Deck 9: Time Management

Question 1

Which is the first step in the time management process?

A) Completing the highest priority task
B) Allowing enough time for sufficient daily planning
C) Reprioritizing based on new information received
D) Delegating work that cannot be accomplished in a day

Answer 1

Allowing enough time for sufficient daily planning

Question 2

What is the reason that first- and middle-level managers experience more interruptions than higher-level managers?

A) They generally interact directly with a greater number of subordinates in daily planning
B) They seldom have the clerical and secretarial help assigned to higher-level managers
C) They are more social in nature and personal interactions
D) They are busier than higher-level managers

Answer 2

They generally interact directly with a greater number of subordinates in daily planning

Question 3

Which time waster does the manager have least control over?

A) Failure to set objectives
B) Inability to say no
C) Procrastination
D) Paperwork overload

Answer 3

Paperwork overload

Question 4

What does the good manager have to remember about creating a daily list?

A) It should remain changed once initial planning is completed
B) It is a planning tool, and thus must have flexibility in its implementation
C) It should include all the planner's short-term, intermediate, and long-term goals
D) It should be highly structured, thus decreasing the possibility of procrastination

Question 5

Which policy implemented by a manager will minimize unproductive socialization?

A) An open-door policy
B) Scheduled appointments
C) Informal, impromptu meetings
D) Maintaining strict professional boundaries

Question 6

Which plan is an effective way of handling a large task?

A) Plan to finish the task with few breaks
B) Delegate portions of the task to qualified staff
C) Break the task into smaller, less intimidating units
D) Delay beginning the task until it has your undivided attention

Question 7

Which statement about time management is true?

A) Most people have an accurate perception of the time they spend on a particular task or the total amount of time they are productive during the day
B) Nurses who are self-aware and have clearly identified personal goals and priorities have greater control over how they spend their time
C) Writing goals down is not necessary if the goals are limited to fewer than five in number
D) A time inventory for 2 or 3 days is sufficient to identify a time management pattern

Question 8

Which task should the team leader initially engage in when planning care for a group of patients?

A) Plan so that each patient on the team receives equal amounts of nursing care
B) Prioritize the amount and type of nursing care each patient requires
C) Identify the staff who will comprise the individual care teams
D) Assign patients to the specific nursing teams

Question 9

What will the nurse-manager do to best reduce paper clutter in the workspace?

A) Support face-to-face communication between staff members
B) Encourage paper clutter to be thrown away at the end of each shift
C) Deal with paper correspondence as soon as possible after it arrives.
D) Place additional recycling and trash receptacles throughout the unit

Question 10

Which technique will help the manager prioritize?

A) Doing "trivial" items first to get them out of the way
B) Putting some items in the "don't do" category
C) "Breaking of" overwhelming tasks
D) "Delegating" the most important things to someone else

Question 11

Which is the foundational principle of nursing time management?

A) Short-term planning
B) Strategic planning
C) Immediate attention to care needs
D) Adhering to a daily plan

Question 12

Which activity is associated with a leadership role in time management?

A) Assisting followers in working cooperatively to maximize time use
B) Prioritizing day-to-day planning to meet short-term and long-term unit goals
C) Building time for time management planning into the work schedule
D) Utilizing technology to facilitate timely communication and documentation

Question 13

How can subordinates be discouraged from taking up a nursing manager's time unproductivel?
1) Being accessible in the nursing station
2) Instituting an open-door policy
3) Have limited office seating available
4) Refocus conversations as needed

A) 1, 2
B) 1, 3
C) 2, 4
D) 3, 4

Question 14

What is the best response for a nurse-manager to handle someone who has a pattern of lengthy chatter?

A) "We'll need to make it b rief since my schedule is tight today."
B) "I can't speak with you now, but I'm going to have free time at 11 am."
C) "Stop by and we can talk during your lunch break."
D) "I am sorry but I do not have anytime today to talk with you."

Question 15

Time management can be reduced to cyclic steps. What are the steps?
1) Allow time for planning and establish priorities.
2) Complete the quickest priority tasks first.
3) Complete the highest priority task, and whenever possible, finish one task before beginning
Another.
4) Reprioritize based on remaining tasks and new information that may have been received.

A) 1, 2, 3
B) 1, 2, 4
C) 1, 3, 4
D) 2, 3, 4

Question 16

When is the best time of day for the manager to spend appropriate time on planning?

A) Whenever a block of time is available
B) Beginning of the day
C) Middle of the day
D) End of the day

Question 17

What is the most critical skill in good time management?

A) Allow adequate time for planning
B) Recognizing the need for daily planning
C) Priority setting
D) Handling situations as they arise

Question 18

What category of prioritizing will an item that will take care of itself be placed?

A) Squeaky wheel
B) Don't do
C) Do later
D) Do now

Question 19

What do the "do now" requests reflect?

A) A unit's day-to-day operational needs
B) Issues related to short-term goals
C) Large, time-consuming tasks
D) Problems that cannot be delegated

Question 20

In prioritizing all the "do now" items, the manager may find preparing a written list helpful. What is important to remember about the written list?

A) 1, 2
B) 1, 3
C) 2, 3
D) 3, 4

Question 21

Which statement identifies a common mistake made related to daily planning?

A) "Crises always come up so my plan is always changing."
B) "I have always handled my patients' needs as they arise."
C) "Sometimes it's difficult to reserve time for daily planning."
D) "Patient care requires a lot of reassessment by nursing."

Question 22

How does the effective nurse-manager most effectively deal with the ever-changing nature of the nursing work environment?

A) Evaluating the management skills of the nursing team leaders
B) Providing time management classes for staff members
C) Frequently reassessing personally established priorities
D) Encouraging staff to engage in daily planning

Question 23

Which statement demonstrates adherence to habits that supports good time management skills? Select all that apply.

A) "It's important to me to be professional."
B) "I can depend on the members of my team."
C) "I've learned that I'm most energetic in the morning."
D) "I'll adjust my sleep schedule now that I'm on night shift."

Question 24

What is the primary reason for documenting nursing interventions as soon as possible after an activity is completed?

A) Decreasing the risk of inaccurate documentation
B) Implementing effective time management skills
C) Demonstrating professional nursing behavior
D) Observing an established nursing principle

Question 25

What is the suggested perception of a nurse-manager who is consistently late for appointments?

A) The manager is overworked with too many responsibilities
B) The manager needs additional management training
C) The manager does not value other people's time
D) The manager lacks time management skills