Deck 4: Developing the Role of Manager

Question 1

On the first day of every month,the nursing manager on the surgical unit posts a staff nurse's name on the bulletin board with the caption "Look what this great nurse did this month" and outlines nursing behaviours that were displayed by that particular nurse.This is an example of

A) negative reinforcement.
B) valuing employees.
C) obtaining evidence for performance appraisals.
D) reinforcing the vision and goals of the organization.

Answer 1

valuing employees.

Question 2

Nurses on Unit 4 are unhappy and frustrated with their nurse manager.They complain that "nothing is ever good enough for him." Such statements suggest that the nurse manager's goals may be

A) measurable.
B) unrealistic.
C) attainable.
D) too low.

Answer 2

unrealistic.

Question 3

Which represents one of the Canadian Nurses Association's top six competencies of a good nurse manager?

A) Political activism
B) Conflict resolution skills
C) Budgetary responsibility
D) Current clinical practice knowledge

Answer 3

Conflict resolution skills

Question 4

The nurse manager,as the leader of the unit's "customer (patient)first" initiative,has asked the staff nurses to develop and administer a survey to every patient before discharge.In asking the staff nurses to accomplish this task,the nurse manager is demonstrating

A) accountability.
B) shared governance.
C) a common purpose.
D) independence in the nursing manager's role.

Question 5

As the manager of a unit with a high percentage of young professionals,you increase job satisfaction among this young staff by

A) providing high levels of job structure and task orientation.
B) developing schedules that are fair and observing contractual obligations.
C) utilizing skills in the staffing mix to optimize the delivery of patient care.
D) establishing opportunities to self-schedule.

Question 6

Budgeting and protection of revenues is a function of

A) leadership.
B) management.
C) team leadership.
D) followers.

Question 7

As a nurse manager,you determine that a shift in nursing care models might decrease workplace violence.Members of the hospital administration are reluctant to adopt this new approach to care.To leverage your ideas,you

A) ask staff to send e-mails to administration members encouraging consideration of your option.
B) invite a senior member of administration to your staff meeting, so you can tell him what you are planning.
C) write a letter of complaint to a member of the institutional board about the lack of openness of the administration.
D) identify influential members of your nurse manager group with similar ideas and request an opportunity to meet with administration members to discuss options.

Question 8

A nurse manager's responsibility for financial management involves making budgetary decisions.Budgets that enable the nurse manager to allocate resources at the unit level allow

A) minimal nurse manager input.
B) limited rationale for budgetary requests.
C) budgetary allocations at the executive nurse level.
D) budgetary decision making at the point of service.

Question 9

A nurse manager is encountering considerable conflict among staff members because of weekend staffing coverage.During a called staff meeting,the nurse manager asks the disgruntled staff to meet as a group and determine the best staffing practices.In doing this,the nurse manager is using the concept of collaboration to

A) demonstrate interdependence.
B) depict flexibility and broadmindedness.
C) focus all energies of staff members on a win-win strategy.
D) defuse the possibility that staff members' discontent will escalate when staffing the unit on weekends.

Question 10

In planning a new wing,the nurse manager complies with the workplace safety requirements of the U.S.Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).Which of the following groups is considered to be at high risk for violence in the workplace?

A) Pediatric staff
B) Postsurgical unit staff
C) Emergency department staff
D) Medical oncology unit staff

Question 11

During staff meetings,you make it a regular practice to encourage shared problem solving and to recognize employees who go beyond basic roles and responsibilities to contribute to a positive team environment and to quality patient care.This practice exemplifies

A) values-based management.
B) shaping of workplace behaviour.
C) cooperation and collaboration.
D) recognition of institutional priorities.

Question 12

Whenever a staff nurse asks Sue,the nursing manager,about the best way to perform a new procedure,Sue immediately goes to the computer with the staff nurse and searches for online best practices related to the procedure in question.What is Sue demonstrating?

A) Lack of procedural knowledge
B) Role-modelling evidence-informed decision-making
C) Empowerment for the staff nurse to do this on her own, rather than involve the manager
D) The key role of informatics in the current health care system

Question 13

While interviewing for a nurse manager position,Ann is asked to give an example of a situation in which she demonstrated leadership.Which of the following examples exemplifies leadership?

A) Through research and investigation of best practice and practice-based evidence, she proposed a change to management of incontinence in elderly patients.
B) She ensured that new policies related to parenteral infusions were implemented consistently within her team.
C) When asked by her students about institutional policies, she readily and patiently interpreted policies to facilitate quality care.
D) She organized the team and delegated responsibilities effectively in providing nursing care.

Question 14

In orienting a 25-year-old nurse,the unit manager understands that this worker probably

A) likes to attend to detail.
B) is highly proficient in math and reading skills.
C) enjoys being managed by superiors.
D) likes to solve problems without being given solutions.

Question 15

Which of the following is important in a positive work environment?

A) One-way communication
B) Accountability and clarity of roles and responsibilities
C) Hierarchical decision-making
D) Challenge and striving for excellence

Question 16

A nurse manager has worked rapidly to persuade the staff to accept changes in the unit's mission,so that downsizing can be avoided,through innovative use of technology.This nurse manager is displaying

A) a focus on past concerns related to the mission.
B) how to teach staff members about self-management.
C) facilitation of goal accomplishment.
D) a requirement that all staff members need to review and reinforce their technologic skills.

Question 17

As a nurse manager,you embrace the usefulness of resources such as Smart Bed.This behaviour is important in

A) budget development.
B) a manager's role.
C) succession planning.
D) encouragement of staff members' use of technology.

Question 18

The successful integration of informatics into health care settings is key to

A) quality decision-making and processes related to management of resources.
B) accessing current information about business practices.
C) leveraging ideas from other managers.
D) speeding up calculations and decisions in budget development.

Question 19

Role theory has its underpinnings in management theory.Management theories influence managers' leadership styles.Which would a nurse manager be most likely to follow when redesigning the staffing schedule?

A) Theory X
B) Productivity theory
C) Psychological theory
D) Theory Y

Question 20

A manager who is concerned with ensuring that patients on her surgical unit have the necessary information to make informed choices is

A) practicing legal nursing care.
B) demonstrating respect for patients' rights.
C) avoiding risks.
D) probably experiencing issues with informed consent.

Question 21

A nurse manager is discussing with unit staff the repeated lack of staff compliance in documenting exercise activity for patients who have undergone cardiac surgery.The unit's licensed practical/vocational nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients carry out the prescribed exercise regimen and that the activity is documented.According to Drucker's five basic functions of a manager,which of the following are appropriate functions for the nurse manager to use when addressing this situation?

A) Divide the necessary activities into manageable tasks, so that patients adhere to the exercise regimen.
B) Establish objectives and goals for each area and decide who is accountable for them.
C) Allow patients to organize the activities.
D) Engage in activities that motivate the health care team, and communicate effectively with the responsible staff members.
E) Analyze, appraise, and interpret the performance of responsible staff members, and communicate these findings to staff management.

Question 22

Julia is a staff nurse who works on a rehabilitation unit.Julia tells you that the assistants are experiencing difficulty with the new lift and wonders what your thoughts on organizing an educational session would be.Julia is

A) communicating a vision for safety.
B) taking a risk in identifying the problem with safety.
C) coordinating the development of knowledge and skills necessary to use the lift.
D) taking responsibility for identifying a safety concern and conceding authority for solution to you.

Question 23

The nurse manager plays a unique role in institutional management in that the nurse manager

A) encourages shared decision-making.
B) models professional nursing behaviour.
C) interprets health care trends and their effect on revenues.
D) coordinates care and allocates resources.

Question 24

In developing an orientation program,the hospital educator breaks essential organizational information down into chunks,which she develops as online modules.This is an application of which of Peter F.Drucker's functions of management?

A) Establishment of goals and objectives
B) Motivation and communication
C) Analysis and interpretation of performance
D) Organization of activities into manageable tasks