,NURS 420 exam 1 Principles of Leadership and Management
Questions And Answers 2026/2027 West Coast University
Q1. Which statement best distinguishes a leader from a manager?
A. Managers influence people, while leaders control resources.
B. Managers are always informal, while leaders are always formal.
C. A manager typically has formal organizational authority, while a leader
may influence others without a formal title.
D. Leaders are appointed, while managers emerge naturally.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A manager usually holds a formal position with designated
authority and responsibility. Leadership can occur with or without formal
authority.
Q2. Which activity is most characteristic of management?
A. Inspiring a shared vision
B. Organizing resources to accomplish organizational goals
C. Influencing staff through personal example only
D. Creating enthusiasm for change
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Management involves planning, organizing, staffing, directing,
and controlling resources and processes to achieve goals.
Q3. Which activity is most characteristic of leadership?
A. Completing payroll
B. Maintaining staffing records
C. Inspiring staff to work toward a shared vision
D. Ordering supplies
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Leadership emphasizes influence, vision, motivation,
relationships, and movement toward shared goals.
**Q4. A staff nurse has no formal management position but consistently
influences coworkers to adopt evidence-based practices. What type of
leadership is this?
A. Formal leadership
B. Informal leadership
, C. Authoritarian leadership
D. Bureaucratic management
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informal leadership arises from a person's influence, expertise,
communication, or relationships rather than an appointed position. Recent
WCU material specifically emphasizes this distinction.
**Q5. Which management function involves establishing goals and
determining how they will be achieved?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Staffing
D. Controlling
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Planning establishes objectives and develops strategies and
actions for achieving them.
**Q6. Which management function involves arranging people and resources
to accomplish organizational goals?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Directing
D. Controlling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Organizing involves structuring resources, roles, authority, and
relationships so work can be accomplished effectively.
**Q7. Which management function involves obtaining and maintaining an
appropriate workforce?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Staffing
D. Controlling
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Staffing involves recruitment, selection, scheduling, retention,
and development of employees.
Questions And Answers 2026/2027 West Coast University
Q1. Which statement best distinguishes a leader from a manager?
A. Managers influence people, while leaders control resources.
B. Managers are always informal, while leaders are always formal.
C. A manager typically has formal organizational authority, while a leader
may influence others without a formal title.
D. Leaders are appointed, while managers emerge naturally.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A manager usually holds a formal position with designated
authority and responsibility. Leadership can occur with or without formal
authority.
Q2. Which activity is most characteristic of management?
A. Inspiring a shared vision
B. Organizing resources to accomplish organizational goals
C. Influencing staff through personal example only
D. Creating enthusiasm for change
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Management involves planning, organizing, staffing, directing,
and controlling resources and processes to achieve goals.
Q3. Which activity is most characteristic of leadership?
A. Completing payroll
B. Maintaining staffing records
C. Inspiring staff to work toward a shared vision
D. Ordering supplies
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Leadership emphasizes influence, vision, motivation,
relationships, and movement toward shared goals.
**Q4. A staff nurse has no formal management position but consistently
influences coworkers to adopt evidence-based practices. What type of
leadership is this?
A. Formal leadership
B. Informal leadership
, C. Authoritarian leadership
D. Bureaucratic management
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informal leadership arises from a person's influence, expertise,
communication, or relationships rather than an appointed position. Recent
WCU material specifically emphasizes this distinction.
**Q5. Which management function involves establishing goals and
determining how they will be achieved?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Staffing
D. Controlling
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Planning establishes objectives and develops strategies and
actions for achieving them.
**Q6. Which management function involves arranging people and resources
to accomplish organizational goals?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Directing
D. Controlling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Organizing involves structuring resources, roles, authority, and
relationships so work can be accomplished effectively.
**Q7. Which management function involves obtaining and maintaining an
appropriate workforce?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Staffing
D. Controlling
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Staffing involves recruitment, selection, scheduling, retention,
and development of employees.
