ATI RN Leadership & Management 2026/2027 | ATI
Nursing Leadership and Management Edition 10.0 Study
Guide & Practice Questions | ATI RN Leadership Proctored
Assessment Exam Prep, Nursing Leadership & Management
Review, Delegation, Prioritization, Assignment &
Supervision, Leadership Styles, Management Principles,
Teamwork & Collaboration, Conflict Resolution,
Communication, Quality Improvement, Patient Safety,
Risk Management, Legal & Ethical Issues, Staffing,
Healthcare Delivery Systems, Change Management,
Decision Making, Clinical Judgment, NCLEX-RN
Leadership Questions & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse manager is implementing a new evidence-based
protocol for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
According to Lewin's change theory, which action should the manager
take during the unfreezing stage?
A. Implement the new protocol on all units simultaneously
B. Reinforce staff adherence to the new protocol through recognition
C. Educate staff about the reasons for the change and the limitations of
current practices
D. Evaluate patient outcomes after the new protocol is implemented
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Educate staff about the reasons for the change
and the limitations of current practices
Rationale: Unfreezing involves creating awareness and readiness for
change by explaining why current practices are inadequate.
Implementation occurs in the moving stage, and reinforcement occurs
during refreezing .
Question 2: A registered nurse is caring for four clients. Which task is
appropriate for the nurse to delegate to assistive personnel (AP)?
A. Assess a client who reports new chest pain
B. Obtain vital signs for a stable postoperative client
C. Teach a client how to use an incentive spirometer
D. Evaluate a client's response to an antihypertensive medication
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Obtain vital signs for a stable postoperative
client
,Rationale: Obtaining routine vital signs for a stable client is within the AP's
role. Assessment, teaching, and evaluation require RN-level judgment .
Question 3: Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client requesting assistance with bathing
B. Client with chronic arthritis reporting pain of 6/10
C. Client with COPD whose oxygen saturation decreased from 94% to 84%
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Client with COPD whose oxygen saturation
decreased from 94% to 84%
Rationale: An acute decrease in oxygen saturation indicates a potential
airway or breathing problem and takes priority according to the ABC
framework .
Question 4: A nurse manager encourages staff members to participate
in decisions and openly share ideas. Which leadership style is being
demonstrated?
A. Autocratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Democratic
D. Bureaucratic
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Democratic
Rationale: Democratic leadership emphasizes participation, collaboration,
and shared decision-making .
Question 5: A client has limited English proficiency and is preparing for
surgery. What should the nurse do?
A. Ask a family member to translate
B. Use a qualified medical interpreter
C. Ask another client to interpret
D. Proceed because the procedure is routine
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Use a qualified medical interpreter
Rationale: A qualified interpreter promotes accurate communication and
protects the client's right to informed decision-making .
,Question 6: Two nurses disagree about the assignment and refuse to
communicate. Which approach is most appropriate when the issue
requires a lasting solution?
A. Avoiding the conflict
B. Competing
C. Collaborating
D. Accommodating
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Collaborating
Rationale: Collaboration seeks a mutually acceptable solution and
addresses the underlying concerns of both parties .
Question 7: Which action by an RN demonstrates appropriate
delegation?
A. Delegating assessment of a newly admitted client to an AP
B. Delegating medication administration to an AP regardless of policy
C. Assigning routine hygiene care to an AP
D. Asking an AP to determine whether a client needs suctioning
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Assigning routine hygiene care to an AP
Rationale: Routine hygiene is appropriate for APs. Assessment, clinical
judgment, and nursing decisions cannot be delegated .
Question 8: A nurse discovers that a client received the wrong
medication. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Complete an incident report
B. Notify the risk-management department
C. Assess the client
D. Document the error in the incident report only
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Assess the client
Rationale: Client safety is the immediate priority. The nurse should assess
the client and initiate appropriate treatment before completing
administrative reporting .
Question 9: Which activity is an example of a process audit?
A. Measuring the number of falls on a unit
B. Reviewing whether nurses perform hand hygiene according to policy
, C. Evaluating patient satisfaction scores
D. Assessing the availability of equipment on the unit
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Reviewing whether nurses perform hand
hygiene according to policy
Rationale: Process audits review how care is provided and assume a
relationship exists between nurses and the quality of care provided .
Question 10: Which leadership style involves the leader making
decisions without input from team members and is often effective in
emergency situations?
A. Democratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Autocratic
D. Transformational
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Autocratic
Rationale: Autocratic leadership involves unilateral decision-making by the
leader. It can be effective in emergencies but may decrease staff morale
when used routinely .
Question 11: A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a prescribed
blood transfusion for religious reasons. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A. Notify the provider and document the patient's refusal
B. Persuade the patient to accept the transfusion for their health
C. Ask the family to convince the patient to change their mind
D. Administer the transfusion and inform the patient later
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Notify the provider and document the patient's
refusal
Rationale: A competent patient has the right to refuse treatment, and the
nurse must respect this decision while notifying the provider and
documenting the refusal .
Question 12: A nurse manager is reviewing the "Five Rights of
Delegation." Which scenario best demonstrates adherence to these
rights?
Nursing Leadership and Management Edition 10.0 Study
Guide & Practice Questions | ATI RN Leadership Proctored
Assessment Exam Prep, Nursing Leadership & Management
Review, Delegation, Prioritization, Assignment &
Supervision, Leadership Styles, Management Principles,
Teamwork & Collaboration, Conflict Resolution,
Communication, Quality Improvement, Patient Safety,
Risk Management, Legal & Ethical Issues, Staffing,
Healthcare Delivery Systems, Change Management,
Decision Making, Clinical Judgment, NCLEX-RN
Leadership Questions & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse manager is implementing a new evidence-based
protocol for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
According to Lewin's change theory, which action should the manager
take during the unfreezing stage?
A. Implement the new protocol on all units simultaneously
B. Reinforce staff adherence to the new protocol through recognition
C. Educate staff about the reasons for the change and the limitations of
current practices
D. Evaluate patient outcomes after the new protocol is implemented
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Educate staff about the reasons for the change
and the limitations of current practices
Rationale: Unfreezing involves creating awareness and readiness for
change by explaining why current practices are inadequate.
Implementation occurs in the moving stage, and reinforcement occurs
during refreezing .
Question 2: A registered nurse is caring for four clients. Which task is
appropriate for the nurse to delegate to assistive personnel (AP)?
A. Assess a client who reports new chest pain
B. Obtain vital signs for a stable postoperative client
C. Teach a client how to use an incentive spirometer
D. Evaluate a client's response to an antihypertensive medication
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Obtain vital signs for a stable postoperative
client
,Rationale: Obtaining routine vital signs for a stable client is within the AP's
role. Assessment, teaching, and evaluation require RN-level judgment .
Question 3: Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client requesting assistance with bathing
B. Client with chronic arthritis reporting pain of 6/10
C. Client with COPD whose oxygen saturation decreased from 94% to 84%
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Client with COPD whose oxygen saturation
decreased from 94% to 84%
Rationale: An acute decrease in oxygen saturation indicates a potential
airway or breathing problem and takes priority according to the ABC
framework .
Question 4: A nurse manager encourages staff members to participate
in decisions and openly share ideas. Which leadership style is being
demonstrated?
A. Autocratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Democratic
D. Bureaucratic
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Democratic
Rationale: Democratic leadership emphasizes participation, collaboration,
and shared decision-making .
Question 5: A client has limited English proficiency and is preparing for
surgery. What should the nurse do?
A. Ask a family member to translate
B. Use a qualified medical interpreter
C. Ask another client to interpret
D. Proceed because the procedure is routine
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Use a qualified medical interpreter
Rationale: A qualified interpreter promotes accurate communication and
protects the client's right to informed decision-making .
,Question 6: Two nurses disagree about the assignment and refuse to
communicate. Which approach is most appropriate when the issue
requires a lasting solution?
A. Avoiding the conflict
B. Competing
C. Collaborating
D. Accommodating
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Collaborating
Rationale: Collaboration seeks a mutually acceptable solution and
addresses the underlying concerns of both parties .
Question 7: Which action by an RN demonstrates appropriate
delegation?
A. Delegating assessment of a newly admitted client to an AP
B. Delegating medication administration to an AP regardless of policy
C. Assigning routine hygiene care to an AP
D. Asking an AP to determine whether a client needs suctioning
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Assigning routine hygiene care to an AP
Rationale: Routine hygiene is appropriate for APs. Assessment, clinical
judgment, and nursing decisions cannot be delegated .
Question 8: A nurse discovers that a client received the wrong
medication. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Complete an incident report
B. Notify the risk-management department
C. Assess the client
D. Document the error in the incident report only
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Assess the client
Rationale: Client safety is the immediate priority. The nurse should assess
the client and initiate appropriate treatment before completing
administrative reporting .
Question 9: Which activity is an example of a process audit?
A. Measuring the number of falls on a unit
B. Reviewing whether nurses perform hand hygiene according to policy
, C. Evaluating patient satisfaction scores
D. Assessing the availability of equipment on the unit
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Reviewing whether nurses perform hand
hygiene according to policy
Rationale: Process audits review how care is provided and assume a
relationship exists between nurses and the quality of care provided .
Question 10: Which leadership style involves the leader making
decisions without input from team members and is often effective in
emergency situations?
A. Democratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Autocratic
D. Transformational
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Autocratic
Rationale: Autocratic leadership involves unilateral decision-making by the
leader. It can be effective in emergencies but may decrease staff morale
when used routinely .
Question 11: A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a prescribed
blood transfusion for religious reasons. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A. Notify the provider and document the patient's refusal
B. Persuade the patient to accept the transfusion for their health
C. Ask the family to convince the patient to change their mind
D. Administer the transfusion and inform the patient later
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Notify the provider and document the patient's
refusal
Rationale: A competent patient has the right to refuse treatment, and the
nurse must respect this decision while notifying the provider and
documenting the refusal .
Question 12: A nurse manager is reviewing the "Five Rights of
Delegation." Which scenario best demonstrates adherence to these
rights?
