Question 1

The nurse manager has several tasks that need to be accomplished. Which task is the manager likely to do first?

Accepted Answer

A)  A large job that holds little interest to the manager 
B)  A difficult task that is going to require several days to complete 
C)  A task that has been assigned by the supervisor instead of a task that the manager thinks will benefit the unit 
D)  A task that will have little impact on the unit 
A)  A large job that holds little interest to the manager 
B)  A difficult task that is going to require several days to complete 
C)  A task that has been assigned by the supervisor instead of a task that the manager thinks will benefit the unit 
D)  A task that will have little impact on the unit C

Question 2

A nurse is participating in time-management education. This week's assignment is to compile a list of personal goals. Which of these goals should the nurse include?

Accepted Answer

A)  "I will lose 10 pounds by Christmas." 
B)  "My family will have more fun." 
C)  "I will read for pleasure for 1 hour every day after work." 
D)  "I will not be late for work." 
E)  "We will save $200 monthly for the next 12 months for a car down payment." 
A)  "I will lose 10 pounds by Christmas." 
B)  "My family will have more fun." 
C)  "I will read for pleasure for 1 hour every day after work." 
D)  "I will not be late for work." 
E)  "We will save $200 monthly for the next 12 months for a car down payment." A,C,E

Question 3

How can a nurse who is consistently falling behind at work improve to become more organized and disciplined?

Accepted Answer

A)  Use the same system every day to organize client care and required activities such as paperwork. 
B)  Ask the nurse manager to grant permission for fewer client assignments until more experience with organization is achieved. 
C)  Ask the unit secretary to do required paperwork to decrease the amount of time required. 
D)  Practice a shorter client assessment technique to minimize the time required for this activity. 
A)  Use the same system every day to organize client care and required activities such as paperwork. 
B)  Ask the nurse manager to grant permission for fewer client assignments until more experience with organization is achieved. 
C)  Ask the unit secretary to do required paperwork to decrease the amount of time required. 
D)  Practice a shorter client assessment technique to minimize the time required for this activity. A

Question 4

The nurse manager holds a regular Wednesday meeting with the charge nurses on the unit. There is no new information to discuss this Wednesday. What should the manager do?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hold the meeting so that the charge nurses do not feel that the meetings are not important. 
B)  Hold the meeting, but only meet for 10 minutes instead of the usual 60 minutes. 
C)  Reschedule the meeting for Thursday. 
D)  Cancel the meeting. 
A)  Hold the meeting so that the charge nurses do not feel that the meetings are not important. 
B)  Hold the meeting, but only meet for 10 minutes instead of the usual 60 minutes. 
C)  Reschedule the meeting for Thursday. 
D)  Cancel the meeting.

Question 5

A staff nurse frequently interrupts the nurse manager with problems that the staff nurse could solve. What should the manager say to correct this behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  "I am no longer going to interrupt my work for you." 
B)  "Let me see what I can do about the problem you are having." 
C)  "Is this a problem you can handle yourself?" 
D)  "You have the skills to solve this issue." 
E)  "I trust you to solve this problem." 
A)  "I am no longer going to interrupt my work for you." 
B)  "Let me see what I can do about the problem you are having." 
C)  "Is this a problem you can handle yourself?" 
D)  "You have the skills to solve this issue." 
E)  "I trust you to solve this problem."

Question 6

The nurse manager is writing annual evaluations for each nurse. In order to promote professional development, it is vital for the nurse manager and nurse to become involved in which activity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Personal organization 
B)  Priority setting 
C)  Goal setting 
D)  Limit setting 
A)  Personal organization 
B)  Priority setting 
C)  Goal setting 
D)  Limit setting

Question 7

A nursing supervisor has a report due and just cannot seem to find the time to get it completed. One day before it is due, the supervisor turns it in. This situation best exemplifies which time waster?

Accepted Answer

A)  The supervisor waited for the deadline pressure to increase the priority. 
B)  The report was one of the last tasks on the "to-do" list. 
C)  The supervisor has no interest in the topic of the report. 
D)  The report format is unfamiliar to the nursing supervisor. 
A)  The supervisor waited for the deadline pressure to increase the priority. 
B)  The report was one of the last tasks on the "to-do" list. 
C)  The supervisor has no interest in the topic of the report. 
D)  The report format is unfamiliar to the nursing supervisor.

Question 8

A colleague frequently forwards funny e-mails to everyone on her contact list. The nurse manager does not have time to look at the e-mails and is aggravated when they appear. How should the manager handle this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Set the e-mail filter to divert the messages to a spam folder. 
B)  Tell the sender that the manager is not allowed to get personal e-mails at work. 
C)  Forward the e-mails back to the sender. 
D)  Send the colleague an e-mail that reads, "Stop wasting my time with these e-mails." 
E)  Delete the messages without opening them. 
A)  Set the e-mail filter to divert the messages to a spam folder. 
B)  Tell the sender that the manager is not allowed to get personal e-mails at work. 
C)  Forward the e-mails back to the sender. 
D)  Send the colleague an e-mail that reads, "Stop wasting my time with these e-mails." 
E)  Delete the messages without opening them.

Question 9

The nurse manager has planned a meeting that all staff nurses have to attend. Which method would most efficiently notify the staff members of the meeting time?

Accepted Answer

A)  E-mail 
B)  Voice mail 
C)  Memo 
D)  Telephone call 
A)  E-mail 
B)  Voice mail 
C)  Memo 
D)  Telephone call

Question 10

A nurse manager has felt overwhelmed by work the last few months. After putting in many hours of unpaid overtime, the workload is beginning to stabilize. The nursing supervisor asks the manager to take on a new task that is exciting and stimulating. What should the manager do?

Accepted Answer

A)  Consider how much work will be added to the current workload. 
B)  Tell the supervisor no. 
C)  Talk with the supervisor about decreasing another work responsibility if this project is accepted. 
D)  Accept the assignment and plan to continue to work very hard until it is completed. 
E)  Accept the assignment, but only if additional salary is offered. 
A)  Consider how much work will be added to the current workload. 
B)  Tell the supervisor no. 
C)  Talk with the supervisor about decreasing another work responsibility if this project is accepted. 
D)  Accept the assignment and plan to continue to work very hard until it is completed. 
E)  Accept the assignment, but only if additional salary is offered.

Question 11

A nurse manager is working on several projects and is stressed most of the time. This manager prefers working at the unit desk instead of in the office to be certain nothing on the unit is missed. Which would be the most effective method to decrease this manager's stress?

Accepted Answer

A)  Keep a structured schedule for "work time" on each project in the office. 
B)  Elicit assistance from employees to help complete the projects. 
C)  Allow one project to fall behind while finishing up the others. 
D)  Take a sick day to work on the projects uninterrupted at home. 
A)  Keep a structured schedule for "work time" on each project in the office. 
B)  Elicit assistance from employees to help complete the projects. 
C)  Allow one project to fall behind while finishing up the others. 
D)  Take a sick day to work on the projects uninterrupted at home.

Question 12

A novice nurse manager is devising a schedule to meet the needs of the staff, clients, and other disciplines on the unit. Which is the most important method to counteract wasted time in nursing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Delegate routine activities to concentrate on other tasks. 
B)  Assign a staff member to attend management meetings. 
C)  Redesign the position so that the nurse manager works when the unit is not busy. 
D)  Strictly adhere to a rule that the manager will see only staff members who make appointments. 
A)  Delegate routine activities to concentrate on other tasks. 
B)  Assign a staff member to attend management meetings. 
C)  Redesign the position so that the nurse manager works when the unit is not busy. 
D)  Strictly adhere to a rule that the manager will see only staff members who make appointments.

Question 13

A nurse manager must place a telephone call to a colleague who always wants to chat socially for several minutes. The manager does not have time for a social call. What is the best time for the manager to make this call?

Accepted Answer

A)  At 9:00 a.m. after physician rounds are complete 
B)  A few minutes before the colleague usually goes to lunch 
C)  In the middle of the afternoon 
D)  First thing in the morning, just after shift report 
A)  At 9:00 a.m. after physician rounds are complete 
B)  A few minutes before the colleague usually goes to lunch 
C)  In the middle of the afternoon 
D)  First thing in the morning, just after shift report

Question 14

When driving towards a meeting, the nursing supervisor gets a call explaining the meeting is to be delayed for about 30 minutes. Which activity is the best use of this supervisor's waiting time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Listen to music on the radio. 
B)  Drive to the meeting place and read the minutes from the last meeting. 
C)  Stop by the closest store and get doughnuts to share with everyone. 
D)  Use the time to make some personal phone calls. 
A)  Listen to music on the radio. 
B)  Drive to the meeting place and read the minutes from the last meeting. 
C)  Stop by the closest store and get doughnuts to share with everyone. 
D)  Use the time to make some personal phone calls.

Question 15

For the last several weeks, the nurse manager has felt as if there is not enough time in the day to accomplish all the required tasks. The manager goes home exhausted and does not look forward to going to work in the morning. What strategy may help alleviate some of this stress?

Accepted Answer

A)  Do tasks as quickly as possible. 
B)  Hurry through work, hoping someone else will catch any mistakes that are made. 
C)  Do not start any new tasks after lunch. 
D)  Pick a simple task and complete it just before going home each day. 
A)  Do tasks as quickly as possible. 
B)  Hurry through work, hoping someone else will catch any mistakes that are made. 
C)  Do not start any new tasks after lunch. 
D)  Pick a simple task and complete it just before going home each day.

Question 16

Which activities are similar enough that they could be grouped to better manage time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Restocking the medication cart 
B)  Discussing a diet request with a new client 
C)  Calling for extra linen from laundry 
D)  Search the Internet for an unfamiliar client diagnosis 
E)  E-mailing a colleague a question about the schedule 
A)  Restocking the medication cart 
B)  Discussing a diet request with a new client 
C)  Calling for extra linen from laundry 
D)  Search the Internet for an unfamiliar client diagnosis 
E)  E-mailing a colleague a question about the schedule

Question 17

The nurse manager routinely experiences stress related to deadlines for projects. What should be the nurse's first action to control this stress?

Accepted Answer

A)  Identify the actual stressor and the precipitating factors. 
B)  Plan activities to minimize time constraints to reduce stress. 
C)  Set aside a block of time each day for stress reduction. 
D)  Engage in distraction activities to minimize the stress. 
A)  Identify the actual stressor and the precipitating factors. 
B)  Plan activities to minimize time constraints to reduce stress. 
C)  Set aside a block of time each day for stress reduction. 
D)  Engage in distraction activities to minimize the stress.

Question 18

The nurse manager is significantly behind in the required paperwork for the job. How can the manager rectify this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Make stacks of work on the corner of the desk so the work can be seen. 
B)  Use paper for all communication so a record is kept. 
C)  Discontinue subscriptions to all journals. 
D)  Set a goal to work on paperwork for a portion of every day. 
A)  Make stacks of work on the corner of the desk so the work can be seen. 
B)  Use paper for all communication so a record is kept. 
C)  Discontinue subscriptions to all journals. 
D)  Set a goal to work on paperwork for a portion of every day.

Question 19

Which strategies would decrease the amount of time the nurse manager spends with "drop-in" visitors to the manager's office?

Accepted Answer

A)  Set office hours to eliminate those visits. 
B)  Keep the office door closed. 
C)  Arrange furniture so the desk faces the door. 
D)  Stand up to greet the visitor and remain standing. 
E)  Encourage appointments for routine matters. 
A)  Set office hours to eliminate those visits. 
B)  Keep the office door closed. 
C)  Arrange furniture so the desk faces the door. 
D)  Stand up to greet the visitor and remain standing. 
E)  Encourage appointments for routine matters.

Question 20

A nurse manager's week is filled with handling routine and repetitive issues. Which strategy should the manager employ to make handling these tasks most effective and efficient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ask those involved to leave voice mail messages about any routine matter. 
B)  Encourage those involved in routine matters to call between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. each day. 
C)  Keep the office door open to be accessible to those dealing with these routine tasks. 
D)  Hold a meeting each week especially for dealing with routine and nonurgent matters. 
A)  Ask those involved to leave voice mail messages about any routine matter. 
B)  Encourage those involved in routine matters to call between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. each day. 
C)  Keep the office door open to be accessible to those dealing with these routine tasks. 
D)  Hold a meeting each week especially for dealing with routine and nonurgent matters.

Exam 13: Managing Time

The nurse manager has several tasks that need to be accomplished. Which task is the manager likely to do first?

A nurse is participating in time-management education. This week's assignment is to compile a list of personal goals. Which of these goals should the nurse include?

How can a nurse who is consistently falling behind at work improve to become more organized and disciplined?

The nurse manager holds a regular Wednesday meeting with the charge nurses on the unit. There is no new information to discuss this Wednesday. What should the manager do?

A staff nurse frequently interrupts the nurse manager with problems that the staff nurse could solve. What should the manager say to correct this behavior?

The nurse manager is writing annual evaluations for each nurse. In order to promote professional development, it is vital for the nurse manager and nurse to become involved in which activity?

A nursing supervisor has a report due and just cannot seem to find the time to get it completed. One day before it is due, the supervisor turns it in. This situation best exemplifies which time waster?

A colleague frequently forwards funny e-mails to everyone on her contact list. The nurse manager does not have time to look at the e-mails and is aggravated when they appear. How should the manager handle this situation?

The nurse manager has planned a meeting that all staff nurses have to attend. Which method would most efficiently notify the staff members of the meeting time?

A nurse manager has felt overwhelmed by work the last few months. After putting in many hours of unpaid overtime, the workload is beginning to stabilize. The nursing supervisor asks the manager to take on a new task that is exciting and stimulating. What should the manager do?

A nurse manager is working on several projects and is stressed most of the time. This manager prefers working at the unit desk instead of in the office to be certain nothing on the unit is missed. Which would be the most effective method to decrease this manager's stress?

A novice nurse manager is devising a schedule to meet the needs of the staff, clients, and other disciplines on the unit. Which is the most important method to counteract wasted time in nursing?

A nurse manager must place a telephone call to a colleague who always wants to chat socially for several minutes. The manager does not have time for a social call. What is the best time for the manager to make this call?

When driving towards a meeting, the nursing supervisor gets a call explaining the meeting is to be delayed for about 30 minutes. Which activity is the best use of this supervisor's waiting time?

For the last several weeks, the nurse manager has felt as if there is not enough time in the day to accomplish all the required tasks. The manager goes home exhausted and does not look forward to going to work in the morning. What strategy may help alleviate some of this stress?

Which activities are similar enough that they could be grouped to better manage time?

The nurse manager routinely experiences stress related to deadlines for projects. What should be the nurse's first action to control this stress?

The nurse manager is significantly behind in the required paperwork for the job. How can the manager rectify this situation?

Which strategies would decrease the amount of time the nurse manager spends with "drop-in" visitors to the manager's office?

A nurse manager's week is filled with handling routine and repetitive issues. Which strategy should the manager employ to make handling these tasks most effective and efficient?

Introducing Nursing Management

Designing Organizations

Delivering Nursing Care

Leading, Managing, Following

Initiating and Managing Change

Managing and Improving Quality

Understanding Power and Politics

Thinking Critically, Making Decisions, Solving Problems

Communicating Effectively

Delegating Successfully

Building and Managing Teams

Handling Conflict

Budgeting and Managing Fiscal Resources

Recruiting and Selecting Staff

Staffing and Scheduling

Motivating and Developing Staff

Evaluating Staff Performance

Coaching, Disciplining, and Terminating Staff

Managing Absenteeism, Reducing Turnover, Retaining Staff

Dealing With Staff Problems

Preparing for Emergencies

Preventing Workplace Violence

Handling Collective Bargaining Issues

Managing Stress

Advancing Your Career

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