BSN3A Nursing Leadership and Management – Exam Practice Questions & Verified Answers with Explained
Rationales (2026 Latest Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. A nurse manager is implementing a new scheduling system. The staff is resistant to the change.
Which leadership style would be most effective in facilitating the change?
A) Autocratic
B) Laissez-faire
C) Transformational
D) Bureaucratic
Answer C: Transformational
Rationale: Transformational leadership inspires and motivates staff to embrace change through vision and
involvement.
2. Which management theory emphasizes efficiency, standardization, and hierarchical structure?
A) Human relations theory
B) Classical management theory
C) Systems theory
D) Contingency theory
Answer B: Classical management theory
Rationale: Classical theory focuses on organizational structure, efficiency, and standardized processes.
3. A nurse manager is using a democratic leadership style. Which characteristic is most consistent
with this style?
A) The manager makes all decisions independently
B) The manager involves staff in decision-making
C) The manager provides minimal guidance
D) The manager focuses only on task completion
Answer B: The manager involves staff in decision-making
Rationale: Democratic leaders encourage staff participation and shared decision-making.
,4. A nurse manager delegates a task to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Which task can the LPN
perform?
A) Develop a care plan
B) Administer medications and perform sterile procedures
C) Perform a comprehensive admission assessment
D) Evaluate patient outcomes
Answer B: Administer medications and perform sterile procedures
Rationale: LPNs can administer medications and perform sterile procedures but cannot perform initial
assessments or develop care plans.
5. The five rights of delegation include:
A) Right task, right time, right place, right person, right supervision
B) Right task, right circumstances, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision
C) Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time
D) Right task, right patient, right supervisor, right outcome, right evaluation
Answer B: Right task, right circumstances, right person, right direction/communication, right
supervision
Rationale: The five rights of delegation guide safe and appropriate delegation.
6. A nurse manager is responsible for budget planning. Which type of budget includes costs for
salaries, supplies, and equipment?
A) Capital budget
B) Operating budget
C) Personnel budget
D) Fixed budget
Answer B: Operating budget
Rationale: Operating budgets cover day-to-day expenses including salaries, supplies, and equipment.
7. Which type of budget is used for major capital purchases such as building renovations or new
equipment?
A) Capital budget
,B) Operating budget
C) Personnel budget
D) Variable budget
Answer A: Capital budget
Rationale: Capital budgets are for long-term investments and major purchases.
8. A nurse manager is using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model for quality improvement. Which
step involves implementing the planned change?
A) Plan
B) Do
C) Study
D) Act
Answer B: Do
Rationale: The "Do" phase involves implementing the planned change on a small scale.
9. A sentinel event is defined as:
A) A near miss
B) An unexpected patient death or serious injury
C) A medication error with no harm
D) A minor adverse event
Answer B: An unexpected patient death or serious injury
Rationale: Sentinel events are unexpected occurrences resulting in death or serious physical/psychological
injury.
10. When a sentinel event occurs, the first action of the nurse manager should be:
A) Complete an incident report
B) Ensure the patient's safety and provide immediate care
C) Notify the media
D) Discipline the involved staff
Answer B: Ensure the patient's safety and provide immediate care
Rationale: Patient safety and immediate care are the top priorities after a sentinel event.
, 11. A root cause analysis (RCA) is performed to:
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A) Assign blame to the individuals involved
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B) Identify the underlying causes of an adverse event
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C) Discipline staff members
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D) Document the event for legal purposes
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Answer B: Identify the underlying causes of an adverse event
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Rationale: RCA is a systematic process to identify system and process failures, not to assign blame.
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12. A nurse manager is using the SBAR communication tool. What does "S" stand for?
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A) Situation
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B) Situation
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C) Summary
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D) Safety
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Answer A: Situation j0 j0
Rationale: SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
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13. Which leadership style is characterized by a "hands-off" approach where staff make decisions
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A) Autocratic
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B) Democratic
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C) Laissez-faire
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D) Transformational
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Answer C: Laissez-faire
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Rationale: Laissez-faire leaders provide minimal direction and allow staff to make decisions.
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14. Which of the following is a characteristic of an autocratic leader?
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A) Encourages staff participation
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B) Makes decisions without input from staff
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C) Provides minimal guidance
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D) Focuses on staff development
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Answer B: Makes decisions without input from staff
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Rationale: Autocratic leaders make unilateral decisions with little staff input.
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Rationales (2026 Latest Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. A nurse manager is implementing a new scheduling system. The staff is resistant to the change.
Which leadership style would be most effective in facilitating the change?
A) Autocratic
B) Laissez-faire
C) Transformational
D) Bureaucratic
Answer C: Transformational
Rationale: Transformational leadership inspires and motivates staff to embrace change through vision and
involvement.
2. Which management theory emphasizes efficiency, standardization, and hierarchical structure?
A) Human relations theory
B) Classical management theory
C) Systems theory
D) Contingency theory
Answer B: Classical management theory
Rationale: Classical theory focuses on organizational structure, efficiency, and standardized processes.
3. A nurse manager is using a democratic leadership style. Which characteristic is most consistent
with this style?
A) The manager makes all decisions independently
B) The manager involves staff in decision-making
C) The manager provides minimal guidance
D) The manager focuses only on task completion
Answer B: The manager involves staff in decision-making
Rationale: Democratic leaders encourage staff participation and shared decision-making.
,4. A nurse manager delegates a task to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Which task can the LPN
perform?
A) Develop a care plan
B) Administer medications and perform sterile procedures
C) Perform a comprehensive admission assessment
D) Evaluate patient outcomes
Answer B: Administer medications and perform sterile procedures
Rationale: LPNs can administer medications and perform sterile procedures but cannot perform initial
assessments or develop care plans.
5. The five rights of delegation include:
A) Right task, right time, right place, right person, right supervision
B) Right task, right circumstances, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision
C) Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time
D) Right task, right patient, right supervisor, right outcome, right evaluation
Answer B: Right task, right circumstances, right person, right direction/communication, right
supervision
Rationale: The five rights of delegation guide safe and appropriate delegation.
6. A nurse manager is responsible for budget planning. Which type of budget includes costs for
salaries, supplies, and equipment?
A) Capital budget
B) Operating budget
C) Personnel budget
D) Fixed budget
Answer B: Operating budget
Rationale: Operating budgets cover day-to-day expenses including salaries, supplies, and equipment.
7. Which type of budget is used for major capital purchases such as building renovations or new
equipment?
A) Capital budget
,B) Operating budget
C) Personnel budget
D) Variable budget
Answer A: Capital budget
Rationale: Capital budgets are for long-term investments and major purchases.
8. A nurse manager is using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model for quality improvement. Which
step involves implementing the planned change?
A) Plan
B) Do
C) Study
D) Act
Answer B: Do
Rationale: The "Do" phase involves implementing the planned change on a small scale.
9. A sentinel event is defined as:
A) A near miss
B) An unexpected patient death or serious injury
C) A medication error with no harm
D) A minor adverse event
Answer B: An unexpected patient death or serious injury
Rationale: Sentinel events are unexpected occurrences resulting in death or serious physical/psychological
injury.
10. When a sentinel event occurs, the first action of the nurse manager should be:
A) Complete an incident report
B) Ensure the patient's safety and provide immediate care
C) Notify the media
D) Discipline the involved staff
Answer B: Ensure the patient's safety and provide immediate care
Rationale: Patient safety and immediate care are the top priorities after a sentinel event.
, 11. A root cause analysis (RCA) is performed to:
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A) Assign blame to the individuals involved
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B) Identify the underlying causes of an adverse event
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C) Discipline staff members
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D) Document the event for legal purposes
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Answer B: Identify the underlying causes of an adverse event
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Rationale: RCA is a systematic process to identify system and process failures, not to assign blame.
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12. A nurse manager is using the SBAR communication tool. What does "S" stand for?
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A) Situation
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B) Situation
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C) Summary
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D) Safety
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Answer A: Situation j0 j0
Rationale: SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
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13. Which leadership style is characterized by a "hands-off" approach where staff make decisions
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A) Autocratic
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B) Democratic
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C) Laissez-faire
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D) Transformational
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Answer C: Laissez-faire
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Rationale: Laissez-faire leaders provide minimal direction and allow staff to make decisions.
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14. Which of the following is a characteristic of an autocratic leader?
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A) Encourages staff participation
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B) Makes decisions without input from staff
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C) Provides minimal guidance
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D) Focuses on staff development
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Answer B: Makes decisions without input from staff
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Rationale: Autocratic leaders make unilateral decisions with little staff input.
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