NURS 200 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED AND THE
LATEST SERIES
what is the analogy of the iceberg when referring to systems thinking?
Ans: - only 10% of the structure is visible
- enables us to use different lenses to view the system and expand our perspectives
to include various patterns, structures, or events that may cause a critical event to
occur
Question: what are the four components of the iceberg analogy?
Ans: 1. the events level/observable variables: (how we perceive the
world/situations)
2. the patterns of behaviour level: noticing patterns/trends - similar events taking
place over time -> forecast and forestall events
3. the structure level: whats causing the pattern? what are the interrelationships?
(e.g. structures, physical things, organizations, policies, rituals, or habitual
behaviours
4. the mental model level: assumptions, attitudes, beliefs, expectations, values, etc.
that shape an individuals perception. Learned over time, often subconsciously
Question: what is systems thinking?
Ans: - understanding systems by examining the linkages and interactions
between the elements that compose the entirety of the system
- enables you to recognize the full context within which patients exist
Question: what is the general systems theory?
,Ans: - created by Bertalanffy in 1968
- as system is a set of interrelated interacting parts within a boundary
- a system has a purpose, structure and function
- as a result of the interrelationships, a system is more than the sum of its parts
Question: what is the study of complexity science?
Ans: - the study of complex systems
- the patterns of relationships within them, how they are sustained, how they self-
organize, and how outcomes emerge
Question: What is systems thinking in healthcare?
Ans: - healthcare is full of complex challenges, often their origins are not in a
single cause or problem but rather in multiple causes across a system
- an approach to tackling healthcare problems to achieve better outcomes, reduce
complexities, minimize errors and variations in practice
- provides science, theory, knowledge and skills needed to see interrelationships,
patterns of change, structures, and processes underlying patient scenarios
- provides strategies and tools to help: recognize different perspectives, identify
structural and functional relationships, drivers of change, change processes,
recognize the impact of environmental and social factors on patients
Question: why is healthcare considered a complex system?
Ans: - due to the interconnections between and among systems
- multiple actors, agents, stakeholders including: professionals, healthcare teams,
patients + families, technologies, suppliers, etc.
- all contribute to the complexity
Question: what are the 12 social determinants of health?
,Ans: 1. income and social status
2. employment and working conditions
3. education and literacy
4. childhood experiences
5. physical environments
6. social supports and coping skills
7. healthy behaviours
8. access to health services
9. biology and genetic endowment
10. gender
11. culture
12. race / racism
Question: Why is healthcare considered a complex ADAPTIVE system?
Ans: - characterized by uncertainty and complexity
- delivering and receiving healthcare are not always predictable and tend to
change both due to changes within and outside their environment
- all agents in this system learn and change because of their experiences
- human behaviour
- a great variety of system design which has a strong influence on human behaviour
Question: recognizing the full context in healthcare means what?
, Ans: - engage effectively in interacting with the healthcare system on multiple
levels
- see and anticipate interrelationships between and among systems
- understand how interactions and our decisions impact organizational and patient
health outcomes (i.e. quality, efficiency, cost)
- reinforces nurses roles in safety and quality improvement
- promote patient centred care and evidence-based practice
Question: overall how does systems thinking improve leadership in healthcare?
Ans: - helps individuals understand complexity science and employing a systems
thinking approach to provide system-based practice as opposed to treating
individual patients or diseases
Question: what does micro refer to in systems thinking?
Ans: - specific patients and care teams
Question: what does meso refer to in systems thinking?
Ans: - the organization where care takes place
Question: what does macro refer to in systems thinking?
Ans: - the healthcare systems and the broader societal issues
Question: what does systems thinking require?
Ans: - curiosity, intentionality, and the ability to question
Question: examples of how systems thinkers would think
CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED AND THE
LATEST SERIES
what is the analogy of the iceberg when referring to systems thinking?
Ans: - only 10% of the structure is visible
- enables us to use different lenses to view the system and expand our perspectives
to include various patterns, structures, or events that may cause a critical event to
occur
Question: what are the four components of the iceberg analogy?
Ans: 1. the events level/observable variables: (how we perceive the
world/situations)
2. the patterns of behaviour level: noticing patterns/trends - similar events taking
place over time -> forecast and forestall events
3. the structure level: whats causing the pattern? what are the interrelationships?
(e.g. structures, physical things, organizations, policies, rituals, or habitual
behaviours
4. the mental model level: assumptions, attitudes, beliefs, expectations, values, etc.
that shape an individuals perception. Learned over time, often subconsciously
Question: what is systems thinking?
Ans: - understanding systems by examining the linkages and interactions
between the elements that compose the entirety of the system
- enables you to recognize the full context within which patients exist
Question: what is the general systems theory?
,Ans: - created by Bertalanffy in 1968
- as system is a set of interrelated interacting parts within a boundary
- a system has a purpose, structure and function
- as a result of the interrelationships, a system is more than the sum of its parts
Question: what is the study of complexity science?
Ans: - the study of complex systems
- the patterns of relationships within them, how they are sustained, how they self-
organize, and how outcomes emerge
Question: What is systems thinking in healthcare?
Ans: - healthcare is full of complex challenges, often their origins are not in a
single cause or problem but rather in multiple causes across a system
- an approach to tackling healthcare problems to achieve better outcomes, reduce
complexities, minimize errors and variations in practice
- provides science, theory, knowledge and skills needed to see interrelationships,
patterns of change, structures, and processes underlying patient scenarios
- provides strategies and tools to help: recognize different perspectives, identify
structural and functional relationships, drivers of change, change processes,
recognize the impact of environmental and social factors on patients
Question: why is healthcare considered a complex system?
Ans: - due to the interconnections between and among systems
- multiple actors, agents, stakeholders including: professionals, healthcare teams,
patients + families, technologies, suppliers, etc.
- all contribute to the complexity
Question: what are the 12 social determinants of health?
,Ans: 1. income and social status
2. employment and working conditions
3. education and literacy
4. childhood experiences
5. physical environments
6. social supports and coping skills
7. healthy behaviours
8. access to health services
9. biology and genetic endowment
10. gender
11. culture
12. race / racism
Question: Why is healthcare considered a complex ADAPTIVE system?
Ans: - characterized by uncertainty and complexity
- delivering and receiving healthcare are not always predictable and tend to
change both due to changes within and outside their environment
- all agents in this system learn and change because of their experiences
- human behaviour
- a great variety of system design which has a strong influence on human behaviour
Question: recognizing the full context in healthcare means what?
, Ans: - engage effectively in interacting with the healthcare system on multiple
levels
- see and anticipate interrelationships between and among systems
- understand how interactions and our decisions impact organizational and patient
health outcomes (i.e. quality, efficiency, cost)
- reinforces nurses roles in safety and quality improvement
- promote patient centred care and evidence-based practice
Question: overall how does systems thinking improve leadership in healthcare?
Ans: - helps individuals understand complexity science and employing a systems
thinking approach to provide system-based practice as opposed to treating
individual patients or diseases
Question: what does micro refer to in systems thinking?
Ans: - specific patients and care teams
Question: what does meso refer to in systems thinking?
Ans: - the organization where care takes place
Question: what does macro refer to in systems thinking?
Ans: - the healthcare systems and the broader societal issues
Question: what does systems thinking require?
Ans: - curiosity, intentionality, and the ability to question
Question: examples of how systems thinkers would think
