NSG 550 Exam 1 EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND WELL REVISED
ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE UPDATE WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
Q1: A nurse manager wants to implement a new protocol to reduce medication errors. Which
leadership style is most effective in encouraging staff to adopt the change?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
Answer: B. Democratic
Rationale: Democratic leadership involves staff in decision-making, increasing buy-in and
adherence to new protocols. Autocratic may create resistance, and laissez-faire lacks guidance.
Q2: True or False: Transformational leaders focus primarily on maintaining current policies
rather than inspiring change.
Answer: False
Rationale: Transformational leaders inspire innovation, motivate staff, and encourage
professional development rather than just maintaining status quo.
Q3: A nurse manager uses contingent reward methods to improve staff performance. This is an
example of:
A. Transformational leadership
B. Transactional leadership
C. Servant leadership
D. Situational leadership
Answer: B. Transactional leadership
Rationale: Transactional leadership relies on reward and punishment to motivate staff
performance, while transformational leadership focuses on inspiration and vision.
Q4: What is the primary goal of shared governance in nursing?
A. Reduce nurse workload
B. Increase nurse autonomy and accountability
C. Streamline hospital administration
D. Limit interdisciplinary collaboration
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Answer: B. Increase nurse autonomy and accountability
Rationale: Shared governance empowers nurses to participate in decision-making, enhancing
professional autonomy and accountability.
Q5: True or False: In situational leadership, the leader’s style should adapt to the competency
and commitment of the staff.
Answer: True
Rationale: Situational leadership emphasizes adjusting leadership approaches based on staff
skill and motivation.
2. Patient Safety & Quality Improvement
Q6: The root cause analysis (RCA) is used primarily to:
A. Assign blame for errors
B. Identify underlying causes of sentinel events
C. Increase hospital revenue
D. Evaluate patient satisfaction
Answer: B. Identify underlying causes of sentinel events
Rationale: RCA is a systematic process to identify system failures that contribute to adverse
events without blaming individuals.
Q7: True or False: Implementing checklists in clinical practice is an evidence-based strategy to
improve patient safety.
Answer: True
Rationale: Checklists reduce errors by standardizing care processes and ensuring critical steps
are not missed.
Q8: A nurse observes that several patients experienced falls in the past month. Which quality
improvement method should be used first?
A. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle
B. Root cause analysis
C. Peer review
D. Benchmarking
Answer: A. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle
Rationale: PDSA allows small, iterative changes to test interventions for reducing patient falls
before wider implementation.
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Q9: Which organization sets national patient safety goals in the U.S.?
A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
B. American Nurses Association (ANA)
C. The Joint Commission (TJC)
D. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Answer: C. The Joint Commission (TJC)
Rationale: TJC establishes National Patient Safety Goals to improve safety and quality in
healthcare organizations.
Q10: True or False: Reporting near-miss events is optional because no patient harm occurred.
Answer: False
Rationale: Reporting near-misses is critical to identify system vulnerabilities and prevent future
adverse events.
3. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
Q11: Which of the following represents the highest level of evidence in EBP?
A. Expert opinion
B. Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
C. Systematic review and meta-analysis
D. Case series
Answer: C. Systematic review and meta-analysis
Rationale: Systematic reviews/meta-analyses synthesize multiple studies, providing the highest
level of evidence.
Q12: True or False: EBP integrates clinical expertise, patient preferences, and the best research
evidence.
Answer: True
Rationale: The triad of EBP ensures care is scientifically valid, clinically appropriate, and
aligned with patient values.
Q13: A nurse wants to implement a new evidence-based protocol for pressure ulcer prevention.
Which is the first step?
A. Evaluate outcomes