EXAM 3: NUR 204/ NUR204
Leadership and Management
2026-2028 Testing Cycle | Newly Released
50 Q & A| Grade A+ | Guaranteed Pass
100% Correct Verified Solutions - Fortis
Operations | Staffing Models, Patient Classification Systems, Just Culture |
Quality Improvement (RCA, PDSA cycles), Risk Management
Q1: The nurse manager is reviewing the unit's Patient Classification System (PCS). The primary
purpose of a PCS is to:
A. Count the total number of patients on the census each shift
B. Determine the intensity of nursing care required by each patient
C. Assign specific rooms to patients based on diagnosis
D. Track the number of meals served to patients
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because a PCS measures the acuity and intensity of nursing care needs, not
merely the headcount, to guide staffing decisions.
Q2: A nursing unit uses an acuity-based staffing model rather than a fixed mandatory ratio.
Which of the following is a key advantage of acuity-based staffing?
A. It guarantees a minimum number of nurses regardless of patient condition
B. It adjusts staffing levels based on the actual care demands of the current patient population
C. It eliminates the need for UAPs on the unit
D. It ensures all patients receive the same amount of nursing time
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because acuity-based staffing flexes with patient needs, providing more
nurses when acuity is high and fewer when it is low, which improves efficiency and safety.
,Q3: A patient is classified as high acuity on the PCS. The charge nurse calculates the staffing
mix. Which of the following is the most appropriate assignment for this patient?
A. A UAP with 5 years of experience
B. An LPN who is orienting to the unit
C. A registered nurse with critical care experience
D. A nursing student on clinical rotation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because high-acuity patients require the assessment and decision-making
skills of an RN, preferably one with relevant experience.
Q4: The nurse manager is comparing mandatory staffing ratios versus acuity-based staffing.
Which statement correctly reflects the debate?
A. Mandatory ratios are always more cost-effective than acuity models
B. Acuity models are inflexible and do not account for sudden changes
C. Mandatory ratios provide a guaranteed minimum but may overstaff or understaff relative to
actual needs
D. Acuity models do not require any RN oversight
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because mandatory ratios set a legal floor, but they may not match the actual
variation in patient acuity, leading to potential inefficiencies.
Q5: The unit has 20 patients with the following acuity scores: 8 low, 7 moderate, 5 high. The
staffing guideline requires 1 RN per 4 high-acuity patients, 1 RN per 6 moderate, and 1 RN per 8
low. How many RNs are needed for this shift?
A. 5 RNs
B. 6 RNs
C. 7 RNs
D. 8 RNs
Correct Answer: A (Let's calculate: High: 5/4 = 1.25 -> 2; Moderate: 7/6 = 1.16 -> 2; Low: 8/8
= 1 -> 1; total = 5. So A)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because the calculation is 5 high ÷ 4 = 1.25 (round up to 2), 7 moderate ÷ 6 =
1.16 (round up to 2), 8 low ÷ 8 = 1; total 5 RNs are required for that acuity mix.
, Q6: The quality improvement team is implementing a new fall prevention protocol. They begin
by identifying the problem and collecting baseline fall rates. This stage of the PDSA cycle is
called:
A. Plan
B. Do
C. Study
D. Act
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because the Plan phase involves problem identification, baseline data
collection, and designing the intervention.
Q7: After implementing a small-scale pilot of the new fall prevention protocol on one unit, the
team collects post-intervention data and compares it to baseline. This occurs in which stage of
the PDSA cycle?
A. Plan
B. Do
C. Study
D. Act
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the Study phase is where the team analyzes the results of the pilot
against the baseline to determine effectiveness.
Q8: A sentinel event occurred on the unit. The hospital initiates a Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
The primary goal of an RCA is to:
A. Punish the individual responsible for the error
B. Identify systemic and workflow failures that contributed to the event
C. Assign blame to the department head
D. Immediately change all hospital policies
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because RCA is a retrospective, non-punitive process designed to find system
vulnerabilities, not to blame individuals.
Leadership and Management
2026-2028 Testing Cycle | Newly Released
50 Q & A| Grade A+ | Guaranteed Pass
100% Correct Verified Solutions - Fortis
Operations | Staffing Models, Patient Classification Systems, Just Culture |
Quality Improvement (RCA, PDSA cycles), Risk Management
Q1: The nurse manager is reviewing the unit's Patient Classification System (PCS). The primary
purpose of a PCS is to:
A. Count the total number of patients on the census each shift
B. Determine the intensity of nursing care required by each patient
C. Assign specific rooms to patients based on diagnosis
D. Track the number of meals served to patients
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because a PCS measures the acuity and intensity of nursing care needs, not
merely the headcount, to guide staffing decisions.
Q2: A nursing unit uses an acuity-based staffing model rather than a fixed mandatory ratio.
Which of the following is a key advantage of acuity-based staffing?
A. It guarantees a minimum number of nurses regardless of patient condition
B. It adjusts staffing levels based on the actual care demands of the current patient population
C. It eliminates the need for UAPs on the unit
D. It ensures all patients receive the same amount of nursing time
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because acuity-based staffing flexes with patient needs, providing more
nurses when acuity is high and fewer when it is low, which improves efficiency and safety.
,Q3: A patient is classified as high acuity on the PCS. The charge nurse calculates the staffing
mix. Which of the following is the most appropriate assignment for this patient?
A. A UAP with 5 years of experience
B. An LPN who is orienting to the unit
C. A registered nurse with critical care experience
D. A nursing student on clinical rotation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because high-acuity patients require the assessment and decision-making
skills of an RN, preferably one with relevant experience.
Q4: The nurse manager is comparing mandatory staffing ratios versus acuity-based staffing.
Which statement correctly reflects the debate?
A. Mandatory ratios are always more cost-effective than acuity models
B. Acuity models are inflexible and do not account for sudden changes
C. Mandatory ratios provide a guaranteed minimum but may overstaff or understaff relative to
actual needs
D. Acuity models do not require any RN oversight
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because mandatory ratios set a legal floor, but they may not match the actual
variation in patient acuity, leading to potential inefficiencies.
Q5: The unit has 20 patients with the following acuity scores: 8 low, 7 moderate, 5 high. The
staffing guideline requires 1 RN per 4 high-acuity patients, 1 RN per 6 moderate, and 1 RN per 8
low. How many RNs are needed for this shift?
A. 5 RNs
B. 6 RNs
C. 7 RNs
D. 8 RNs
Correct Answer: A (Let's calculate: High: 5/4 = 1.25 -> 2; Moderate: 7/6 = 1.16 -> 2; Low: 8/8
= 1 -> 1; total = 5. So A)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because the calculation is 5 high ÷ 4 = 1.25 (round up to 2), 7 moderate ÷ 6 =
1.16 (round up to 2), 8 low ÷ 8 = 1; total 5 RNs are required for that acuity mix.
, Q6: The quality improvement team is implementing a new fall prevention protocol. They begin
by identifying the problem and collecting baseline fall rates. This stage of the PDSA cycle is
called:
A. Plan
B. Do
C. Study
D. Act
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because the Plan phase involves problem identification, baseline data
collection, and designing the intervention.
Q7: After implementing a small-scale pilot of the new fall prevention protocol on one unit, the
team collects post-intervention data and compares it to baseline. This occurs in which stage of
the PDSA cycle?
A. Plan
B. Do
C. Study
D. Act
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the Study phase is where the team analyzes the results of the pilot
against the baseline to determine effectiveness.
Q8: A sentinel event occurred on the unit. The hospital initiates a Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
The primary goal of an RCA is to:
A. Punish the individual responsible for the error
B. Identify systemic and workflow failures that contributed to the event
C. Assign blame to the department head
D. Immediately change all hospital policies
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because RCA is a retrospective, non-punitive process designed to find system
vulnerabilities, not to blame individuals.
