Deck 12: Organizational Structure

Question 1

A rapid response team within an acute care hospital is comprised of critical care physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists. The team assists staff throughout the hospital with detecting and managing imminent patient deterioration. This is an example of a _____ organizational form.

A) parallel
B) functional
C) modified program
D) matrix

Answer 1

parallel

Question 2

According to the contingency theory of organizational performance, an organization must structure and adapt its nursing units to complement which two factors? (Select all that apply.)

A) Skill set
B) Patient population
C) Environment
D) Technology
E) Finances

Answer 2

Environment
Technology

Question 3

The patient is a 69-year-old woman who has a history of diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and myocardial infarctions. She was admitted to the hospital with a stroke and is being transferred to a subacute facility and then to a rehabilitation facility. At every transfer she must review her entire history, provide telephone numbers of family members, list all 30 of her medications, and list all home care and medical supply companies. Which of these processes could improve the fragmentation in work flow?

A) Departmentalization
B) Standardization
C) Specialization
D) Subdivision

Answer 3

Standardization

Question 4

The network or pattern of social relationships and friendship circles within an organization is known as the:

A) clique.
B) formal structure.
C) informal structure.
D) hierarchy.

Question 5

Which organizational theory emphasized the informal aspects of organization social structure and was influenced by the Hawthorne experiments?

A) Bureaucratic theory
B) Scientific management school
C) Classical management theory
D) Human relations school

Question 6

The structure of authority in an organization is known as the:

A) authority.
B) centralization.
C) bureaucracy.
D) hierarchy.

Question 7

According to organization theories, there are three perspectives regarding the nature of reality and knowledge within an organization. Which of the following are those perspectives? (Select all that apply.)

A) Objectivism
B) Subjectivism
C) Postmodernism
D) Realism
E) Idealism

Question 8

A nurse manager is responsible for a unit consisting of 40 nurses who report to two clinical supervisors. In addition, there are 10 support staff who report to an administrative supervisor. The subordinates reporting to this manager are known as which dimension of organizational design?

A) Division of labor
B) Hierarchy
C) Span of control
D) Decentralization

Question 9

Which of the following factors influences the structure of an organization?

A) Age of the building
B) Brand of computer system
C) Number of employees
D) Square footage of the facility

Question 10

The phrase "the buck stops here" best describes which of the following terms?

A) Accountability
B) Authority
C) Responsibility
D) Trustworthiness

Question 11

A staff nurse has been working in the neonatal critical care unit for 10 years. She believes that a professional nurse is a lifelong learner. Many staff members come to her for clinical problem solving and advice. This nurse has:

A) decisional authority.
B) formal power.
C) informal power.
D) quantum authority.

Question 12

According to the _____ organizational approach, organizations are logical and predictable with identifiable and scientifically measurable characteristics that can be predicted, observed, or manipulated.

A) objective
B) subjective
C) postmodern
D) realistic

Question 13

The nursing staff on a critical care unit thought that professional growth could be enhanced. Which of the following interventions would support empowerment of the nursing staff? (Select all that apply.)

A) Eliminating computers and reverting back to paperwork
B) Increasing pay wages for ancillary and professional staff
C) Providing various methods for ongoing education and continuing education units
D) Working to make equipment and medications readily available

Question 14

Within nursing practice, the use of advanced practice roles is an example of:

A) cross-training.
B) departmentalization.
C) fragmentation.
D) specialization.

Question 15

The ways in which work is divided and coordinated among members and the resulting network of relationships, roles, and work groups is the:

A) organization.
B) organizational social structure.
C) structure.
D) formal relationship.

Question 16

Patient surveys convey that they are uncertain about who is the registered nurse (RN). The CEO makes a decision that mandates that white nursing caps will be worn by all RNs and blue nursing caps by all licensed practical nurses to differentiate professional nurses and occupational nurses from nurses' aides and other ancillary staff. Which type of structure does this represent?

A) Centralized
B) Decentralized
C) Nonparticipative
D) Participative

Question 17

An organizational chart with one line of management and one line of staff reflects which of the following types of organizational structures?

A) Authoritarian structure
B) Flat structure
C) Power structure
D) Vertical structure

Question 18

Standardization of _____ provides a uniform structure for information delivery and flow in order to facilitate exchange among those involved in common work processes.

A) physician orders
B) communication
C) work processes
D) work outputs

Question 19

The division of work by occupation or function is a form of:

A) specialization.
B) interdependence.
C) uncertainty.
D) technology.

Question 20

The nursing chief executive officer (CEO) works in a major rehabilitation and subacute facility network. Her span of control refers to the number of:

A) miles in which the network resides.
B) ancillary staff accountable to her.
C) nurses and non-nurses reporting to her.
D) inpatients that the facilities service.

Question 21

Which of the following statements are accurate when describing responsibility and accountability? (Select all that apply.)

A) The assignment of responsibility assumes accountability.
B) A manager is assigned responsibility by a subordinate.
C) Accountability is the liability for task performance.
D) The assignment of responsibility and the granting of authority create accountability.
E) Accountability flows upward or outward.

Question 22

An organizational chart is used to depict: (Select all that apply.)

A) a visual display of the organization s positions.
B) the intentional relationships among positions.
C) open positions within human resources.
D) flow of authority.
E) advisory committees.

Question 23

Managers apply their leadership skills to their reporting relationships to release energy and talents of people in a manner that adds value to the work they perform. What are some examples of the effects of added value? (Select all that apply.)

A) Increased compensation
B) Improved productivity
C) Organizational commitment
D) Organizational citizenship behaviors

Question 24

An organization with a flat structure has minimal layers of management. What are some of the advantages of a flat organizational structure? (Select all that apply.)

A) Fewer divisions facilitating streamlining of goals and problem solving
B) Greater supervisory capability
C) Greater innovation
D) Layers of accountability for completion of work
E) Enhanced responsiveness to consumers

Question 25

Dividing work by occupation leads to a functional organization where services are arranged by the type of work performed. What are some benefits of the functional form within the health care organization? (Select all that apply.)

A) Professional silo
B) Fragmented care delivery
C) Cost reduction
D) Enhanced performance and quality
E) Promotion of professional development

Question 26

Which of the following statements describe the benefits of specialization in the health care setting? (Select all that apply.)

A) Improved work performance
B) Increase in expertise
C) Improved efficiency and outcomes
D) Increased workload
E) Increased error reporting