Chapter 15: Making Decisions and Solving Problems Yoder-Wise: Leading and Managing in Nursing, 7th Edition | Questions and Answers(A+ Solution guide)

Chapter 15: Making Decisions and Solving Problems Yoder -Wise: Leading and Managing in Nursing, 7th Edition 1. The risk manager informs the nurse manager of an orthopedic unit that her unit has had an increase in incident reports related to patients f alling during the 11 -7 shift. The nurse manager knows that the best way to resolve the problem is to: a. use creativity. b. obtain support from the 7 -3 shift. c. use institutional research. d. identify the problem. - ✔✔ANS: D Identification of a problem is the first step in problem solving and occurs before any other step. The most common cause for failure to resolve problems is the improper identification of the problem/issue; therefore, problem recognition and identification are considered the most vital steps. 2. The nurse manager of a rehab unit wants to purchase a new antiembolic stocking for use with patients. To make a high -quality decision, the nurse manager would: a. involve the rehab staff in the decision. b. involve the sales representative. c. m ake the decision alone. d. involve administration in the decision. - ✔✔ANS: A In a shared decision model, the decisions are made through an interactive, deliberate process and the staff may express and discuss options and preferences. The shared decision m odel has been shown to increase work performance and productivity, decrease employee turnover, and enhance employee satisfaction. 3. Several nurses on an adolescent psychiatric unit complain that the teens are becoming unmanageable on the 0700 -1900 shift. To resolve this problem, the nurse manager decides that the staff should have a brainstorming session. The goal of brainstorming is to: a. evaluate problem solutions. b. critique the ideas of others. c. generate as many solutions as possible. d. identify only practical and realistic ideas. - ✔✔ANS: C Brainstorming encourages creativity when one is beginning to problem -solve and avoids premature shutting down of ideas through early evaluation. The goal is to generate ideas, no matter how seemingly unrealist ic or absurd. 4. During a fire drill, several psychiatric patients become agitated. The nurse manager quickly assigns a staff member to each patient. This autocratic decision style is most appropriate for: a. routine problems. b. crisis situations. c. man agers who prefer a "telling" style. d. followers who cannot agree on a solution. - ✔✔ANS: B An autocratic style is appropriate when rapid decision making is required, such as in a crisis situation. 5. After the nurses who work on an adolescent psychiatric unit have had a brainstorming session, they are ready to resolve the problem of unmanageabl e teenage patients. To maximize group effectiveness in decision making and problem solving, the nurse manager has: a. prevented conflict. b. formed highly cohesive groups. c. used majority rule to arrive at decisions. d. encouraged equal participation amon g members. - ✔✔ANS: D Groups are more likely to be effective if members are involved, the group is cohesive, communication is encouraged, and members demonstrate some understanding of the group process. The nurse leader or manager should provide a nonthrea tening and positive environment in which group members are encouraged to participate actively. 6. To solve a problem, the nurse manager understands that the most important problem -solving step is: a. the implementation phase. b. identification of numerous solutions. c. accurate identification of the problem. d. evaluation of the effectiveness of problem resolution. - ✔✔ANS: C