Deck 4: Leading, Managing, Following

Question 1

A successful nurse manager is mentoring a newly promoted nurse manager. Which comment by the mentor reflects the most important consideration of all nurse managers?

A) "You must work to develop your staff's competencies."
B) "Take your role on the strategic planning committee very seriously."
C) "Your most important role is to ensure client care accountability."
D) "Fiscal resource management is the most important aspect of your job."

Answer 1

"Your most important role is to ensure client care accountability."

Question 2

The mother of a staff nurse is critically ill and the nurse must miss several shifts of work. If the leadership style of the nursing manager is transactional, which approach to covering these shifts is most likely?

A) "I have made out a schedule of who will work to cover these shifts."
B) "I can work an extra shift tomorrow night. Who can cover tonight?"
C) "How can we work together to cover these shifts to help our coworker?"
D) "If you work overtime tonight I will authorize double your hourly pay rate."

Answer 2

"If you work overtime tonight I will authorize double your hourly pay rate."

Question 3

A nurse is working in a unit with several less-experienced nurses. Which attribute displayed by the senior nurse would make the leadership of the less-experienced nurses most effective?

A) Strong belief that the leader is accountable for actions taken by those working on the unit
B) Authority to carry out actions necessary to move the work of unit staff forward
C) Efficiency in actions and in words
D) Ability to inspire the others to commit to the team's goals

Answer 3

Ability to inspire the others to commit to the team's goals

Question 4

The nurse manager is listening to new nurses discussing nurses as managers and overhears one state, "I don't care how long I am a nurse; I will never be a manager." In which ways do nurses manage regardless of their official role? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Deciding on priorities
B) Being a liaison
C) Coordination of client care
D) Developing the unit budget
E) Delegation responsibilities

Question 5

An accreditation visitor observes the following situations in a healthcare organization. Which situation would this visitor interpret and document as evidence of the shared governance type of shared leadership?

A) Nurses working in groups and managing themselves
B) Nursing leadership originating from a desire to serve and share
C) Two nurses sharing the management role
D) Nurses formally organized to make decisions regarding practice standards

Question 6

The nurse manager is conducting a nurse's annual performance review. Which events from the previous year would be evidence that this nurse is a successful follower? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) The nurse attended more than 80%of staff meetings but offered little input into discussion.
B) The nurse participated in testing a new charting system before it was installed on the unit.
C) In a private meeting with the nurse manager, the nurse critiqued the manager's decision to change the unit's method of client assignment.
D) After attending an in-service presentation on a new intravenous (IV) access catheter, the nurse used one of the devices the next time an IV was ordered.
E) When asked for an opinion on an issue dividing the unit, the nurse replies, "I don't know. What do you think?"

Question 7

To address the problem of increasing costs of staffing agencies, a hospital has developed a plan for an internal float pool of nurses to be used when scheduled staff nurses call in sick. What type of planning has the administrative staff done?

A) Strategic
B) Organizational
C) Directive
D) Contingency

Question 8

Which topic would likely appear on the agenda for a staff meeting chaired by a nurse manager who follows transactional leadership theory? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Progress on request to increase personal day benefits
B) Review of policy and procedure for unit evacuation
C) The value of teamwork
D) Being empathetic with clients
E) Standardized first of shift assessments

Question 9

According to the behavioral view of leadership, how are leaders formed? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) By being educated
B) From inborn traits
C) With training
D) Through life experiences
E) Through abilities

Question 10

The nurse has been asked to assume a first-level management role on the nursing unit. Which statement indicates that this nurse will need further mentoring in the new role?

A) "I won't be able to increase my team's motivation. That has to come from within them."
B) "As a manager, I will be available for my team if problems with clients arise."
C) "One of my roles will be to make sure assignments are clear and understandable."
D) "I will still be responsible for the care being provided even if I am off the unit during the day to attend meetings."

Question 11

The nurse manager consistently refocuses the staff on achieving outcomes and directly involves the staff in decision making to achieve those outcomes. How would this style of leadership be described?

A) Quantum
B) Transactional
C) Contingency
D) Transformational

Question 12

The healthcare organization's monthly newsletter has a headline reading "Nurse Promoted to Leader of Specialty Care Units." What is the error inherent in this headline?

A) One person cannot be the leader of all the specialty care units in an organization.
B) A person cannot be promoted to the role of leader.
C) Leaders have to be hired from outside the organization.
D) Nurses cannot serve as leaders over other nurses.

Question 13

A community hospital has been purchased by a large healthcare conglomerate. Nursing administration has the task of changing the nursing practice model that has been followed for 50 years. To best achieve this change, administration should appoint a nurse executive whose leadership style follows which theory?

A) Contingency theory
B) Quantum leadership
C) Transactional leadership
D) Transformational leadership

Question 14

A nursing committee has been organized to help plan a new intensive care service at the hospital. Which questions are essential for this committee to consider? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Where will the service be housed?
B) Why were the nurses asked to participate?
C) When will the service begin?
D) Who will provide the services?
E) How will money for the project be raised?

Question 15

The nurse manager has been assigned the task of developing and implementing a new staffing system for the emergency department. The nurse has reached the "directing" phase of this project. On which activities would the nurse focus at this point? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Deciding on the skill mix necessary for direct client care
B) Selling the new system to the current emergency department staff
C) Comparing the actual results of the new system to the projected results
D) Telling staff what to do
E) Coaching the staff through the implementation of a new schedule

Question 16

A staff nurse tells the manager, "I don't want to be promoted. I am a much better follower than I am a leader." How should the manager interpret this remark?

A) Leadership takes more energy than followership, so this nurse is taking the easy way out.
B) Followership is a valuable skill in nurses.
C) A nurse who is not willing to work to master the skills of leadership should not be retained on the unit.
D) Most people have difficulty developing leadership skills.

Question 17

The vice-president for nursing services of a large teaching hospital has been aware that many of the problems in the nursing staff result from poor management at the unit level. What are reasons that nurse managers are sometimes ineffective in their role? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) There is little training available for nurse management positions.
B) Entry-level educational programs for nurses do not contain sufficient managerial content.
C) Management techniques are often learned "on the job."
D) Nurses are not good managers.
E) Nurses often experience poor supervision in their own careers.

Question 18

Which nurse has legitimate leadership authority in the organization? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Staff nurse
B) Nurse manager
C) Case manager
D) Quality improvement coordinator
E) Education specialist

Question 19

What is the most common skill shared by effective nurse leaders in leadership theories or models?

A) Critical care experience
B) Political knowledge
C) Communication
D) Informal power

Question 20

The nurse manager is working on a committee whose task is to review and revise job descriptions for nursing employees. In which job description would the committee most likely include the phrase "Management responsibilities include shift-by-shift coordination and promotion of quality client care"?

A) Charge nurse
B) Staff nurse
C) Clinical nurse leader
D) Nurse executive

Question 21

Which leadership activities exemplify a quantum leadership style? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) The leader reports how outcomes were achieved.
B) The leader brings cookies and coffee to every early morning meeting.
C) The leader is accepting of change.
D) The leader encourages staff nurses to help clients access internet sites about their disease process.
E) The leader often talks about the "vision" of the organization.

Question 22

In a leadership training class, which statement by a student indicates learning has been successful?

A) "If I am to be successful in leadership, I should make sure no followers are friends."
B) "Most people would not be able to tell if I only pretend to be interested in them."
C) "Relationship building is essential to successful leadership."
D) "Leadership means I can delegate tasks I do not want to do."

Question 23

The nurse manager makes an error that results in the unit being $20,000 short on operating budget for the fiscal year. When asked about the error, the nurse takes full responsibility This statement reflects which component of emotional intelligence?

A) Initiative
B) Transparency
C) Empathy
D) Conflict management

Question 24

During a discussion of how to proceed on a project, a team member says, "I don't care how we do it. Just tell me what to do and I will get it done." What kind of followership is this nurse exhibiting?

A) Passive
B) Active
C) Dependent
D) Independent

Question 25

The nurse is focusing on becoming a leader. What skills should the nurse continually develop? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Empowerment
B) Participation
C) Facilitation
D) Reflection
E) Communication

Question 26

A newly promoted nurse manager is fearful that previous coworkers will undermine her efforts to succeed in this new position. The new manager does not share information with these coworkers even though they may need the information to understand changes that are going to occur in the organization. Which emotional intelligence self-management competency is this nurse most clearly violating?

A) Adaptability
B) Initiative
C) Transparency
D) Optimism

Question 27

As a result of retirements, resignations, and reorganization, a nurse became nurse manager of a high-acuity unit three months after being licensed. The manager struggles with the responsibilities of the position and is often unable to make decisions. Which component of the AONE management competencies does this nurse probably lack?

A) Foundational thinking skills
B) Personal and professional accountability
C) Clinical practice knowledge
D) Effective communication skills

Question 28

The nurse executive wishes to hire nurse managers who embody the service leadership mission of the organization. Which specific attributes should this nurse look for in applicants? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) The ability to be empathetic to clients and staff
B) Ability to sustain high energy for long periods of time
C) Awareness of the needs of clients and the organization
D) Use of persuasion as a leadership technique
E) Long history of leadership success

Question 29

Shared leadership is based on partnership, empowerment, and understanding boundaries. Which examples exemplify shared leadership in nursing? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Empowered scheduling
B) Self-directed work teams
C) Shared governance
D) Co-leadership
E) Autonomous participation

Question 30

The nurse has set a goal of becoming a clinical nurse leader (CNL). What actions should this nurse plan to reach this goal?

A) Obtain experience as a nurse manager.
B) Learn as much as possible about the hospital's organization.
C) Take a class in hospital administration.
D) Return to school to obtain a master's degree.

Question 31

Staff nurses have been asked to comment on the work of a nurse manager as part of the manager's performance review. Which comments by the staff nurses would indicate to the supervisor that the manager is also a leader? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) "The manager helped me to understand the structure of the hospital's organization."
B) "I hope to be as good a manager."
C) "The manager negotiated a pay increase for the RNs on the unit."
D) "The manager's example has encouraged me to get to know people in other departments in the hospital."
E) "The manager's assignments are always fair and appropriate for the client census."