Deck 6: Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Question 1

Which of the following decision-making solutions should Justin (Question 17)consider to have a more efficient department?

A) Replace staff only with qualified applicants.
B) Determine what the problem or problems are before hiring new staff.
C) Consult with the human resources department and develop a plan for hiring new staff.
D) Consider all the options listed.

Answer 1

Consider all the options listed.

Question 2

The maintenance department wishes to have the nursing lounge renovated,so the lounge will be more "user-friendly." The department asks the nursing staff to make a wish list of everything that they would like to see in the new lounge.This process is an example of which part of the decision-making process?

A) Assessment/Data collection
B) Planning
C) Data interpretation
D) Generating hypotheses

Answer 2

Assessment/Data collection

Question 3

The risk manager wants to evaluate the reasons for an increased number of falls on the rehab unit.The risk manager devises a fishbone diagram.A fishbone diagram is a useful tool to:

A) Identify the root causes of problems.
B) List possible solutions to problems.
C) Help leaders select the best options.
D) Evaluate the outcomes of decisions made.

Answer 3

Identify the root causes of problems.

Question 4

The nurse manager of a rehab unit wants to purchase a new anti-embolic stocking.To make a high-quality decision,the nurse manager would:

A) Involve the rehab staff in the decision.
B) Involve the sales representative.
C) Make the decision alone.
D) Involve administration in the decision.

Question 5

A clinic nurse has observed another nurse deviating from agency policy in performing wound care.The best approach for the clinic nurse to take is to:

A) Stay out of it.
B) Inform the nursing supervisor.
C) Fill out a notification form (incident report).
D) Assess the risk to the client and the agency before proceeding.

Question 6

A good nursing decision maker is one who:

A) Uses various models to guide the process based on the circumstances of the situation.
B) Adopts one model and uses it to guide all decision making.
C) Decides not to use any models because they are all useless.
D) Develops a new model each time a decision has to be made.

Question 7

Decision making is described by the nursing educator as the process one uses to:

A) Solve a problem.
B) Choose between alternatives.
C) Reflect on a certain situation.
D) Generate ideas.

Question 8

From the information supplied in this chapter,which statements best defines critical thinking? Critical thinking is a:

A) High-level cognitive process.
B) Process that helps to develop reflective criticism for the purpose of reaching a conclusion.
C) High-level cognitive process that includes creativity, problem solving, and decision making.
D) Discussion that guides the nursing process.

Question 9

During a fire drill,several psychiatric patients become agitated.The nurse manager quickly assigns a staff member to each patient.This autocratic decision style is most appropriate for:

A) Routine problems.
B) Crisis situations.
C) Managers who prefer a "telling" style.
D) Followers who cannot agree on a solution.

Question 10

John Smith,one of three managers at BSG Labs,drafted a policy that would allow his department to do more testing in his lab.This policy included the times for regular collection as well as a new process for emergency laboratory testing.The policy and procedures were never followed.The reason was that:

A) The policy was too lengthy and inundated readers with too much detail.
B) The policy made decisions for other departments in the company.
C) The staff did not believe that the new policy would be effective.
D) Testing should not be done in the lab.

Question 11

Sue,a nurse manager,has a staff nurse that has been absent a great deal for the past three months.A whistleblower gives some information to Sue indicating that the staff nurse will be resigning and returning to school.Because of this,Sue decides to do which of the following?

A) Immediately fire the staff nurse.
B) Speak to the whistleblower and elicit more information.
C) Speak to the staff nurse and ask her to resign.
D) Do nothing.

Question 12

Select the statement that best defines the difference between problem solving and decision making:

A) Decision-making skills require critical thinking, problem-solving skills do not.
B) Problem-solving skills require critical thinking, decision-making skills do not.
C) Decision making is a goal-directed effort, problem solving is focused on solving an immediate problem.
D) Problem solving is a goal-directed effort, decision-making is focused on solving an immediate problem.

Question 13

After the nurses who work on an adolescent psychiatric unit have had a brainstorming session,they are ready to resolve the problem of teenagers who are unmanageable.To maximize group effectiveness in decision making and problem solving,the nurse manager has:

A) Prevented conflict.
B) Formed highly cohesive groups.
C) Used majority rule to arrive at decisions.
D) Encouraged equal participation among members.

Question 14

Justin is a nurse manager in a rehabilitation unit in a small urban center.There is a high turnover rate among rehab-assistants because of the heavy work assignments.Justin decides to hire new staff in the order that applications are received until all vacant positions are filled.Which of the following decision-making models did Justin use in making his decision?

A) Subjective model
B) Objective model
C) Optimizing model
D) Satisficing model

Question 15

The risk manager informs the nurse manager of an orthopedic unit that her unit has had an increase in incident reports about patients falling during the 11-7 shift.The nurse manager knows that the best way to resolve the problem is to:

A) Use creativity.
B) Obtain support from the 7-3 shift.
C) Use institutional research.
D) Identify the problem.

Question 16

To solve a problem,the nurse manager understands that the most important problem-solving step is:

A) The implementation phase.
B) Identification of numerous solutions.
C) Accurate identification of the problem.
D) Evaluation of the effectiveness of problem resolution.

Question 17

The clinic nurse understands that problem solving is best defined as:

A) A higher-order thinking process.
B) Selecting the best option for reaching a predefined goal.
C) Identifying the gap between "what is" and "what should be."
D) Determining creative approaches to resolving a problem or issue.

Question 18

Several nurses on an adolescent psychiatric unit complain that the teens are becoming unmanageable on the 11-7 shift.To resolve this problem,the nurse manager decides that the staff should have a brainstorming session.The goal of brainstorming is to:

A) Evaluate problem solutions.
B) Critique the ideas of others.
C) Generate as many solutions as possible.
D) Identify only practical and realistic ideas.

Question 19

When confronted with the controversy and the apparent poor morale of the evening staff,the unit manager decided the staff needed to take some time off.He scheduled holidays for the staff without consulting them.A couple of the staff nurses approached the manager and indicated that the problem was not scheduling,but rather the team leader and her patient assignments.What was the unit manager's first missed step in problem solving?

A) Not using a problem-solving model
B) Not considering a number of alternatives
C) Poor evaluation of outcomes
D) Incorrect problem identification

Question 20

An outpatient surgery manager is evaluating infusion pumps for the operating room.The manager should:

A) Select the least expensive brand.
B) Use a decision-making tool to evaluate brands.
C) Ask the nursing staff which brand they prefer.
D) Select the vendor the institution usually buys from.

Question 21

When decision making,critical thinking,and problem solving are considered,which of the following statements are accurate and valid points?

A) The professional decision maker approaches problem solving by beginning with an outcome already in mind.
B) Involvement in decision making is of little use unless you are an expert decision maker.
C) Many models aid the nurse in improving his or her decision-making skills.
D) The nursing decision maker who is successful recognizes that only those with similar experiences should be involved in decision making.

Question 22

In a busy rehabilitation unit,the team manager decided that the best way to reward the staff was to give them a monetary bonus rather than time off.The staff was very concerned about the decision and went to the administration with a number of complaints.Critical thinking is a process that entails a number of steps.What steps did the manager omit? She should have

A) Identified the assumptions that were underpinning the issues.
B) Considered the context of the present problem or situation.
C) Gathered data before making her decision and evaluated all possible outcomes.
D) Attained a majority consensus of all staff.

Question 23

High-quality decisions are most likely to be made in nursing situations when:

A) Team leaders make the crucial decisions.
B) Individuals are advised of the problems.
C) Group size is neither too small nor too large.
D) Members are passively involved.

Question 24

Jane,an experienced head nurse,is given the task of completing the summer vacation schedule for the pediatric unit.She is fully aware of the hospital's restrictions on time off and the number of staff on vacation at any given time,as well as its issues regarding seniority.She weighs the options of allowing staff choice,such as it takes more time but gives employees options.However,if choice is allowed,this could cause arguments.Which of the following is the best alternative?

A) Ask for requests for vacation time in advance, and post the times.
B) Post the completed vacation schedule.
C) Post a tentative schedule, and request feedback.
D) Post a blank schedule, and ask staff members to fill in their times by a given date.

Question 25

Knowing when to have the entire team participate in the decision-making process or when to have only the team leader make the decisions depends upon the situation and the desired outcomes.The autocratic process is used in which of the following situations?

A) The task and the outcome are relatively simple.
B) It is unlikely that the group will reach a consensus.
C) A decision has to be discussed thoroughly.
D) A number of options need to be considered.