Question 1

A nurse manager has just completed a difficult assignment managing a group that was not cohesive. Which group should the nurse identify as likely having good cohesiveness?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nurse who each have 7 to 8 years of experience
B)   Nurses who work on different units throughout the hospital
C)   Staff nurses who are interested in learning about the task of the group
D)   Staff nurses who work with one another on a daily basis
E)   Staff nurses who are all between 35 and 40 years of age A,C,D,E

Question 2

Which situation best exemplifies the nurse manager as a team leader?

Accepted Answer

A)   The nurse manager posts the unit's positive accomplishments from the past month in the break room.
B)   The nurse manager controls the staff meetings so the staff can get back to work quickly.
C)   Every year the nurse manager does staff member evaluations to determine pay raises.
D)   The nurse manager encourages conjunctive task performance on the unit. A

Question 3

Which activities are expected from the nurse manager as team leader?

Accepted Answer

A)   Offering constructive criticism
B)   Settling all employee conflicts
C)   Encouraging group discussions
D)   Facilitate group processes
E)   Foster team dependence A,C,D

Question 4

This is the first meeting of a task force. What should be the leader's primary objective of this meeting?

Accepted Answer

A)   Determining when the task force has to complete the assignment
B)   Identifying the expected outcomes in terms of measurable objectives
C)   Asking members if they have time to serve on the task force
D)   Establishing a standard of total participation

Question 5

The nurse manager has been asked to assemble several groups to work on tasks to improve the unit's performance and client satisfaction scores. This manager would put the fewest people in a group working on which type of task?

Accepted Answer

A)   Additive
B)   Disjunctive
C)   Divisible
D)   Conjunctive

Question 6

The leader of the task force group announces that tentative plans for Nurses' Week activities have been approved by the hospital administration. The task force has also been given a new task of developing criteria for the nursing awards. What must the group accomplish now?

Accepted Answer

A)   Forming
B)   Adjourning
C)   Rebuilding
D)   Re-forming

Question 7

The nurse is acting as team leader for a client care conference. Which opening statement is best for this meeting?

Accepted Answer

A)   "We are all here to discuss the issues with this client's discharge. What issues are we facing?"
B)   "The issue with this client is the time limit for Medicare to pay has almost expired, and we aren't ready for discharge."
C)   "I don't really have time for this meeting today; is there anything I can do to expedite this meeting?"
D)   "I will let you all decide what might be best, as I am not really as familiar with this client as I should be."

Question 8

A nursing group cannot complete a task assignment because information from another group has not been provided. Because the nursing group cannot complete its task, a group from physical therapy will not be able to complete its task. This is an example of breakdown in which task format?

Accepted Answer

A)   Pooled interdependence
B)   Sequential interdependence
C)   Reciprocal interdependence
D)   Reverse interdependence

Question 9

The nurse manager is leading the monthly staff meeting for the professional nursing staff. Which statements by this leader reflect effective leadership?

Accepted Answer

A)   "I will assume responsibility for developing the mission and goals of the group."
B)   "I have created an agenda that identifies the amount of time allotted for each step of the problem-solving process."
C)   "I realize there will be dissension; however, I prefer that we not take time from our agenda to address it."
D)   "The meeting will be called to order at noon and be adjourned in 1 hour."
E)   "It is important that each of you is fully engaged in the decision-making process."

Question 10

A nurse manager has just posted the membership list for a newly formed quality management task force. Which statement, overheard by the manager, indicates the most potential for problems on the team?

Accepted Answer

A)   "I'm glad I didn't get chosen for this task force. I'm so busy with my kids right now."
B)   "I was on one of these teams at my last hospital."
C)   "This is certainly an interesting choice of people to put together."
D)   "She is such a good nurse; I hope she doesn't work herself too hard."

Question 11

A newly hired nurse is asked to join a group working on unit protocols. This nurse is verbal and dominates the conversation of the group. The group leader identifies the disruption this nurse causes as being from which phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

A)   Status incongruence
B)   Group isolates
C)   Emergence
D)   Deviation

Question 12

A nurse manager is using Homans's framework to evaluate the need for team building in a group appointed to work on accreditation issues. Which strategies should the manager use as part of this evaluation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Observe group member behaviors during a meeting.
B)   Listen to how group members interact with one another.
C)   Compare the group to a similar group from the last accreditation cycle.
D)   Review the group's final report.
E)   Ask a team member how the work of the group is proceeding.

Question 13

A task force leader says, "At the beginning of our next meeting we are going to do some team-building exercises." Which comment by a group member indicates a need for further education about team building?

Accepted Answer

A)   "I don't see anything wrong with the way our team works. Why do we have to go through team building?"
B)   "That should help us meet the goals we have written."
C)   "I did some team-building work a long time ago. I probably need a refresher."
D)   "I hope the men on our task force will cooperate."

Question 14

A group member has failed to complete assigned tasks for three of the last four meetings, despite reminders that incomplete work slows down the entire team. At each meeting the noncompliant member promises to complete tasks for the next meeting. What group actions are likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

A)   The remaining group members may begin to use manipulation to get the tasks done.
B)   The other group members may attack the noncompliant member.
C)   Other group members will quietly complete the noncompliant member's work.
D)   The remainder of the group will ignore the noncompliant member.
E)   The group members will extend patience and understanding to the noncompliant member.

Question 15

In which situation would a "meeting before the meeting" be advisable?

Accepted Answer

A)   The nurse is managing a standing committee on the unit.
B)   The nurse is meeting with a social group to establish a plan for weight loss by walking.
C)   The nurse has written information to distribute to members before the meeting.
D)   The nurse expects the disagreement that started in the last meeting to carry over into this meeting.

Question 16

In a group meeting, one of the members always arrives early and places the chairs in a circle so all members can interact. This person is responsible for confirming that the room is available for the monthly meetings. Which person does this describe?

Accepted Answer

A)   Gatekeeper
B)   Procedural technician
C)   Coordinator
D)   Initiator-contributor

Question 17

A nurse manager has been appointed leader of a large task force charged with a complex assignment. What strategies should the manager use?

Accepted Answer

A)   Limit full task force meetings to an initial meeting, a middle meeting, and a final meeting.
B)   Lead one of the subgroups established at the first full task force meeting.
C)   Develop a work plan with interim deadlines.
D)   Set deadlines that are at least 1 week earlier than necessary to give subgroups time to be late.

Question 18

Which statement may reveal that the team member making the comment has a hidden agenda?

Accepted Answer

A)   "I don't understand the second of the goals we are discussing."
B)   "Are we voting on this outcome or has it already been decided?"
C)   "I have to remember to add membership on the team to my resume."
D)   "Are there other teams working on similar projects on other units in the hospital?"

Question 19

The staff nurse has been appointed to a task force. What can the nurse expect regarding this group?

Accepted Answer

A)   There will be no official leader for the group.
B)   The nurse will be working with people from several different departments within the hospital.
C)   The assignment will be time limited.
D)   The group members will compete for resources for their own units.

Question 20

The nurse manager has completed a series of team-building exercises with a command group. Which statement by a group member indicates that cohesiveness is occurring?

Accepted Answer

A)   "I think I understand the work of the group now."
B)   "I have gotten to know my group members better during these exercises."
C)   "We have so much work to do in this group."
D)   "I like the members of the group."

Exam 11: Building and Managing Teams