Deck 1: Conceptual Base for Leadership and Management

Question 1

The nursing staff communicates that the new manager has a focus on the "bottom line," and little concern for the quality of care. What is likely true of this nurse manager?

A) The manager is looking at the total care picture.
B) The manager is communicating the importance of a caring environment.
C) The manager understands the organization's values and how they mesh with the manager's values.
D) The manager is unwilling to listen to staff concerns unless they have an impact on costs.

Answer 1

The manager is unwilling to listen to staff concerns unless they have an impact on costs.

Question 2

There have been several patient complaints that the staff members of the unit are disorganized and that "no one seems to know what to do or when to do it." The staff members concur that they don't have a real sense of direction and guidance from their leader. Which type of leadership is this unit experiencing?

A) Autocratic
B) Bureaucratic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Authoritarian

Answer 2

Laissez-faire

Question 3

The nurse has just been promoted to unit manager. Which advice, offered by a senior unit manager, will help this nurse become inspirational and motivational in this new role?

A) "If you make a mistake with your staff, admit it, apologize, and correct the error if possible."
B) "Don't be too soft on the staff. If they make a mistake, be certain to reprimand them immediately."
C) "Give your best nurses extra attention and rewards for their help."
D) "Never get into a disagreement with a staff member."

Answer 3

"If you make a mistake with your staff, admit it, apologize, and correct the error if possible."

Question 4

What statement, made in the morning shift report, would help an effective manager develop trust on the nursing unit?

A) "I know I told you that you could have the weekend off, but I really need you to work."
B) "The others work many extra shifts, why can't you?"
C) "I'm sorry, but I do not have a nurse to spare today to help on your unit. I cannot make a change now, but we should talk further about schedules and needs."
D) "I can't believe you need help with such a simple task. Didn't you learn that in school?"

Question 5

A very young nurse has been promoted to nurse manager of an inpatient surgical unit. The nurse is concerned that older nurses may not respect the manager's authority because of the age difference. How can this nurse manager best exercise authority?

A) Use critical thinking to solve problems on the unit.
B) Give assignments clearly, taking staff expertise into consideration.
C) Understand complex healthcare environments.
D) Maintain an autocratic approach to influence results.

Question 6

The nurse executive of a healthcare organization wishes to prepare and develop nurse managers for several new units that the organization will open next year. What should be the primary goal for this work?

A) Focus on rewarding current staff for doing a good job with their assigned tasks by selecting them for promotion.
B) Prepare these managers so that they will focus on maintaining standards of care.
C) Prepare these managers to oversee the entire healthcare organization.
D) Prepare these managers to interact with hospital administration.

Question 7

The nurse manager has asked that all staff nurses develop effective leadership competencies. How should the staff nurses interpret this request?

A) This is an unrealistic expectation, because only managers are leaders.
B) This is possible if the nurses learn about and use relevant leadership and management theories and styles.
C) In order to become leaders, the staff nurses will have to emphasize control, competition, and getting the job done.
D) Unless the staff nurses possess the traits of a natural born leader, this is an unrealistic expectation.

Question 8

Which behavior demonstrates the nurse's competency as an emotionally intelligent leader?

A) The nurse is proficient in technical skills.
B) The nurse relies on policies, not options.
C) The nurse supports team members.
D) Productivity is not a major concern.

Question 9

Describe the primary focus of a manager in a knowledge work environment.

A) Developing the most effective teams.
B) Taking risks.
C) Routine work.
D) Understanding the history of the organization.

Question 10

Peter Drucker's view of management stimulated the shift toward the realization of the importance of participatory organizations. Which option provides a scenario that is an example of a participatory organization?

A) The control of the organization is centralized, and decisions are made by upper-level management.
B) Staff nurses are expected to provide support and nurturing for management's decisions.
C) The organization's approach to leadership is autocratic and bureaucratic.
D) Staff nurses provide input into planning and changes for their own unit.

Question 11

Compare and contrast manager roles and leadership roles by choosing the options that are more aligned with the manager role. Select all that apply.

A) Focus is change
B) Have the ability to influence others
C) Control the environment
D) Focus is on people
E) Focus on efficiency

Question 12

The nurse executive wishes to be a transformational leader. What should this nurse focus on to become effective in this role? Select all that apply.

A) Improving interpersonal skills
B) Advancing personal formal education
C) Identifying mentors
D) Becoming an expert clinician
E) Creating a vision for the future of nursing in the facility

Question 13

The nurse wishes to improve personal Emotional Intelligence (EI) in hopes of a promotion to nurse manager. Which skills are important for this nurse to improve? Select all that apply.

A) Self-confidence
B) Knowledge base of nursing
C) Proficiency in technical skills
D) Empathy
E) Ability to initiate change

Question 14

Which scenarios are examples of issues facing nursing in an age of healthcare change? Select all that apply.

A) Six of the 18 nurses working on a unit speak English as their second language.
B) The hospital has decreased medication errors dramatically in each of the last two quarters.
C) The unit manager has been asked to use a creative strategy for scheduling with fewer staff.
D) There was a report on the nightly news about recruitment and retention of nurses.
E) An Emergency Room nurse was injured by a patient seeking drugs.

Question 15

Compare and contrast transformational leaders and bureaucratic leaders by choosing the options that are examples of transformational leadership. Select all that apply.

A) The leader focuses on organizational functions and the structure to get work done.
B) The most common type of leader in today's healthcare arena.
C) This leader follows the leadership style that is recommended by the Institute of Medicine.
D) The leader allows the staff to take risks to improve care within the organization.
E) The leader seeks to guide staff in their understanding of their importance to the work of the facility.

Question 16

Select the reason the transformational leadership sometimes fails in an organization.

A) The need to change is addressed urgently.
B) The coalition guiding the facility is too diverse.
C) Influence, power, and empowerment are all used.
D) Poor recognition of organizational culture and does not value staff.

Question 17

The new chief operating officer (COO) of the healthcare facility states, "I believe that Fiedler had it right in his Contingency theory." The nurse executive understands that this COO will work to create which type of environment in the facility? Select all that apply.

A) Positive relationships between leaders and employees
B) A low amount of structure in task assignments
C) A decentralization of power from the leadership to the employees
D) A static approach to leadership matters
E) Leadership must change as the situation changes

Question 18

The rural hospital has experienced a very small patient census over the last two months. Salary costs for this period have been over budget, and the nurse manager announces that all nurses will be required to rotate taking unpaid furlough days until the census improves. Which type of leadership does this manager exemplify?

A) Impoverished leadership
B) Country club leadership
C) Authority-obedience leadership
D) Team leadership

Question 19

Typically, the nurse manager of a unit uses a participatory style of leadership. Today, a patient suffered a cardiac arrest. The manager took over the patient's care, issuing orders, and expecting staff to obey them immediately. Which type of leadership did this manager exhibit today? Select all that apply.

A) Bureaucratic
B) Autocratic
C) Permissive
D) Directive
E) Authoritarian

Question 20

A key skill in today's healthcare environment is the ability to collaborate with others. A nurse identifies need to improve in this area. Which skills or traits would be essential for an effective nurse manager to develop to improve collaboration with others? Select all that apply.

A) Flexibility
B) The ability to share information and ideas
C) A service orientation
D) A desire to work hard
E) The ability to listen to others

Question 21

The Future of Nursing report recommends which of the following that will have an impact on nurse leaders and quality care?

A) Associate degree programs in nursing should be increased by 20%.
B) The number of BSN graduates is at an appropriate number.
C) The doctorate degree is at the best level it has been.
D) An increase of 80% in BSN graduates is the goal.

Question 22

The staff nurse is considered to be a leader by nursing peers on the unit. What characteristics does this nurse likely possess? Select all that apply.

A) Awareness of happenings throughout the hospital
B) Ability to encourage newly hired nurses
C) Skepticism about using technology for standard nursing tasks
D) Adaptability
E) Collaboration skills

Question 23

Which modern leadership theory focuses on changes within the organization and external to the organization?

A) Contingency
B) Connective
C) Leadership2.0
D) Deming's theory

Question 24

Keeping Patients Safe and The Future of Nursing reports both address important nursing issues related to leadership and management. What aspect of healthcare delivery do they both emphasize in relationship to nurses?

A) Nursing image is an important aspect of the profession and its success.
B) Nurses should be leaders in quality improvement, but are not fully prepared for this leadership.
C) Nursing leadership is focused on formal management positions in healthcare organizations.
D) Nursing scope of practice is important and needs to be broadened.

Question 25

Porter-O'Grady, a nursing leader, comments on a critical concern for nursing, as noted in this chapter. What is this concern?

A) Need to increase the number of advanced practice registered nurses
B) Need for more nursing publications
C) Need to engage and embrace change
D) Need for more nursing research

Question 26

Which strategy supports the American Association of Colleges of Nursing description of a professional practice environment? Select all that apply.

A) Provide an effective staff education program.
B) Promote leadership advancement.
C) Attract nurses to leadership positions by increasing salaries.
D) Engage nurses in decision-making.
E) Nursing philosophy focus is on collaboration.

Question 27

The AONE identifies important principles for nurse managers and executives. Which statements represent these principles? Select all that apply.

A) Relationships are important.
B) The core of nursing is caring.
C) Knowledge is synthesized.
D) Care is patient- and family-centered.
E) Nurse managers are the same as nurse leaders.

Question 28

Which of The Future of Nursing report recommendations will have an impact on nursing leadership?

A) Associate degree nursing programs should increase by 20%.
B) Nurses who provide direct care are critical and provide leadership.
C) The rate of completion of the doctoral degree is at a high level.
D) There should be an increase of 80% in BSN graduates.

Question 29

The Future of Nursing report not only identifies recommendations for the nursing profession, but also priorities for nursing research. Which of the following are included in the priorities? Select all that apply.

A) Teamwork
B) Communication
C) Quality care
D) Nursing leadership
E) Technology

Question 30

Choose the option that best describes knowledge management theory.

A) Leaders are intelligent.
B) Focus is on routine work.
C) The knowledge worker is critical as an organization asset.
D) Evidence-based practice is the core.

Question 31

A nurse manager is preparing performance appraisal evaluations. Which management function is the manager demonstrating?

A) Planning
B) Organizing
C) Leading
D) Controlling