NU 456 Final Q's With Complete Solutions
1. A nurse is applying a decision-making process to a clinical challenge. When
applying this process, the nurse must:
a. analyze the root causes of a situation.
b. begin by solving the underlying problem.
c. choose between different courses of action.
d. prioritize the maximum good for the maximum number of people. - ANSWER
ANS: C
Feedback: Decision making is a complex, cognitive process often defined as
choosing a particular course of action. Problem solving is part of decision
making and is a systematic process that focuses on analyzing a difficult
situation. It is not always realistic for the nurse to solve each of the problems
contributing to a larger challenge, especially at the beginning of the decision-
making process. The nurse often lacks the time, information, or resources to
analyze the root causes of a situation. Many times, the nurse makes a decision
that benefits the largest number of people, but this is not always feasible or
desirable.
3. Which statement is true regarding decision making?
a. Scientific methods provide identical decisions by different individuals for the
same problems.
b. Decisions are greatly influenced by each person's value system.
c. Personal beliefs can be adjusted for when the scientific approach to problem
solving is used.
d. Past experience has little to do with the quality of the decision. - ANSWER
ANS: B
Feedback: Values, life experience, individual preference, and individual ways of
thinking will influence a person's decision making. No matter how objective the
criteria will be, value judgments will always play a part in a person's decision
making, either consciously or subconsciously. It is not possible for a nurse to
fully "set aside" personal beliefs when making a decision, even if the nurse
applies the principles of self-reflection.
4. The nurse-manager of a short-staffed unit needs to make a decision about a
nurse's request for an unpaid leave of absence. In order to increase the chance
of making a good decision, the manager should:
a. involve as many people in the decision-making process as possible.
,b. begin the decision-making process by presuming the status quo to be the best
option.
c. generate as many different alternatives as possible.
d. prioritize the option that is most innovative. - ANSWER ANS: C
Feedback: The greater the number of alternatives that can be generated by the
decision maker, the better the final decision will be. Generating multiple
alternatives may require involving more people in the decision-making process,
but the process can easily become unwieldy if too many people are involved.
The manager should always consider the status quo as a possible option, but
this is not always considered to be the default option. Innovation is often a
desirable characteristic, but it would be inappropriate to choose an option
solely because it is innovative; many other values must be considered.
An experienced nurse-manager has been described as being a "right-brained
thinker." Which is an example of this manager's decision-making process?
a. Uses data sets to generate solutions
b. Uses thinking that is outside the normal standards to find a solution
c. Has the ability to ask all those involved in the decision making
d. Focuses on the intended process to reach a solution or goal - ANSWER ANS:
B
Feedback: Right-brained thinkers have traditionally been characterized as
creative and intuitive, and thinking outside of normal standards to find a
solution. Linear analysis, such as the ability to generate solutions based on data
sets, is more closely aligned with left-brained thinking. Transparency, such as
getting all those involved, and efficiency, which focuses on the process to reach
a goal, are desirable qualities that are not particularly aligned with either of
these two paradigms.
19. What characteristic of a nurse-manager best demonstrates left-brained
thinking?
a. The manager highly values innovation and intuition when making decisions.
b. The manager's relationships with peers are prioritized when evaluating
decisions.
c. The manager applies a linear, analytical model when making a decision.
d. The manager is open to feedback from staff when making a decision. -
ANSWER ANS: C
Feedback: Left-brained thinkers process information in a linear, analytical way,
which is different from the creative and intuitive approach of right-brained
thinkers. Placing a value on relationships and being open to feedback are not
specifically associated with one or the other side of the brain.
27. A nurse-manager has to make some difficult decisions around the allocation
of vacation time during the holiday season. When making a decision, what
should the manager do first?
, a. Elicit ideas from as many staff members as possible.
b. Consider how the issues have been addressed in the past.
c. Think of as many alternatives as possible.
d. Clearly identify each of the desired objectives in the situation. - ANSWER ANS:
D
Feedback: Regardless of what decision-making or problem-solving tool a
manager is going to use, the process must necessarily begin with clear
identification of the objectives. Once these are determined, subsequent steps
like engaging stakeholders, creating alternatives, and considering previous
approaches can be performed.
8. The clinic leader tends to make decisions independently and closely
supervises and controls the practice of the nurses at the clinic. What type of
leadership is being exemplified?
a. Authoritarian
b. Democratic
c. Laissez-faire
d. Contingency - ANSWER ANS: A
Feedback: Authoritarianism is associated with strong control and decision
making that does not involve others. Democratic leadership emphasizes broad
participation in decision making, and a laissez-faire approach is highly
permissive with low control. A contingency approach emphasizes the need for
flexibility in leadership, not high control and centralized decision making.
10. Which statement best depicts leadership?
a. Strong leaders can coerce people into following them.
b. A leadership position has a narrower scope than a management position.
c. People will follow a person in a leadership position by choice.
d. Leadership requires meeting organizational goals. - ANSWER ANS: C
Feedback: Those individuals who choose to follow a leader do so by choice, not
because they have to; "followership" cannot be coerced. Leadership is a much
broader concept than management, which implies a more specific and finite
role. Leadership is not necessarily dependent on meeting organizational goals.
14. The nurse who manages an ambulatory clinic is well known as being a
visionary leader who is skilled at empowering others with this vision. What type
of leader is this nurse?
a. Transactional
b. Transformational
c. Interactional
d. Bureaucratic - ANSWER ANS: B
1. A nurse is applying a decision-making process to a clinical challenge. When
applying this process, the nurse must:
a. analyze the root causes of a situation.
b. begin by solving the underlying problem.
c. choose between different courses of action.
d. prioritize the maximum good for the maximum number of people. - ANSWER
ANS: C
Feedback: Decision making is a complex, cognitive process often defined as
choosing a particular course of action. Problem solving is part of decision
making and is a systematic process that focuses on analyzing a difficult
situation. It is not always realistic for the nurse to solve each of the problems
contributing to a larger challenge, especially at the beginning of the decision-
making process. The nurse often lacks the time, information, or resources to
analyze the root causes of a situation. Many times, the nurse makes a decision
that benefits the largest number of people, but this is not always feasible or
desirable.
3. Which statement is true regarding decision making?
a. Scientific methods provide identical decisions by different individuals for the
same problems.
b. Decisions are greatly influenced by each person's value system.
c. Personal beliefs can be adjusted for when the scientific approach to problem
solving is used.
d. Past experience has little to do with the quality of the decision. - ANSWER
ANS: B
Feedback: Values, life experience, individual preference, and individual ways of
thinking will influence a person's decision making. No matter how objective the
criteria will be, value judgments will always play a part in a person's decision
making, either consciously or subconsciously. It is not possible for a nurse to
fully "set aside" personal beliefs when making a decision, even if the nurse
applies the principles of self-reflection.
4. The nurse-manager of a short-staffed unit needs to make a decision about a
nurse's request for an unpaid leave of absence. In order to increase the chance
of making a good decision, the manager should:
a. involve as many people in the decision-making process as possible.
,b. begin the decision-making process by presuming the status quo to be the best
option.
c. generate as many different alternatives as possible.
d. prioritize the option that is most innovative. - ANSWER ANS: C
Feedback: The greater the number of alternatives that can be generated by the
decision maker, the better the final decision will be. Generating multiple
alternatives may require involving more people in the decision-making process,
but the process can easily become unwieldy if too many people are involved.
The manager should always consider the status quo as a possible option, but
this is not always considered to be the default option. Innovation is often a
desirable characteristic, but it would be inappropriate to choose an option
solely because it is innovative; many other values must be considered.
An experienced nurse-manager has been described as being a "right-brained
thinker." Which is an example of this manager's decision-making process?
a. Uses data sets to generate solutions
b. Uses thinking that is outside the normal standards to find a solution
c. Has the ability to ask all those involved in the decision making
d. Focuses on the intended process to reach a solution or goal - ANSWER ANS:
B
Feedback: Right-brained thinkers have traditionally been characterized as
creative and intuitive, and thinking outside of normal standards to find a
solution. Linear analysis, such as the ability to generate solutions based on data
sets, is more closely aligned with left-brained thinking. Transparency, such as
getting all those involved, and efficiency, which focuses on the process to reach
a goal, are desirable qualities that are not particularly aligned with either of
these two paradigms.
19. What characteristic of a nurse-manager best demonstrates left-brained
thinking?
a. The manager highly values innovation and intuition when making decisions.
b. The manager's relationships with peers are prioritized when evaluating
decisions.
c. The manager applies a linear, analytical model when making a decision.
d. The manager is open to feedback from staff when making a decision. -
ANSWER ANS: C
Feedback: Left-brained thinkers process information in a linear, analytical way,
which is different from the creative and intuitive approach of right-brained
thinkers. Placing a value on relationships and being open to feedback are not
specifically associated with one or the other side of the brain.
27. A nurse-manager has to make some difficult decisions around the allocation
of vacation time during the holiday season. When making a decision, what
should the manager do first?
, a. Elicit ideas from as many staff members as possible.
b. Consider how the issues have been addressed in the past.
c. Think of as many alternatives as possible.
d. Clearly identify each of the desired objectives in the situation. - ANSWER ANS:
D
Feedback: Regardless of what decision-making or problem-solving tool a
manager is going to use, the process must necessarily begin with clear
identification of the objectives. Once these are determined, subsequent steps
like engaging stakeholders, creating alternatives, and considering previous
approaches can be performed.
8. The clinic leader tends to make decisions independently and closely
supervises and controls the practice of the nurses at the clinic. What type of
leadership is being exemplified?
a. Authoritarian
b. Democratic
c. Laissez-faire
d. Contingency - ANSWER ANS: A
Feedback: Authoritarianism is associated with strong control and decision
making that does not involve others. Democratic leadership emphasizes broad
participation in decision making, and a laissez-faire approach is highly
permissive with low control. A contingency approach emphasizes the need for
flexibility in leadership, not high control and centralized decision making.
10. Which statement best depicts leadership?
a. Strong leaders can coerce people into following them.
b. A leadership position has a narrower scope than a management position.
c. People will follow a person in a leadership position by choice.
d. Leadership requires meeting organizational goals. - ANSWER ANS: C
Feedback: Those individuals who choose to follow a leader do so by choice, not
because they have to; "followership" cannot be coerced. Leadership is a much
broader concept than management, which implies a more specific and finite
role. Leadership is not necessarily dependent on meeting organizational goals.
14. The nurse who manages an ambulatory clinic is well known as being a
visionary leader who is skilled at empowering others with this vision. What type
of leader is this nurse?
a. Transactional
b. Transformational
c. Interactional
d. Bureaucratic - ANSWER ANS: B
