ATI RN Leadership 2026 – 150-Question NGN
Practice Exam
Section I: Leadership Styles and Theories (1–15)
1. A nurse manager who uses coercion and threats to achieve compliance is demonstrating
which leadership style?
A. Democratic
B. Coercive
C. Transformational
D. Servant
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coercive leadership uses threats and punishment to achieve compliance and is
generally ineffective in healthcare settings.
2. A nurse manager who sets high performance standards and leads by example is
demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Pacesetting
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Coaching
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pacesetting leaders set high standards and lead by example, but this style can
overwhelm staff if overused.
3. A nurse manager who focuses on developing staff skills and providing feedback is
demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Coercive
B. Coaching
C. Autocratic
D. Laissez-faire
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coaching leaders focus on developing staff skills through feedback and
encouragement.
,4. A nurse manager who builds consensus and collaboration among staff is demonstrating
which leadership style?
A. Democratic
B. Coercive
C. Pacesetting
D. Autocratic
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Democratic leaders build consensus and encourage collaboration.
5. Which leadership style is most effective for building long-term staff engagement?
A. Coercive
B. Authoritative
C. Democratic
D. Laissez-faire
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Democratic leadership fosters engagement by involving staff in decision-making.
6. A nurse manager who provides a clear vision and direction is demonstrating which leadership
style?
A. Authoritative
B. Coercive
C. Laissez-faire
D. Pacesetting
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Authoritative leaders provide a clear vision and direction.
7. Which of the following is a characteristic of emotional intelligence?
A. Self-awareness
B. Self-regulation
C. Empathy
D. All of the above
, Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Emotional intelligence includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation,
empathy, and social skills.
8. A nurse manager who recognizes and manages their own emotions is demonstrating which
component of emotional intelligence?
A. Self-awareness
B. Empathy
C. Social skills
D. Motivation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions.
9. A nurse manager who understands and responds to staff emotions is demonstrating which
component of emotional intelligence?
A. Self-regulation
B. Empathy
C. Motivation
D. Self-awareness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Empathy is the ability to understand and respond to others' emotions.
10. Which leadership theory emphasizes that leaders can be developed through education and
experience?
A. Trait theory
B. Behavioral theory
C. Great man theory
D. Contingency theory
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Behavioral theory proposes that leadership can be learned and developed.
11. Which leadership theory emphasizes that effective leadership depends on the situation?
, A. Trait theory
B. Behavioral theory
C. Contingency theory
D. Great man theory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Contingency theory proposes that effective leadership depends on the situation
and context.
12. A nurse manager who uses reward power to influence staff is demonstrating which type of
power?
A. Legitimate
B. Reward
C. Coercive
D. Expert
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reward power is based on the ability to provide rewards.
13. A nurse manager who uses their knowledge and expertise to influence staff is
demonstrating which type of power?
A. Legitimate
B. Reward
C. Expert
D. Coercive
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Expert power is based on knowledge and expertise.
14. A nurse manager who uses their position to influence staff is demonstrating which type of
power?
A. Legitimate
B. Reward
C. Expert
D. Referent
Practice Exam
Section I: Leadership Styles and Theories (1–15)
1. A nurse manager who uses coercion and threats to achieve compliance is demonstrating
which leadership style?
A. Democratic
B. Coercive
C. Transformational
D. Servant
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coercive leadership uses threats and punishment to achieve compliance and is
generally ineffective in healthcare settings.
2. A nurse manager who sets high performance standards and leads by example is
demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Pacesetting
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Coaching
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pacesetting leaders set high standards and lead by example, but this style can
overwhelm staff if overused.
3. A nurse manager who focuses on developing staff skills and providing feedback is
demonstrating which leadership style?
A. Coercive
B. Coaching
C. Autocratic
D. Laissez-faire
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coaching leaders focus on developing staff skills through feedback and
encouragement.
,4. A nurse manager who builds consensus and collaboration among staff is demonstrating
which leadership style?
A. Democratic
B. Coercive
C. Pacesetting
D. Autocratic
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Democratic leaders build consensus and encourage collaboration.
5. Which leadership style is most effective for building long-term staff engagement?
A. Coercive
B. Authoritative
C. Democratic
D. Laissez-faire
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Democratic leadership fosters engagement by involving staff in decision-making.
6. A nurse manager who provides a clear vision and direction is demonstrating which leadership
style?
A. Authoritative
B. Coercive
C. Laissez-faire
D. Pacesetting
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Authoritative leaders provide a clear vision and direction.
7. Which of the following is a characteristic of emotional intelligence?
A. Self-awareness
B. Self-regulation
C. Empathy
D. All of the above
, Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Emotional intelligence includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation,
empathy, and social skills.
8. A nurse manager who recognizes and manages their own emotions is demonstrating which
component of emotional intelligence?
A. Self-awareness
B. Empathy
C. Social skills
D. Motivation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions.
9. A nurse manager who understands and responds to staff emotions is demonstrating which
component of emotional intelligence?
A. Self-regulation
B. Empathy
C. Motivation
D. Self-awareness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Empathy is the ability to understand and respond to others' emotions.
10. Which leadership theory emphasizes that leaders can be developed through education and
experience?
A. Trait theory
B. Behavioral theory
C. Great man theory
D. Contingency theory
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Behavioral theory proposes that leadership can be learned and developed.
11. Which leadership theory emphasizes that effective leadership depends on the situation?
, A. Trait theory
B. Behavioral theory
C. Contingency theory
D. Great man theory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Contingency theory proposes that effective leadership depends on the situation
and context.
12. A nurse manager who uses reward power to influence staff is demonstrating which type of
power?
A. Legitimate
B. Reward
C. Coercive
D. Expert
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reward power is based on the ability to provide rewards.
13. A nurse manager who uses their knowledge and expertise to influence staff is
demonstrating which type of power?
A. Legitimate
B. Reward
C. Expert
D. Coercive
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Expert power is based on knowledge and expertise.
14. A nurse manager who uses their position to influence staff is demonstrating which type of
power?
A. Legitimate
B. Reward
C. Expert
D. Referent
