CH 22 LEADERSHIP Flashcards
(35 cards)
1. Which of the following nursing care tasks is acceptable for a graduate nurse to delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? A) Assisting a client with ambulation B) Evaluation of nursing care delivered to a client C) Initial and ongoing assessments D) Development of a client teaching plan
Ans:
A
Feedback:
Tasks that should be performed by a registered nurse include initial and ongoing assessments, determining nursing diagnoses, plan of care, evaluation of client progress, evaluation of the nursing care delivered to the patient, supervision and education of nursing personnel, and client education. Tasks such as ambulation, assistance with meals and hygiene, and obtaining vital signs are acceptable tasks for a UAP to perform.
2. Nurses with varying levels of experience possess leadership skills. A graduate nurse walks out of the nurse manager’s office after a meeting. The graduate nurse reflects on the positive and negative feedback that she received from the manager regarding her three months working on the unit. What nursing leadership skill is best illustrated by the graduate nurse in this scenario? A) Self-evaluation skills B) Communication skills C) Problem-solving skills D) Management skills
Ans:
A
Feedback:
Self-evaluation skills incorporate the ability to assess honestly one’s effectiveness, to accept both praise and criticism, and to direct personal professional growth. Communication skills demonstrate the ability to establish trusting interpersonal relationships with clients, peers, subordinates, and superiors to maximize goal achievement. Problem-solving skills include the ability to analyze all sides of a problem, to suspend judgment, to explore multiple options, and to work toward a creative solution. Management skills are the ability to direct others toward goal achievement.
3. What type of leadership can a graduate nurse working in a magnet hospital expect? A) Democratic B) Autocratic C) Situational D) Quantum
Ans:
A
Feedback:
Working in a magnet hospital can maximize the potential of new graduates who prefer democratic leadership.
4.
The nurse is having an exceptionally busy shift on an obstetrical unit. Which of the following tasks is the nurse justified in delegating to an unlicensed care provider?
A)
Emptying a client’s Foley catheter bag and reporting the volume to the nurse
B)
Helping a first-time mother achieve a good latch when breast-feeding her infant
C)
Assessing the size and quantity of clots that are in a client’s bedpan and informing the nurse
D)
Giving an anti-inflammatory to a client who is eight hours postdelivery
Ans:
A
Feedback:
Emptying a Foley catheter bag and reporting the volume is within the scope of an unlicensed care provider. Assistance with breast-feeding, assessments, and medication administration are not tasks that should be delegating to anyone but an RN.
5.
The nurse has just graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is eager to find a mentor at this early stage in her career. Which of the following individuals is most likely to be an appropriate mentor for the nurse?
A)
An experienced nurse who was a preceptor in a previous clinical placement
B)
The nurse educator on the hospital unit where the novice nurse has been hired
C)
A colleague who graduated with honors at the same time as the novice nurse.
D)
The unit manager who the novice nurse.
Ans:
A
Feedback:
A person who demonstrates positive qualities and who possesses more experience is often a good choice to be a nurse’s mentor. A person in formal authority or oversight, such as the unit educator or manager, is a less ideal choice, and a peer is not normally an ideal choice of mentor.
6. A senior student has been elected president of the Student Nurses Association. Which of the following qualities is essential to being a nursing leader? A) Physical stamina B) Physical attractiveness C) Flexibility D) Independence
Ans:
C
Feedback:
Flexibility is a must for all nurse leaders. The needs of clients, families, and the nursing team can change from minute to minute. Leaders of nursing organizations must also demonstrate the characteristics of a nursing leader.
7. Which type of skills is not needed for nursing leadership? A) Communication skills B) Technical skills C) Problem-solving skills D) Self-evaluation skills
Ans:
B
Feedback:
The four basic types of skills needed for nursing leadership are communication, problem solving, management, and self-evaluation. Technical skills are important to other nursing roles, but are not leadership skills.
8. A nurse strives to establish trusting interpersonal relationships with clients, peers, subordinates, and superiors to facilitate goal achievement and personal growth of all participants. Which type of skills is this nurse demonstrating? A) Communication skills B) Problem-solving skills C) Management skills D) Self-evaluation skills
Ans:
A
Feedback:
Communication skills involve the ability to establish trusting interpersonal relationships with clients, peers, subordinates, and superiors to maximize goal achievement and enhance the personal growth. Problem-solving skills refer to the ability to analyze all sides of a problem, to suspend judgment, to explore multiple options, and to work toward a creative solution. Management skills pertain to the ability to direct others toward goal achievement. Self-evaluation skills involve the ability to assess honestly one’s effectiveness, to accept both praise and criticism, and to direct personal professional growth and development.
9. A nurse manager makes all of the decisions for staff activities. What type of leadership is demonstrated by this action? A) Democratic B) Self-governance C) Laissez-faire D) Autocratic
Ans:
D
Feedback:
Autocratic leadership involves the leader assuming complete control over the decisions and activities of the group. An extremely autocratic leader might make all decisions for workers without considering their ideas or feelings.
10. What type of leader shares decisions and activities with group participants? A) Democratic B) Autocratic C) Laissez-faire D) Situational
Ans:
A
Feedback:
Democratic leadership, also called participative leadership, is characterized by equality among the leader and other participants. Decisions and activities are shared.
11. A nurse leader is described as charismatic, motivational, and passionate. Communications are open and honest, and the nurse is willing to take risks. What type of leadership is the nurse practicing? A) Democratic B) Autocratic C) Quantum D) Transformational
Ans:
D
Feedback:
Transformational leaders are often described as charismatic, challenging, and passionate about their vision. They communicate openly and honestly, show concern for others, and are willing to take risks.
12.
A nurse is described as a “quantum leader.” Which action characterizes this type of leadership?
A)
A nurse conducts a blind survey to evaluate her leadership skills.
B)
A nurse relinquishes power to a group deciding hospital policy.
C)
A nurse makes policy decisions for coworkers without consulting them.
D)
A nurse sticks to the “tried and true” methods when implementing client care.
Ans:
A
Feedback:
Quantum leaders must have excellent communication skills, encourage personal critiques, and challenge current ways of thinking and doing. A nurse who relinquishes power to a group to make decisions is using laissez-faire leadership. A nurse making decisions for coworkers without considering their feelings is an autocratic leader.
13.
When comparing team nursing with functional nursing, what characteristic is found?
A)
Team nursing is very similar to functional nursing.
B)
Team nursing focuses on individual client care.
C)
Functional nursing has a stronger focus on the client.
D)
Functional nursing is based on total client care.
Ans:
B
Feedback:
In team nursing, a registered nurse and other caregivers provide care to a designated group of clients for a given shift. Team nursing modifies the depersonalized approach of functional nursing and focuses on individual client care.
14. A nurse believes in listening to clients and coworkers more than talking to them, allowing more personal control for all involved. This is a quality of which of the following managerial mindsets? A) Reflective B) Analytical C) Worldly D) Collaborative
Ans:
D
Feedback:
The collaborative mindset involves listening more than talking, and allowing people to take initiative and control their own work. The reflective mindset allows managers to mentally digest experiences and reflect on them in a different way. The analytical mindset encourages introspection so that one can recognize biases and see things in a unique way. This facilitates a change in course and movement toward resolution of problems. The worldly mindset recognizes cultures and contexts or “seeing differently out to reflect differently in.”
15. In which of the following conflict resolution strategies is the conflict rarely resolved? A) Collaborating B) Compromising C) Competing D) Smoothing
Ans:
D
Feedback:
Smoothing is an effort to complement the other party and focus on agreement rather than disagreement, thus reducing the emotion in the conflict. The original conflict is rarely resolved with this technique.
16. In Lewin’s classic theory of change, what happens during unfreezing? A) Planning is conducted. B) Change is initiated. C) Change becomes operational. D) The need for change is recognized.
Ans:
D
Feedback:
In Lewin’s change theory, during unfreezing the need for change is recognized. Unfreezing does not include planning, initiating, or operationalizing change.
17.
Planned change is a purposeful, systematic effort to alter or bring about change. What occurs next after alternative solutions to a problem are determined and analyzed?
A)
All of the alternative solutions are implemented.
B)
A course of action is chosen from among the alternatives.
C)
The effects of the change are evaluated.
D)
The change is stabilized and established.
Ans:
B
Feedback:
After determining and analyzing alternative solutions to a problem, select a course of action from the possible alternatives. It is best to avoid initiating too many courses of action and thereby dissipating resources and energy.
18.
In general, how do most people view change?
A)
By how it affects the cohesiveness of the group
B)
By how much it will cost in time and resources
C)
By how they are affected personally
D)
By how it will affect others on the staff
Ans:
C
Feedback:
In general, people view change in terms of how they are affected personally. Examples include threats to self-esteem, amount of work required, and effect on social relationships.
19.
A nurse manager has encountered resistance to a planned change. What is one way the nurse can overcome the resistance?
A)
Tell the staff that if they don’t like it, they can quit.
B)
Implement change rapidly and all at once.
C)
Encourage open communication and feedback.
D)
Let the staff know that the change is mandated.
Ans:
C
Feedback:
Providing opportunities for open communication and feedback is one way to overcome resistance to change.
20.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the use of power by change agents?
A)
They know that power comes from one source—management.
B)
When introducing change they do not enlist the support of key power players.
C)
They are often accomplished professional women.
D)
They do not recognize their own strengths and weaknesses.
Ans:
C
Feedback:
Power,the ability to influence others to achieve a desired effect, has many sources. When introducing change, it is helpful to recognize and enlist the support of key power players who can then encourage others to become involved. Women are accomplished professionals and occupy powerful leadership positions in corporations, health care organizations, and political arenas. Nursing leaders recognize the strengths and limitations of their own power and encourage others to develop and use power constructively.
21.
A nurse working on leadership skills should keep in mind which of the following accurate statements regarding leaders?
A)
People are born leaders.
B)
Leadership should be approached quickly.
C)
Leaders develop leadership skills in undefined situations.
D)
All nurse leaders began as inexperienced nurses.
Ans:
D
Feedback:
Leadership should be approached like any other new role or skill: slowly and carefully. Nursing students and beginning nurses should be prepared with all of the necessary tools or skills before attempting the new role. Initially, nurses develop leadership skills in well-defined clinical situations. With each experience, growth occurs and leadership is strengthened. All nurse managers, nurse administrators, and nursing leaders also began as inexperienced nurses.
22.
A student nurse has just graduated with a baccalaureate degree in nursing. What type of nursing leadership will this nurse be expected to provide?
A)
Nursing care of the individual client
B)
Demonstration of selected critical skills
C)
Ability to be a follower rather than a leader
D)
Nursing care of groups of clients
Ans:
A
Feedback:
New graduates have leadership responsibilities when they begin nursing. Nursing leadership begins with nursing care of the individual client.
23.
A nurse is considering the delegation of administering medications to an unskilled assistant. What is the first question the nurse must ask herself before doing so?
A)
Has the assistant been trained to perform the task?
B)
Have I evaluated the client’s response to this task?
C)
Is the delegated task permitted by law?
D)
Is appropriate supervision available?
Ans:
C
Feedback:
The first question the nurse should always consider before delegating a task is “Is the delegated task permitted by law?” In this case, it would not be, and the task (administering medications) would not be delegated.
24.
The ANA, which is committed to monitoring the regulation, education, and use of NAPs, recommends adherence to which one of the following principles?
A)
It is the nursing profession that determines the scope of nursing practice.
B)
It is the RN who defines and supervises the education, training, and use of any unlicensed assistant roles.
C)
It is the assigned NAP who is responsible and accountable for his or her nursing practice.
D)
It is the purpose of the RN to work in a supportive role to the assistive personnel.
Ans:
A
Feedback:
It is the nursing profession that determines the scope of nursing practice, and defines and supervises the education, training, and use of any unlicensed assistant roles involved in providing direct nursing care. It is the registered nurse who is responsible and accountable for nursing practice, and who supervises any assistant involved in providing direct client care. It is the purpose of assistive personnel to work in a supportive role to the registered nurse, carrying out tasks that enable the professional nurse to concentrate on caring for the client.
