Deck 20: Delegation

Question 1

What is an inappropriate reason for delegation?

A) To empower subordinates by "stretching" them in their work assignment
B) To free the manager to address more complex, higher-level unit needs
C) When the task is not a challenge for the manager
D) Because someone else is better qualified to do the task that needs to be done

Answer 1

When the task is not a challenge for the manager

Question 2

What is a common cause of a manager to underdelegation?

A) A high degree of trust in subordinates
B) A democratic leadership style
C) A need for perfectionism
D) Sufficient time to accomplish unit goals alone

Answer 2

A need for perfectionism

Question 3

What is the most important consideration for the manager when identifying the appropriate person to whom to delegate a specific task?

A) Whose turn it is to delegate a task
B) The qualifications of the person regarding the task
C) The fiscal cost of delegating the task
D) Whether the person has experience with similar tasks

Answer 3

The qualifications of the person regarding the task

Question 4

Which situation presents an example of inappropriate delegation?

A) Temporary authority is given to support completion of a delegated task
B) The person to whom a task is delegated considers it a challenge
C) The employee is given exact instructions on completing the task
D) Regular updates on the task are exchanged with the manager and the employee

Question 5

What is the first step the manager takes when a subordinate is having difficulty carrying out a delegated task?

A) Take over the task so the employee will not become demoralized
B) Be available to the employee as a role model and resource for the task
C) Assign another more experienced employee to help with the task
D) Re-assign the employee a different, less complex task

Question 6

What statement concerning the delegating of tasks by the nurse to unlicensed assistive personnel (NAP) is true?

A) One can safely assume that the NAP has at least a high school diploma as a minimum hiring criterion
B) All unlicensed assistive personnel have achieved at least minimum standardized training pursuant to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987
C) No federal or community standards have been established for training the broad classification of NAP
D) The nurse is protected from liability when allowing the NAP to perform only those tasks the employee includes in the job description

Question 7

Which action is considered a leadership role associated with delegation?

A) Creating job descriptions for all personnel
B) Providing formal recognition or reward for completion of delegated tasks
C) Demonstrating sensitivity to how cultural phenomena affect transcultural delegation
D) Reprimanding employees who demonstrate overt resistance to the tasks they are delegated

Question 8

Which statement is true regarding the general delegation liability of the registered nurse (RN)?

A) It is minimal because subordinates alone are held accountable for practicing within the accepted scope of practice for their job classification
B) It is great because the RN is automatically held liable for the tasks delegated to all recognized subordinates
C) It is reduced when the RN appropriately assesses what and to whom delegation is appropriate and supervises the completion of the tasks
D) It is avoided entirely by delegating tasks to only other licensed personnel

Question 9

What managerial action is important when supporting the delegation of a task to a subordinate?

A) Always requiring a maximizing quality outcome
B) Frequently reassuring the employee that if they are incapable of completing a delegated task, it will be reassigned
C) Drafting a preliminary plan of how the task will be redone if the outcome does not meet stated expectations
D) Occasionally providing learning or "stretching" opportunities for employees

Question 10

Periodically during the day the RN checked with the team members to determine whether they are having difficulty completing their assigned tasks. This describes which manager role?

A) Skills evaluation
B) Patient safety
C) Effective delegation
D) Micromanagement

Question 11

A member of the team reports that they have been given too much to do and are not going to be able to complete the work on time. What action will the RN take to effectively manage this situation?

A) Assign the work to another team member
B) Take on the responsibility of the tasks
C) Have the team member perform only the necessary tasks
D) Examine the workload and assist the individual in reprioritizing

Question 12

Which assessment must the RN do initially when assigning tasks to non-licensed personnel (NAP)?

A) Evaluating the NAP's skills and knowledge level
B) Assessing which tasks the NAP is interested in assuming
C) Evaluating how patients rate the NAP's performance
D) Assessing how team members like working with the NAP

Question 13

Which task would the director of a home health agency not delegate another staff RN?

A) Assigning home health aides to specific patient care
B) Serving on a diabetic study committee of community resources
C) Meeting with the agency's administration regarding budget cuts
D) Reviewing staff time cards for completion and accuracy

Question 14

Which organization is actively engaged in clarifying the delegation parameters for RNs?

A) American Hospital Association (AMA)
B) The federal government
C) National League for Nursing (NLN)
D) State Boards of Nursing Licensure

Question 15

What must managers delegate to another RN in order to assure completion of a task?

A) Time and space
B) Leadership and creativity
C) Authority and responsibility
D) Personnel and knowledge

Question 16

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 established regulations for the education and certification of which health-care worker?

A) Nurse aide (NA)
B) NAP
C) Licensed practical nurse (LPN)
D) RN

Question 17

Who bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the nursing care provided by team members meets or exceeds minimum safety standards?

A) The patient's primary healthcare provider
B) The facility's Director of Nursing
C) The unit's nursing manager
D) The team's RN

Question 18

What occurs when a manager has the false assumption that delegation may be interpreted as a lack of ability on the subordinate's part to do the job correctly or completely?

A) Underdelegating
B) Overdelegating
C) Improper delegating
D) Inappropriate delegating

Question 19

What cultural phenomena must be considered for the biopsychosocial differences between racial and ethnic groups that have susceptibility to disease and physiologic differences?

A) Space
B) Social organization
C) Environmental control
D) Biologic variations

Question 20

Which restraining force occurs when a subordinate "tests the water" to determine what the consequences are of not completing a delegated task?

A) Failure of delegator to see subordinate perspective
B) Subordinate incapable of completing the task
C) Subordinate inherent resistance to authority
D) Overdelegation of specificity of the task

Question 21

Which factor has the greatest impact on the need for nurses to possess excellent delegation skills?

A) Increase in patient acuity levels
B) Decrease in patient hospitalization time
C) Increase in the use of NAP
D) Decrease in nurse-to-patient ratios

Question 22

Which characteristic is most important when the nurse-manager is considering staff for a delegated role?

A) Years of experience
B) Willingness to grow professionally
C) Aversion to risk taking
D) Pervious experience with similar tasks

Question 23

Which action on the part of a manager demonstrates the mark of a great leader?

A) Acknowledging the accomplishment of staff members at the unit's staff meeting
B) Providing onsite in-services on new equipment for the staff
C) Including funds in the unit's budget of staff development
D) Stressing the importance of patient safety to all new employees

Question 24

Which statement by the nurse-manager demonstrates an understanding of the need to provide effective guidance to those a project has been delegated?

A) "Don't be afraid to let me know if you feel the project is overwhelming you."
B) "What do you suggest we do to address the problems that exist with the project?"
C) "I can give you a few solutions for the issues you have been having with the project."
D) "Do you want more time to complete the project?"

Question 25

When a manager appropriately recognizes the successful completion of a delegated team task, what is the primary reward for the manager?

A) Less involvement in uncomplicated tasks
B) A staff that is familiar with team-related delegated tasks
C) Professional recognition as a leader
D) Staff that is growing as professional caregivers