NUR 204 HESI LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT VERSION 2 EXAM TEST
BANK ACTUAL 2026/2027 & HIGH YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS
ACCURATE EXAM COMPLETE ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A nurse manager on a medical-surgical unit notices that staff members have
become increasingly disengaged after several workflow changes were
implemented without their input. The manager wants to improve staff
participation, morale, and ownership of unit decisions while still
maintaining accountability for patient outcomes. Which leadership
approach would best address this situation?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Laissez-faire leadership
C. Democratic or participative leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Answer: C
2. A newly appointed nurse manager is attempting to motivate experienced
nurses to participate in a major patient-safety initiative. Rather than simply
giving instructions, the manager communicates a compelling vision,
encourages innovation, recognizes individual contributions, and helps staff
connect the change to improved patient outcomes. Which leadership style
is being demonstrated?
A. Transformational leadership
B. Transactional leadership
C. Autocratic leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Answer: A
3. A charge nurse rewards staff members when they meet established
performance expectations and applies corrective action when standards are
not met. The nurse focuses primarily on exchanges between performance
and consequences rather than inspiring a broader organizational vision.
Which leadership style does this behavior represent?
pg. 1
, A. Servant leadership
B. Transformational leadership
C. Transactional leadership
D. Democratic leadership
Answer: C
4. A nurse manager recognizes that one staff nurse is highly competent but
has become discouraged during a difficult transition to a new electronic
documentation system. The manager provides encouragement, asks about
concerns, and adapts the amount of direction and support to the nurse's
developmental needs. Which leadership theory best explains this
approach?
A. Trait theory
B. Situational leadership theory
C. Great man theory
D. Bureaucratic theory
Answer: B
5. A nurse leader notices that a staff member becomes defensive during
feedback. Before responding, the leader recognizes personal frustration,
controls the emotional reaction, listens carefully, and responds respectfully.
Which leadership competency is most clearly demonstrated?
A. Delegation
B. Emotional intelligence
C. Budget control
D. Centralized authority
Answer: B
6. A nurse manager consistently places the needs of patients and staff at the
center of decision-making, encourages professional growth, listens carefully
to employees, and emphasizes service rather than personal authority.
Which leadership philosophy is most consistent with these behaviors?
A. Servant leadership
B. Autocratic leadership
pg. 2
, C. Transactional leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Answer: A
7. A nurse leader is attempting to gain cooperation from an experienced staff
member who questions a new policy. Which action best demonstrates
expert power?
A. Threatening disciplinary action
B. Using knowledge and clinical expertise to explain the rationale for the
policy
C. Offering a financial reward
D. Referring the employee to the hospital administrator
Answer: B
8. A nurse manager tells an employee that the manager has the formal
authority to require compliance with a hospital policy because the manager
holds the designated management position. Which type of power is being
used?
A. Referent power
B. Expert power
C. Legitimate power
D. Informational power
Answer: C
9. A highly respected staff nurse has no formal management position but
consistently influences colleagues because they trust the nurse's judgment,
professionalism, and personal integrity. Which type of power is primarily
being demonstrated?
A. Coercive power
B. Referent power
C. Reward power
D. Legitimate power
Answer: B
pg. 3
, 10. A nurse manager wants to determine whether a proposed staffing change is
consistent with the unit's long-term goals. Which management function
should the manager perform first?
A. Controlling
B. Planning
C. Directing
D. Evaluating
Answer: B
11. A nurse manager develops a written plan specifying staffing requirements,
expected patient volume, available resources, measurable objectives, and
strategies for achieving unit goals. Which management function is primarily
represented?
A. Planning
B. Controlling
C. Delegating
D. Conflict avoidance
Answer: A
12. A manager groups nursing personnel according to responsibilities,
establishes reporting relationships, and coordinates available resources to
accomplish unit objectives. Which management function is being
performed?
A. Controlling
B. Organizing
C. Evaluating
D. Motivating
Answer: B
13. A nurse manager compares the unit's current fall rate with the established
quality benchmark and initiates corrective action after discovering that the
rate exceeds the target. Which management function is illustrated?
A. Planning
B. Staffing
pg. 4
BANK ACTUAL 2026/2027 & HIGH YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS
ACCURATE EXAM COMPLETE ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A nurse manager on a medical-surgical unit notices that staff members have
become increasingly disengaged after several workflow changes were
implemented without their input. The manager wants to improve staff
participation, morale, and ownership of unit decisions while still
maintaining accountability for patient outcomes. Which leadership
approach would best address this situation?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Laissez-faire leadership
C. Democratic or participative leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Answer: C
2. A newly appointed nurse manager is attempting to motivate experienced
nurses to participate in a major patient-safety initiative. Rather than simply
giving instructions, the manager communicates a compelling vision,
encourages innovation, recognizes individual contributions, and helps staff
connect the change to improved patient outcomes. Which leadership style
is being demonstrated?
A. Transformational leadership
B. Transactional leadership
C. Autocratic leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Answer: A
3. A charge nurse rewards staff members when they meet established
performance expectations and applies corrective action when standards are
not met. The nurse focuses primarily on exchanges between performance
and consequences rather than inspiring a broader organizational vision.
Which leadership style does this behavior represent?
pg. 1
, A. Servant leadership
B. Transformational leadership
C. Transactional leadership
D. Democratic leadership
Answer: C
4. A nurse manager recognizes that one staff nurse is highly competent but
has become discouraged during a difficult transition to a new electronic
documentation system. The manager provides encouragement, asks about
concerns, and adapts the amount of direction and support to the nurse's
developmental needs. Which leadership theory best explains this
approach?
A. Trait theory
B. Situational leadership theory
C. Great man theory
D. Bureaucratic theory
Answer: B
5. A nurse leader notices that a staff member becomes defensive during
feedback. Before responding, the leader recognizes personal frustration,
controls the emotional reaction, listens carefully, and responds respectfully.
Which leadership competency is most clearly demonstrated?
A. Delegation
B. Emotional intelligence
C. Budget control
D. Centralized authority
Answer: B
6. A nurse manager consistently places the needs of patients and staff at the
center of decision-making, encourages professional growth, listens carefully
to employees, and emphasizes service rather than personal authority.
Which leadership philosophy is most consistent with these behaviors?
A. Servant leadership
B. Autocratic leadership
pg. 2
, C. Transactional leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Answer: A
7. A nurse leader is attempting to gain cooperation from an experienced staff
member who questions a new policy. Which action best demonstrates
expert power?
A. Threatening disciplinary action
B. Using knowledge and clinical expertise to explain the rationale for the
policy
C. Offering a financial reward
D. Referring the employee to the hospital administrator
Answer: B
8. A nurse manager tells an employee that the manager has the formal
authority to require compliance with a hospital policy because the manager
holds the designated management position. Which type of power is being
used?
A. Referent power
B. Expert power
C. Legitimate power
D. Informational power
Answer: C
9. A highly respected staff nurse has no formal management position but
consistently influences colleagues because they trust the nurse's judgment,
professionalism, and personal integrity. Which type of power is primarily
being demonstrated?
A. Coercive power
B. Referent power
C. Reward power
D. Legitimate power
Answer: B
pg. 3
, 10. A nurse manager wants to determine whether a proposed staffing change is
consistent with the unit's long-term goals. Which management function
should the manager perform first?
A. Controlling
B. Planning
C. Directing
D. Evaluating
Answer: B
11. A nurse manager develops a written plan specifying staffing requirements,
expected patient volume, available resources, measurable objectives, and
strategies for achieving unit goals. Which management function is primarily
represented?
A. Planning
B. Controlling
C. Delegating
D. Conflict avoidance
Answer: A
12. A manager groups nursing personnel according to responsibilities,
establishes reporting relationships, and coordinates available resources to
accomplish unit objectives. Which management function is being
performed?
A. Controlling
B. Organizing
C. Evaluating
D. Motivating
Answer: B
13. A nurse manager compares the unit's current fall rate with the established
quality benchmark and initiates corrective action after discovering that the
rate exceeds the target. Which management function is illustrated?
A. Planning
B. Staffing
pg. 4
