Deck 8: Recruitment and Retention: Meeting Staffing Requirements

Question 1

A newly hired nurse is requesting information about the Family and Medical Leave Law of1996. What is the best explanation of this benefit?

A) This law protects the employee from getting fired for taking 15 weeks of sick leave when needing to care for a family member.
B) The law protects the employer when employees want to take sick leave to adopt a child.
C) The law only pertains to employers of 25 or more employees who work with a 50-mile radius.
D) For employees who are eligible, it covers 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period for medical or emotional reasons, which include birth, adoption, and care of immediate family members.

Answer 1

For employees who are eligible, it covers 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period for medical or emotional reasons, which include birth, adoption, and care of immediate family members.

Question 2

Which question is appropriate to ask a nurse during the job interview?

A) "What church do you attend?"
B) "What are your plans for having a family?"
C) "Why should we hire you?"
D) "What is your year of birth?"
E) "Where were you born?"

Answer 2

"Why should we hire you?"

Question 3

The newly licensed RN has accepted a position in a hospital. What are logical actions expected of this new employee?

A) Being proficient in the use of the technology used by the facility.
B) The ability to function efficiently within the first month of assuming the new position.
C) Having an understanding of hospital policies.
D) Possessing the necessary theoretical background to perform basic patient care and decision-making.

Answer 3

Possessing the necessary theoretical background to perform basic patient care and decision-making.

Question 4

The nurse who has applied for a new position has been called for an interview. Several staff members will be on the interview committee. What can the nurse expect from this process?

A) The nurse being interviewed will be in control of the flow of the interview.
B) All those on the interview committee will have been provided a copy of the nurse's resume and application.
C) One staff member on the committee will ask all of the interview questions.
D) The nurse will be informed of the committee's decision immediately at the close of the interview.

Question 5

What method might an HCO use to avoid EEOC problems during staff recruitment and employment?

A) Communicate that it is important for staff members to feel as if they are doing a good job in their positions.
B) Use of standardized application forms used for all applicants.
C) Helping staff members develop their career path along the lines of their greatest interests.
D) Keep notes about new applicants but not for promotions.

Question 6

Which question, asked by the nurse applying for a new position, is the least critical?

A) "What is the salary?"
B) "What level of work is required?"
C) "What kind of leadership does the nursing department use?"
D) "Is there a clinical ladder or something similar?"

Question 7

The staff nurse has a question regarding an employment benefit. The nurse manager is unable to answer the question and suggests that the nurse contact the human resources department. The nurse states, "Oh never mind, they are so unfriendly down there and can never help you anyway." This statement reflects what basic issue?

A) The nurse's inability to ask the question logically.
B) The nurse manager's incompetence in being unable to answer the question.
C) The human resources department's failure to demonstrate support for the employees.
D) The nurse's laziness in not seeking out the answer.

Question 8

The nurse who wishes to apply for a job in a healthcare organization is asked to visit the human resources department. What services can the nurse expect to be delivered through this department? Select all that apply.

A) Orientation of employees
B) The development of policy and procedures for its operation
C) Managing credentials
D) Educating and testing staff
E) Licensing staff

Question 9

The newly licensed nurse has accepted her first hospital position and has been scheduled to attend orientation. The nurse had a previously scheduled vacation booked for the orientation week and asks the human resources director, "What is orientation? Is it okay if I miss it for my vacation?" What is the director's best response?

A) Orientation is provided to all new employees.
B) Orientation will teach you about policy and procedure and benefits.
C) You will be assigned to a preceptor who will help you increase your confidence and competence in the clinical setting.
D) In orientation, you will be provided with the information and tools you need to begin your position with the organization.

Question 10

Healthcare organizations have used numerous strategies to resolve the nursing shortage. Which of these strategies has been least successful?

A) Use of mandatory overtime
B) Use of float staff
C) Teaching staff how to cope with inadequate staffing
D) Use of unlicensed assistive personnel

Question 11

The nurse is about to experience the first performance appraisal of a new job. What should the nurse expect about this appraisal? Select all that apply.

A) It is the only time the nurse manager will provide positive feedback regarding the nurse's work.
B) It is a time for the manager to show support and encouragement for the nurse.
C) It is a time for the manager to initiate a discussion about any areas where the nurse needs improvement.
D) It is an opportunity for the manager to provide feedback, direction, and leadership.
E) It is a time when much of the discussion will concern competencies.

Question 12

An employee who works in the dietary department of the hospital develops HIV. The employee does not have a record of excessive absences or errors. What law protects the employee from being fired?

A) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
B) Wagner Act of 1935
C) Civil Rights Act of 1964
D) Affirmative Action

Question 13

Many strategies have been identified to prevent or decrease stress and incivility in the work setting. What strategies would be helpful? Select all that apply.

A) Clarify expectations of how assignments are to be completed.
B) Hold the overall expectation that the work will be done.
C) Accept the staff member's apologies for poor performance.
D) Avoid being defensive.
E) Seek out the truth of situations.

Question 14

The nurse manager has been asked to update all of the position statements for the unit. What sources should this manager use to learn more about each position? Select all that apply.

A) Observation of performance of the job
B) Interviews with staff members who hold the position
C) Discussion with the Governing Board
D) Feedback from other organizations
E) Discussions with other supervisors and managers

Question 15

The director of human resources is explaining procedures to a newly hired administrative assistant. Which instruction should the director provide to this employee?

A) Do not require candidates to complete an application if they submit a resume.
B) Look carefully at each application that is submitted to be certain it is complete.
C) Advise candidates that the style or format of their resume doesn't make a difference.
D) Screen all candidates only after resumes have been submitted.

Question 16

The nurse has a performance appraisal appointment with the nurse manager today. What topics would the nurse be surprised to find discussed in this appraisal? Select all that apply.

A) Salary
B) Systems that do not work
C) Change in position
D) Another nurse's work difficulties
E) The nurse's accomplishments

Question 17

Choose the typical components of a job or position description. Select all that apply.

A) Status: fulltime, part time, temporary
B) Education requirements
C) Work experience requirements
D) Stress level
E) Gender

Question 18

The nurse manager is reviewing the resumes of several applicants for an open position. What items should alert the nurse manager to possible problems with an applicant? Select all that apply.

A) Gaps in dates
B) Overemphasis on education
C) Data is listed in reverse chronological order
D) Poor grammar
E) More emphasis on earlier jobs than on recent jobs

Question 19

The nurse has submitted applications for several positions and has been interviewed for three of the positions. However, the nurse has not been offered any of the jobs or been asked to come for a second interview. What should the nurse do? Select all that apply.

A) Review the resume for omissions.
B) Review how he or she is coming across in the interview.
C) Review communication style.
D) Review the resume cover letter for appropriateness.
E) Review how strengths are being emphasized.

Question 20

An employee's performance has been worse than expected. Which comment would be a barrier to an effective performance evaluation?

A) "Your documentation is really very good."
B) "I see that you are very emotional right now. Maybe it would be better to reschedule this interview."
C) "Are you telling me that my management style is not effective?"
D) "I would like to recommend that you seek assistance from the Employee Assistance Program."

Question 21

The hospital has experienced an increased turnover in its professional nursing staff. What items should be included in the cost of this turnover? Select all that apply.

A) Interviewing costs for replacement employees
B) Lost productivity
C) Lost intellectual property
D) Increased use of per diem staff
E) Increased use of health benefits

Question 22

At a unit staff meeting, nurses are complaining about having too many tasks to do and increasing number of patients admitted. What is the most effective strategy a nurse manager might use to address this problem?

A) Add a support staff to the day shift to help the unit secretary.
B) Allow nurses to work shorter shifts.
C) Provide coffee and donuts in the morning.
D) Inform radiology that schedules for tests have to be moved to later in the day.

Question 23

What did the Joint Commission due to address the increase in work place incivility?

A) Required all HCOs to track incivility.
B) Issued a sentinel event alert on incivility.
C) Denied accreditation to HCOs with high rate of incivility.
D) Required that all HCOs post signs for patients to watch for staff incivility and report.

Question 24

The staff nurse has decided to resign after a serious conflict with a co-worker. What is the nurse's first step in this process?

A) Tell the co-worker about the decision.
B) Send a letter of resignation to the nurse manager.
C) Discuss the resignation with the nurse manager.
D) Talk to others on the staff about the decision.

Question 25

What factors does NIOSH identify as important in increasing work stress? Select all that apply.

A) Career concerns
B) Interpersonal relationships
C) Design of tasks
D) Salary and benefits
E) Management style

Question 26

What is the most important aspect of the appraiser's role in the evaluation process?

A) Understanding employment laws
B) Objectivity
C) Using evaluation checklists
D) Referring to anecdotal notes

Question 27

What did the state of California do to address the nursing shortage that had an impact on other states?

A) Required salary levels for all nursing staff.
B) Required nurses have Masters degree.
C) Identified clinical areas for specific required staffing levels.
D) Required nurse-to-patient ratios.

Question 28

A nurse manager is meeting with a staff member because of patient complaints about the nurse's attitude and behavior toward patients. The nurse gets angry and begins yelling at the nurse manager that the patients are just difficult patients sometimes. What is the best approach for the nurse manager to take?

A) To tell the nurse that it does not matter if patients are difficult.
B) To call hospital security on the telephone.
C) To suggest they take a break and meet again in an hour.
D) To tell the nurse she is terminated.

Question 29

A group of staff nurses have met with the nurse manager to discuss the increasing stress of working on a unit. What strategies could the nurse manager suggest or use to help the staff cope with this stress? Select all that apply.

A) The manager could help the staff set reasonable priorities in the work done every day on the unit.
B) The manager could offer the staff a class on multi-tasking.
C) The manager could create a schedule that supports the nurse's ability to take breaks throughout the day.
D) The manager could encourage a goal of eating healthy foods when at work.
E) The manger could be a role model by viewing problems as challenges and opportunities.

Question 30

Admitting, educating, and graduating more nurses seems to be a logical solution to the nursing shortage. What factor makes this a difficult strategy to employ?

A) There are not enough applicants for nursing schools.
B) Nursing faculty make the classes too hard.
C) There are too many other jobs available that require less education.
D) There are decreasing numbers of nursing faculty.