days per year.RN 6 has 6 weeks of vacation,has no education plans,and has been off ill for 4 weeks.How many hours of productive paid time can be anticipated for the budget?

Mr.and Mrs.Amin,an older adult couple with limited means and are considering options after the hospitalization of Mrs.Amin with a fractured hip.Mrs.Amin is stable but requires assistance with bathing,transfer,and mobility,and this will present stress for Mr.Amin,who was hospitalized with a mild myocardial infarction last year.Considering their means and health concerns,which of the following might be the best option?

During the budgeting process,nurse managers are typically responsible for which of the following?