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LEADERSHIP ROLES AND MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS IN NURSING
10TH EDITION (MARQUIS & HUSTON) EXAM 2026 LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
LEADERSHIP ROLES AND MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS IN NURSING 10TH
EDITION (MARQUIS & HUSTON) EXAMINATION
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: DECISION MAKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, CRITICAL THINKING,
AND CLINICAL REASONING (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
What statement is true regarding decision making?
A) It is an analysis of a situation
B) It is closely related to evaluation
C) It involves choosing between courses of action
D) It is dependent upon finding the cause of a problem
Rationale: The correct answer is C. 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. Critical thinking is
related to evaluation and has a broader scope than decision making and problem solving . A
decision is triggered by a problem and ends with a chosen course of action.
Question 2
Which is a weakness of the traditional problem-solving model?
A) Its need for implementation time
B) Its lack of a step requiring evaluation of results
C) Its failure to gather sufficient data
D) Its failure to evaluate alternatives
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Rationale: The correct answer is A. The traditional problem-solving model is less effective
when time constraints are a consideration. Decision making can occur without the full
analysis required in problem solving. Because problem solving attempts to identify the root
problem in situations, much time and energy are spent on identifying the real problem . This
makes the model inefficient in time-sensitive situations.
Question 3
What influences the quality of a decision most often?
A) The decision maker's intelligence
B) The type of decision that needs to be made
C) Questions asked and alternatives generated
D) The time of day the decision is made
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The greater the number of alternatives that can be
generated by the decision maker, the better the final decision will be. The alternatives
generated and the final choices are limited by each person's value system . Effective decision
makers explore multiple alternatives before settling on a course of action.
Question 4
Which statement is true regarding decision making?
A) Scientific methods provide identical decisions by different individuals for the same
problem
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
Rationale: The correct answer is B. 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 . Personal beliefs cannot be fully separated
from the decision-making process.
Question 5
What influences the quality of a decision most often?
A) The decision maker's experience
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B) The type of decision that needs to be made
C) Questions asked and alternatives generated
D) The time of day the decision is made
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The greater the number of alternatives that can be
generated by the decision maker, the better the final decision will be. The alternatives
generated and the final choices are limited by each person's value system . A decision grid
allows the decision maker to examine alternatives visually and compare each against the
same criteria .
Question 6
What does knowledge about good decision making lead one to believe?
A) Good decision makers are usually right-brain, intuitive thinkers
B) Effective decision makers are sensitive to the situation and to others
C) Good decisions are usually made by left-brain, logical thinkers
D) Good decision making requires analytical rather than creative processes
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Good decision makers seem to have antennae that make
them particularly sensitive to other people and situations. Left-brain thinkers are typically
better at processing language, logic, numbers, and sequential ordering, whereas right-brain
thinkers excel at nonverbal ideation and holistic synthesizing . Effective decision makers
integrate both analytical and intuitive approaches.
Question 7
Which is the best definition of decision making?
A) The planning process of management
B) The evaluation phase of the executive role
C) One step in the problem-solving process
D) Required to justify the need for scarce items
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Decision making is a complex, cognitive process often
defined as choosing a particular course of action. Decision making, one step in the problem-
solving process, is an important task that relies heavily on critical thinking and clinical
reasoning skills . Problem solving always includes a decision-making step.
Question 8
If decision making is triggered by a problem, with what does it end?
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A) An alternative problem
B) A chosen course of action
C) An action that guarantees success
D) A restatement of the solution
Rationale: The correct answer is B. A decision is made when a course of action has been
chosen. Problem solving is part of decision making and is a systematic process that focuses
on analyzing a difficult situation . The decision-making process concludes with selecting a
specific course of action.
Question 9
Why do our values often cause personal conflict in decision making?
A) Some values are not realistic or healthy
B) Not all values are of equal worth
C) Our values remain unchanged over time
D) Our values often collide with one another
Rationale: The correct answer is D. When personal values conflict with organizational
values or with other personal values, it creates internal tension in decision making. Values,
life experience, individual preference, and individual ways of thinking will influence a
person's decision making .
Question 10
What is a decision grid used for in the decision-making process?
A) Examining alternatives visually and comparing each against the same criteria
B) Quantifying information
C) Plotting a decision over time
D) Predicting when events must take place to complete a project on time
Rationale: The correct answer is A. A decision grid allows the decision maker to visually
examine the alternatives and compare each against the same criteria. Although any criteria
may be selected, the same criteria are used to analyze each alternative . This helps structure
complex decisions with multiple options.
Question 11
Which statement regarding management decision-making aids is true?
A) They are subject to human error
LEADERSHIP ROLES AND MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS IN NURSING
10TH EDITION (MARQUIS & HUSTON) EXAM 2026 LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
LEADERSHIP ROLES AND MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS IN NURSING 10TH
EDITION (MARQUIS & HUSTON) EXAMINATION
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: DECISION MAKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, CRITICAL THINKING,
AND CLINICAL REASONING (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
What statement is true regarding decision making?
A) It is an analysis of a situation
B) It is closely related to evaluation
C) It involves choosing between courses of action
D) It is dependent upon finding the cause of a problem
Rationale: The correct answer is C. 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. Critical thinking is
related to evaluation and has a broader scope than decision making and problem solving . A
decision is triggered by a problem and ends with a chosen course of action.
Question 2
Which is a weakness of the traditional problem-solving model?
A) Its need for implementation time
B) Its lack of a step requiring evaluation of results
C) Its failure to gather sufficient data
D) Its failure to evaluate alternatives
, Page 2 of 73
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The traditional problem-solving model is less effective
when time constraints are a consideration. Decision making can occur without the full
analysis required in problem solving. Because problem solving attempts to identify the root
problem in situations, much time and energy are spent on identifying the real problem . This
makes the model inefficient in time-sensitive situations.
Question 3
What influences the quality of a decision most often?
A) The decision maker's intelligence
B) The type of decision that needs to be made
C) Questions asked and alternatives generated
D) The time of day the decision is made
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The greater the number of alternatives that can be
generated by the decision maker, the better the final decision will be. The alternatives
generated and the final choices are limited by each person's value system . Effective decision
makers explore multiple alternatives before settling on a course of action.
Question 4
Which statement is true regarding decision making?
A) Scientific methods provide identical decisions by different individuals for the same
problem
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
Rationale: The correct answer is B. 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 . Personal beliefs cannot be fully separated
from the decision-making process.
Question 5
What influences the quality of a decision most often?
A) The decision maker's experience
, Page 3 of 73
B) The type of decision that needs to be made
C) Questions asked and alternatives generated
D) The time of day the decision is made
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The greater the number of alternatives that can be
generated by the decision maker, the better the final decision will be. The alternatives
generated and the final choices are limited by each person's value system . A decision grid
allows the decision maker to examine alternatives visually and compare each against the
same criteria .
Question 6
What does knowledge about good decision making lead one to believe?
A) Good decision makers are usually right-brain, intuitive thinkers
B) Effective decision makers are sensitive to the situation and to others
C) Good decisions are usually made by left-brain, logical thinkers
D) Good decision making requires analytical rather than creative processes
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Good decision makers seem to have antennae that make
them particularly sensitive to other people and situations. Left-brain thinkers are typically
better at processing language, logic, numbers, and sequential ordering, whereas right-brain
thinkers excel at nonverbal ideation and holistic synthesizing . Effective decision makers
integrate both analytical and intuitive approaches.
Question 7
Which is the best definition of decision making?
A) The planning process of management
B) The evaluation phase of the executive role
C) One step in the problem-solving process
D) Required to justify the need for scarce items
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Decision making is a complex, cognitive process often
defined as choosing a particular course of action. Decision making, one step in the problem-
solving process, is an important task that relies heavily on critical thinking and clinical
reasoning skills . Problem solving always includes a decision-making step.
Question 8
If decision making is triggered by a problem, with what does it end?
, Page 4 of 73
A) An alternative problem
B) A chosen course of action
C) An action that guarantees success
D) A restatement of the solution
Rationale: The correct answer is B. A decision is made when a course of action has been
chosen. Problem solving is part of decision making and is a systematic process that focuses
on analyzing a difficult situation . The decision-making process concludes with selecting a
specific course of action.
Question 9
Why do our values often cause personal conflict in decision making?
A) Some values are not realistic or healthy
B) Not all values are of equal worth
C) Our values remain unchanged over time
D) Our values often collide with one another
Rationale: The correct answer is D. When personal values conflict with organizational
values or with other personal values, it creates internal tension in decision making. Values,
life experience, individual preference, and individual ways of thinking will influence a
person's decision making .
Question 10
What is a decision grid used for in the decision-making process?
A) Examining alternatives visually and comparing each against the same criteria
B) Quantifying information
C) Plotting a decision over time
D) Predicting when events must take place to complete a project on time
Rationale: The correct answer is A. A decision grid allows the decision maker to visually
examine the alternatives and compare each against the same criteria. Although any criteria
may be selected, the same criteria are used to analyze each alternative . This helps structure
complex decisions with multiple options.
Question 11
Which statement regarding management decision-making aids is true?
A) They are subject to human error
