WGU D545 Exam – Actual Exam Style
2026/2027 Questions with Verified
Answers | 100% Correct | Pass
Guaranteed Grade A – Latest Update
Q01 Which of the following best describes the primary focus of the WGU D545 course?
Answer: Advanced nursing leadership and healthcare policy development Rationale: D545
emphasizes leadership competencies, policy analysis, organizational behavior, and strategic
planning in healthcare systems.
Q02 According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing leadership involves which
core responsibility? Answer: Influencing others to achieve common goals while promoting
professional nursing practice Rationale: ANA defines leadership as the process of influencing
individuals and groups to achieve shared objectives.
Q03 Which leadership theory emphasizes the leader's ability to inspire and motivate followers
through vision and charisma? Answer: Transformational leadership Rationale:
Transformational leadership focuses on inspiring change, fostering innovation, and motivating
followers to exceed expectations.
Q04 A nurse leader is implementing a new evidence-based practice protocol on a medical-
surgical unit. Which change theory model is most appropriate? Answer: Lewin's Change
Theory Rationale: Lewin's model (unfreeze, change, refreeze) is widely used in nursing for
planned change implementation.
Q05 Which of the following is a key component of the Quadruple Aim in healthcare? Answer:
Improving provider and staff well-being Rationale: The Quadruple Aim adds provider/staff
satisfaction to the original Triple Aim (patient experience, population health, cost reduction).
Q06 What is the primary purpose of a root cause analysis (RCA) in healthcare quality
improvement? Answer: To identify underlying causes of adverse events to prevent
recurrence Rationale: RCA is a systematic process used to determine fundamental causes of
sentinel events.
Q07 Which regulatory body accredits hospitals and healthcare organizations in the United
States? Answer: The Joint Commission Rationale: The Joint Commission is the primary
accrediting organization for hospitals and many other healthcare entities.
, Q08 In the context of healthcare policy, what does the term "stakeholder" refer to? Answer: Any
individual or group that has an interest in or is affected by a policy decision Rationale:
Stakeholders include patients, providers, payers, regulators, and the community.
Q09 Which federal law expanded healthcare coverage through marketplaces and Medicaid
expansion? Answer: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Rationale: The
ACA (2010) aimed to increase insurance coverage and reduce uninsured rates.
Q10 What is the primary goal of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act
(MACRA)? Answer: To transition Medicare from fee-for-service to value-based payment
Rationale: MACRA created the Quality Payment Program (MIPS and APMs) to link payment to
quality and value.
Q11 Which of the following is a key performance category in the Merit-based Incentive Payment
System (MIPS)? Answer: Quality, Cost, Improvement Activities, Promoting
Interoperability Rationale: MIPS evaluates clinicians on these four categories.
Q12 What is the purpose of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical
Health (HITECH) Act? Answer: To promote adoption and meaningful use of electronic
health records Rationale: HITECH provided incentives for EHR adoption and strengthened
HIPAA enforcement.
Q13 Which organization maintains the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system?
Answer: American Medical Association (AMA) Rationale: The AMA owns and updates the
CPT code set for physician services.
Q14 Which coding system is used for inpatient hospital diagnoses and procedures? Answer:
ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS Rationale: ICD-10-CM for diagnoses; ICD-10-PCS for
inpatient procedures.
Q15 What is the primary purpose of the Prospective Payment System (PPS) for hospitals?
Answer: To reimburse hospitals a fixed amount based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs)
Rationale: The Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) pays a predetermined rate per
DRG.
Q16 Which federal agency administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs? Answer: Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rationale: CMS is the federal agency responsible
for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.
Q17 What is the primary difference between Medicare and Medicaid? Answer: Medicare is
primarily for people 65+ and certain disabled individuals; Medicaid is needs-based for low-
income individuals Rationale: Medicare is entitlement-based; Medicaid is means-tested.
Q18 Which part of Medicare covers prescription drugs? Answer: Part D Rationale: Medicare
Part D is the outpatient prescription drug benefit.
2026/2027 Questions with Verified
Answers | 100% Correct | Pass
Guaranteed Grade A – Latest Update
Q01 Which of the following best describes the primary focus of the WGU D545 course?
Answer: Advanced nursing leadership and healthcare policy development Rationale: D545
emphasizes leadership competencies, policy analysis, organizational behavior, and strategic
planning in healthcare systems.
Q02 According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing leadership involves which
core responsibility? Answer: Influencing others to achieve common goals while promoting
professional nursing practice Rationale: ANA defines leadership as the process of influencing
individuals and groups to achieve shared objectives.
Q03 Which leadership theory emphasizes the leader's ability to inspire and motivate followers
through vision and charisma? Answer: Transformational leadership Rationale:
Transformational leadership focuses on inspiring change, fostering innovation, and motivating
followers to exceed expectations.
Q04 A nurse leader is implementing a new evidence-based practice protocol on a medical-
surgical unit. Which change theory model is most appropriate? Answer: Lewin's Change
Theory Rationale: Lewin's model (unfreeze, change, refreeze) is widely used in nursing for
planned change implementation.
Q05 Which of the following is a key component of the Quadruple Aim in healthcare? Answer:
Improving provider and staff well-being Rationale: The Quadruple Aim adds provider/staff
satisfaction to the original Triple Aim (patient experience, population health, cost reduction).
Q06 What is the primary purpose of a root cause analysis (RCA) in healthcare quality
improvement? Answer: To identify underlying causes of adverse events to prevent
recurrence Rationale: RCA is a systematic process used to determine fundamental causes of
sentinel events.
Q07 Which regulatory body accredits hospitals and healthcare organizations in the United
States? Answer: The Joint Commission Rationale: The Joint Commission is the primary
accrediting organization for hospitals and many other healthcare entities.
, Q08 In the context of healthcare policy, what does the term "stakeholder" refer to? Answer: Any
individual or group that has an interest in or is affected by a policy decision Rationale:
Stakeholders include patients, providers, payers, regulators, and the community.
Q09 Which federal law expanded healthcare coverage through marketplaces and Medicaid
expansion? Answer: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Rationale: The
ACA (2010) aimed to increase insurance coverage and reduce uninsured rates.
Q10 What is the primary goal of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act
(MACRA)? Answer: To transition Medicare from fee-for-service to value-based payment
Rationale: MACRA created the Quality Payment Program (MIPS and APMs) to link payment to
quality and value.
Q11 Which of the following is a key performance category in the Merit-based Incentive Payment
System (MIPS)? Answer: Quality, Cost, Improvement Activities, Promoting
Interoperability Rationale: MIPS evaluates clinicians on these four categories.
Q12 What is the purpose of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical
Health (HITECH) Act? Answer: To promote adoption and meaningful use of electronic
health records Rationale: HITECH provided incentives for EHR adoption and strengthened
HIPAA enforcement.
Q13 Which organization maintains the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system?
Answer: American Medical Association (AMA) Rationale: The AMA owns and updates the
CPT code set for physician services.
Q14 Which coding system is used for inpatient hospital diagnoses and procedures? Answer:
ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS Rationale: ICD-10-CM for diagnoses; ICD-10-PCS for
inpatient procedures.
Q15 What is the primary purpose of the Prospective Payment System (PPS) for hospitals?
Answer: To reimburse hospitals a fixed amount based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs)
Rationale: The Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) pays a predetermined rate per
DRG.
Q16 Which federal agency administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs? Answer: Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rationale: CMS is the federal agency responsible
for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.
Q17 What is the primary difference between Medicare and Medicaid? Answer: Medicare is
primarily for people 65+ and certain disabled individuals; Medicaid is needs-based for low-
income individuals Rationale: Medicare is entitlement-based; Medicaid is means-tested.
Q18 Which part of Medicare covers prescription drugs? Answer: Part D Rationale: Medicare
Part D is the outpatient prescription drug benefit.
