CNML & NE-BC Review Exam Questions
With Answers
What is Transformational Leadership? - ANSWER Transformational leaders focus on
change and practice things like providing employees with a voice in order to participate
in the change.
What is a transactional leader? - ANSWER Transactional leaders focus primarily on
tasks like the budget, staffing, and day-to-day operations.
What are the key factors to employee satisfaction? - ANSWER * Having friends at work
* Someone care about the employee as a person
* Working for an organization whose values are compatible with yours
* Being given assignments based on your strengths
What is Shared Governance? - ANSWER a system for providing employees with
opportunities for input through an organized democratic process where each unit is
represented
When should an employee be disciplined for lateness? - ANSWER Following the
organizational policy the employee should be notified of any infraction as soon as
possible after the event.
What is the main responsibility of management? - ANSWER to supervise employees,
assure patient safety, monitor the budget, and ensure that the policies and procedures
of the organization are adhered to.
What should the nurse manager's responsibility be in terms of doing direct care? -
ANSWER The nurse manager's number one responsibility is to run the unit. In a crisis
situation the nurse manager should help out but it should not become a routine.
What is the best way to implement a policy change such as a dress code. - ANSWER The
best way to implement any policy change is to have the users involved in the decision to
some extent. Involving known complainers in the design process is a good way to
identify the potential opposition to a new policy
What are 5 Ways people react to change in Rogers Stages of Innovation Model? -
ANSWER * Innovators (2.5%) - Risk takers who are not afraid to fail & are implementers
of the change
* Early Adopters (13.5%) - Less cautious about change and adopt early. They are often
highly opinionated and can influence others to change
,* Early Majority (34%) - Adopt to change after they have some time to see the early
adopters success
* Late Majority (34%) - Skeptics, they need to see a lot of evidence before adopting the
change
* Laggards (16%) - Stick to tried and true methods. They may never accept the change.
What is Positive Deviance Approach to Change? - ANSWER Involves leadership looking
for change from the group, rather than leading the group. Real change begins from the
inside.
What are the stages of Rogers Diffusion of Innovation Theory? - ANSWER 1.
Agenda-Setting a perceived need for innovation
2. Matching-fitting a problem with the innovation
3. Redefining/Restructuring - innovation is modified to fit the organizations needs
4. Clarifying - the relationship between the organization and the innovation is better
defined
5. Routinizing - innovation becomes part of the organization's activities and no longer
labeled as an innovation
Describe Circle of Influence. - ANSWER Covey (1990) suggested our lives are covered
by two circles: a larger circle of everything your could possibly be concerned about,
and a smaller inner circle of things you can influence. He suggested that when we focus
on things and people we can influence our circle of influence gets larger. Focusing on
your circle of concern can lead to frustration, as these are things you cannot influence.
Focusing on your circle of concern can also reduce your circle of influence as you are
not paying attention to things and people you can influence.
Should the charge nurse take a regular patient assignment if the unit is short staffed? -
ANSWER The charge nurse, like the manager is assigned the duty of leading the unit.
Since that is the primary role, all options for staffing should be explored before taking an
assignment. If the charge nurse takes a full patient assignment, it means nobody is
leading the unit, which could be a problem if a crisis occurs, at which point the charge
nurse would either be distracted from the crisis or be distracted from caring for her
patient assignment. There are certain cases where the only solution is for the charge
nurse to take an assignment. Ideally it should not be a full assignment so there is still
time to lead the unit.
What is the best way to provide a new charge nurse with experience? - ANSWER The
best way to provide a new charge nurse with experience is to partner him or her with an
experienced charge nurse and put them in charge. That way the experienced charge
nurse can provide them with direction and coaching in the actual charge nurse role.
Shouldn't the most experienced staff member be the one in charge? - ANSWER Actually
, it is the most effective to make assignments based on employee strength and interest
(Rath,2007) You cultivate leaders by allowing the nurse with the interest in leading to
lead.
Define Leadership. - ANSWER Leadership is the art and science of providing direction,
inspiration, and goals to a team by providing vision, guidance, and holding them
accountable for outcomes
Define Management. - ANSWER Management and leadership are terms that are often
used interchangeably, however management is differentiated as tending to specific
tasks such as the budget, staffing, policies, procedures, and supplies. It is often said,
you lead people and manage things. See transactional leadership.
How do you learn to be a leader? - ANSWER The best way is to work with a mentor to
develop a personal growth plan that uses textbooks, evidence based leadership
literature, attend leadership workshops and apply learning to action learning
experiences such as working as a charge nurse, observing good leaders, and attending
graduate school as a leadership major.
What type of leadership is Shared Governance? - ANSWER Participative Democracy
Define Autocratic Leadership. - ANSWER Autocratic leadership is one person in charge
who makes all or most of the decisions. It is generally not regarded as an effective
approach because it does not leave the workers feeling like they have a voice in
decisions and generally the leader does not have all the answers. There are situations
where autocratic leadership is effective such as a crisis or emergency, where timely
decisions need to be made.
What is Laissez-faire leadership? - ANSWER a delegate style in which the leader
provides little input and allows the group members to make the decisions. Research has
shown this still is often ineffective because groups need a combination of direction and
coaching depending on their stage of development with particular situation or task. See
situational leadership.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act? - ANSWER It sets the minimum wage; established
rules for over time pay after non-exempt employees have worked 40 hours; and sets
standards for how old you must be to be able to work.
What are you not allowed to do as a nurse manager if there is union-organizing activity
going on? - ANSWER According to the National Labor Relations Board regulations, as a
manager you may not:
* Give an unplanned salary increase to your staff while the union organizing activities
are taking place
* Offer additional benefits like improved health insurance coverage, tuition
reimbursement, or opening a day care center to entice employees not to join the union
* Prohibit the union-organizers from collecting union authorization cards
With Answers
What is Transformational Leadership? - ANSWER Transformational leaders focus on
change and practice things like providing employees with a voice in order to participate
in the change.
What is a transactional leader? - ANSWER Transactional leaders focus primarily on
tasks like the budget, staffing, and day-to-day operations.
What are the key factors to employee satisfaction? - ANSWER * Having friends at work
* Someone care about the employee as a person
* Working for an organization whose values are compatible with yours
* Being given assignments based on your strengths
What is Shared Governance? - ANSWER a system for providing employees with
opportunities for input through an organized democratic process where each unit is
represented
When should an employee be disciplined for lateness? - ANSWER Following the
organizational policy the employee should be notified of any infraction as soon as
possible after the event.
What is the main responsibility of management? - ANSWER to supervise employees,
assure patient safety, monitor the budget, and ensure that the policies and procedures
of the organization are adhered to.
What should the nurse manager's responsibility be in terms of doing direct care? -
ANSWER The nurse manager's number one responsibility is to run the unit. In a crisis
situation the nurse manager should help out but it should not become a routine.
What is the best way to implement a policy change such as a dress code. - ANSWER The
best way to implement any policy change is to have the users involved in the decision to
some extent. Involving known complainers in the design process is a good way to
identify the potential opposition to a new policy
What are 5 Ways people react to change in Rogers Stages of Innovation Model? -
ANSWER * Innovators (2.5%) - Risk takers who are not afraid to fail & are implementers
of the change
* Early Adopters (13.5%) - Less cautious about change and adopt early. They are often
highly opinionated and can influence others to change
,* Early Majority (34%) - Adopt to change after they have some time to see the early
adopters success
* Late Majority (34%) - Skeptics, they need to see a lot of evidence before adopting the
change
* Laggards (16%) - Stick to tried and true methods. They may never accept the change.
What is Positive Deviance Approach to Change? - ANSWER Involves leadership looking
for change from the group, rather than leading the group. Real change begins from the
inside.
What are the stages of Rogers Diffusion of Innovation Theory? - ANSWER 1.
Agenda-Setting a perceived need for innovation
2. Matching-fitting a problem with the innovation
3. Redefining/Restructuring - innovation is modified to fit the organizations needs
4. Clarifying - the relationship between the organization and the innovation is better
defined
5. Routinizing - innovation becomes part of the organization's activities and no longer
labeled as an innovation
Describe Circle of Influence. - ANSWER Covey (1990) suggested our lives are covered
by two circles: a larger circle of everything your could possibly be concerned about,
and a smaller inner circle of things you can influence. He suggested that when we focus
on things and people we can influence our circle of influence gets larger. Focusing on
your circle of concern can lead to frustration, as these are things you cannot influence.
Focusing on your circle of concern can also reduce your circle of influence as you are
not paying attention to things and people you can influence.
Should the charge nurse take a regular patient assignment if the unit is short staffed? -
ANSWER The charge nurse, like the manager is assigned the duty of leading the unit.
Since that is the primary role, all options for staffing should be explored before taking an
assignment. If the charge nurse takes a full patient assignment, it means nobody is
leading the unit, which could be a problem if a crisis occurs, at which point the charge
nurse would either be distracted from the crisis or be distracted from caring for her
patient assignment. There are certain cases where the only solution is for the charge
nurse to take an assignment. Ideally it should not be a full assignment so there is still
time to lead the unit.
What is the best way to provide a new charge nurse with experience? - ANSWER The
best way to provide a new charge nurse with experience is to partner him or her with an
experienced charge nurse and put them in charge. That way the experienced charge
nurse can provide them with direction and coaching in the actual charge nurse role.
Shouldn't the most experienced staff member be the one in charge? - ANSWER Actually
, it is the most effective to make assignments based on employee strength and interest
(Rath,2007) You cultivate leaders by allowing the nurse with the interest in leading to
lead.
Define Leadership. - ANSWER Leadership is the art and science of providing direction,
inspiration, and goals to a team by providing vision, guidance, and holding them
accountable for outcomes
Define Management. - ANSWER Management and leadership are terms that are often
used interchangeably, however management is differentiated as tending to specific
tasks such as the budget, staffing, policies, procedures, and supplies. It is often said,
you lead people and manage things. See transactional leadership.
How do you learn to be a leader? - ANSWER The best way is to work with a mentor to
develop a personal growth plan that uses textbooks, evidence based leadership
literature, attend leadership workshops and apply learning to action learning
experiences such as working as a charge nurse, observing good leaders, and attending
graduate school as a leadership major.
What type of leadership is Shared Governance? - ANSWER Participative Democracy
Define Autocratic Leadership. - ANSWER Autocratic leadership is one person in charge
who makes all or most of the decisions. It is generally not regarded as an effective
approach because it does not leave the workers feeling like they have a voice in
decisions and generally the leader does not have all the answers. There are situations
where autocratic leadership is effective such as a crisis or emergency, where timely
decisions need to be made.
What is Laissez-faire leadership? - ANSWER a delegate style in which the leader
provides little input and allows the group members to make the decisions. Research has
shown this still is often ineffective because groups need a combination of direction and
coaching depending on their stage of development with particular situation or task. See
situational leadership.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act? - ANSWER It sets the minimum wage; established
rules for over time pay after non-exempt employees have worked 40 hours; and sets
standards for how old you must be to be able to work.
What are you not allowed to do as a nurse manager if there is union-organizing activity
going on? - ANSWER According to the National Labor Relations Board regulations, as a
manager you may not:
* Give an unplanned salary increase to your staff while the union organizing activities
are taking place
* Offer additional benefits like improved health insurance coverage, tuition
reimbursement, or opening a day care center to entice employees not to join the union
* Prohibit the union-organizers from collecting union authorization cards
