NR446 Leadership Exam 1 – 250 Questions with
Answers & Explanations | Latest 2026 Chamberlain
Collaborative Healthcare Prep Guide
SECTION 1: LEADERSHIP STYLES & THEORIES (Questions 1–40)
1. A nurse manager makes all decisions independently, motivates staff through
coercion, and communicates only down the chain of command. This leadership style
is best described as:
A. Democratic leadership
B. Laissez-faire leadership
C. Autocratic/Authoritative leadership
D. Transformational leadership
Answer: C. An autocratic leader makes decisions for the group, motivates by coercion, and
communication flows downward through the chain of command. Work output is usually high,
making this style effective for crisis situations and bureaucratic settings .
2. A nurse manager includes the group when decisions are made, motivates by
supporting staff achievements, and communication occurs both up and down the
chain of command. Which leadership style is the nurse manager demonstrating?
A. Authoritative
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
,Answer: B. Democratic leadership includes the group in decision-making, motivates by
supporting staff achievements, and encourages communication both up and down the chain
of command .
3. A nurse leader who inspires followers with a vision, identifies common values, and
has a long-term vision is demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Transactional leadership
B. Autocratic leadership
C. Transformational leadership
D. Laissez-faire leadership
Answer: C. Transformational leadership leads followers to levels of higher moral and
motivation. Transformational leaders inspire others with a vision (not self), identify common
values, and have a long-term vision .
4. A nurse manager uses a leadership style that makes few decisions and gives staff
complete freedom. Which style is this?
A. Democratic
B. Autocratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transformational
Answer: C. Laissez-faire leadership is permissive, with little or no control. The leader makes
few decisions and gives the group complete freedom. This style is effective with highly
motivated, experienced professionals but can lead to chaos with inexperienced staff .
5. A nurse manager motivates staff by offering rewards for meeting goals and
punishes those who do not meet expectations. Which leadership style is being used?
A. Transformational
,B. Transactional
C. Democratic
D. Servant
Answer: B. Transactional leadership is based on a system of rewards and punishments.
The leader focuses on the exchange between leader and follower—rewards for meeting
expectations and consequences for failing to meet them .
6. A nurse is described as a leader who is a "caretaker" and maintains the status quo
rather than inspiring change. Which type of leader is this?
A. Transformational leader
B. Democratic leader
C. Transactional leader
D. Laissez-faire leader
Answer: C. Transactional leaders are often described as "caretakers" who maintain the
status quo rather than inspiring change .
7. A nurse leader focuses on serving others first, emphasizing empathy, humility, and
stewardship. Which leadership style is this?
A. Transformational
B. Servant
C. Transactional
D. Autocratic
Answer: B. Servant leadership is grounded in empathy, humility, stewardship, and growth.
The leader prioritizes the needs of others .
8. A nurse manager adjusts their leadership approach based on the experience level
of each staff member. Which leadership theory is this?
, A. Transformational leadership
B. Situational leadership
C. Transactional leadership
D. Servant leadership
Answer: B. Situational leadership involves adapting the leadership style based on the
readiness and experience of the team members .
9. Which of the following is a characteristic of a transformational leader?
A. Inspires self with a vision
B. Identifies common values
C. Has a long-term vision
D. Is a caretaker
Answer: B. A transformational leader identifies common values, inspires OTHERS with a
vision (not self), and has a long-term vision. A caretaker is a transactional leader .
10. A nurse manager who encourages staff participation in decision-making and
focuses on relationship building is demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
Answer: B. Democratic leadership involves staff in decision-making and emphasizes
communication and collaboration .
11. A nurse leader who focuses on rewards and discipline, and intervenes only when
errors occur, is demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Transformational
Answers & Explanations | Latest 2026 Chamberlain
Collaborative Healthcare Prep Guide
SECTION 1: LEADERSHIP STYLES & THEORIES (Questions 1–40)
1. A nurse manager makes all decisions independently, motivates staff through
coercion, and communicates only down the chain of command. This leadership style
is best described as:
A. Democratic leadership
B. Laissez-faire leadership
C. Autocratic/Authoritative leadership
D. Transformational leadership
Answer: C. An autocratic leader makes decisions for the group, motivates by coercion, and
communication flows downward through the chain of command. Work output is usually high,
making this style effective for crisis situations and bureaucratic settings .
2. A nurse manager includes the group when decisions are made, motivates by
supporting staff achievements, and communication occurs both up and down the
chain of command. Which leadership style is the nurse manager demonstrating?
A. Authoritative
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
,Answer: B. Democratic leadership includes the group in decision-making, motivates by
supporting staff achievements, and encourages communication both up and down the chain
of command .
3. A nurse leader who inspires followers with a vision, identifies common values, and
has a long-term vision is demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Transactional leadership
B. Autocratic leadership
C. Transformational leadership
D. Laissez-faire leadership
Answer: C. Transformational leadership leads followers to levels of higher moral and
motivation. Transformational leaders inspire others with a vision (not self), identify common
values, and have a long-term vision .
4. A nurse manager uses a leadership style that makes few decisions and gives staff
complete freedom. Which style is this?
A. Democratic
B. Autocratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transformational
Answer: C. Laissez-faire leadership is permissive, with little or no control. The leader makes
few decisions and gives the group complete freedom. This style is effective with highly
motivated, experienced professionals but can lead to chaos with inexperienced staff .
5. A nurse manager motivates staff by offering rewards for meeting goals and
punishes those who do not meet expectations. Which leadership style is being used?
A. Transformational
,B. Transactional
C. Democratic
D. Servant
Answer: B. Transactional leadership is based on a system of rewards and punishments.
The leader focuses on the exchange between leader and follower—rewards for meeting
expectations and consequences for failing to meet them .
6. A nurse is described as a leader who is a "caretaker" and maintains the status quo
rather than inspiring change. Which type of leader is this?
A. Transformational leader
B. Democratic leader
C. Transactional leader
D. Laissez-faire leader
Answer: C. Transactional leaders are often described as "caretakers" who maintain the
status quo rather than inspiring change .
7. A nurse leader focuses on serving others first, emphasizing empathy, humility, and
stewardship. Which leadership style is this?
A. Transformational
B. Servant
C. Transactional
D. Autocratic
Answer: B. Servant leadership is grounded in empathy, humility, stewardship, and growth.
The leader prioritizes the needs of others .
8. A nurse manager adjusts their leadership approach based on the experience level
of each staff member. Which leadership theory is this?
, A. Transformational leadership
B. Situational leadership
C. Transactional leadership
D. Servant leadership
Answer: B. Situational leadership involves adapting the leadership style based on the
readiness and experience of the team members .
9. Which of the following is a characteristic of a transformational leader?
A. Inspires self with a vision
B. Identifies common values
C. Has a long-term vision
D. Is a caretaker
Answer: B. A transformational leader identifies common values, inspires OTHERS with a
vision (not self), and has a long-term vision. A caretaker is a transactional leader .
10. A nurse manager who encourages staff participation in decision-making and
focuses on relationship building is demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
Answer: B. Democratic leadership involves staff in decision-making and emphasizes
communication and collaboration .
11. A nurse leader who focuses on rewards and discipline, and intervenes only when
errors occur, is demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Transformational
