Chapter 12: Organizational Structure
Huber: Leadership & Nursing Care Management, 6th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following factors influences the structure of an organization?
a. Age of the building
b. Brand of computer system
c. Number of employees
d. Square footage of the facility
ANS: C
The number of employees influences the structure of an organization. Organizational structure
is a consequence of both the division of and the coordination of labor, which results in a
formal set of interrelated and interdependent roles and work groups.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
2. Within nursing practice, the use of advanced practice roles is an example of: a. cross-training.
b. departmentalization.
c. fragmentation.
d. specialization.
ANS: D
In health care, specialist roles have emerged to address the increasing complexities of care and
technology. Within nursing, specialist roles have also evolved to address particular areas of
nursing practice and include advanced practice roles such as clinical nurse educators, nurse
practitioners, and nurse anesthetists.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. The nursing chief executive officer (CEO) works in a major rehabilitation and subacute facility
network. Her span of control refers to the number of: a. miles in which the network resides.
b. ancillary staff accountable to her.
c. nurses and non-nurses reporting to her.
d. inpatients that the facilities service.
.
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ANS: C
Span of control refers to the number of nurses and non-nurses reporting to a manager.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. A nurse manager is responsible for a unit consisting of 40 nurses who report to two clinical
supervisors. In addition, there are 10 support staff who report to an administrative supervisor.
The subordinates reporting to this manager are known as which dimension of organizational
design?
a. Division of labor
b. Hierarchy
c. Span of control
d. Decentralization
ANS: C
Span of control is the number of subordinates a manager can efficiently and effectively direct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC:
Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
5. A staff nurse has been working in the neonatal critical care unit for 10 years. She believes that a
professional nurse is a lifelong learner. Many staff members come to her for clinical problem
solving and advice. This nurse has: a. decisional authority.
b. formal power.
c. informal power.
d. quantum authority.
ANS: C
This nurse has informal power. She is a staff nurse with a great amount of expertise, with
many relationships and alliances in the organization.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
6. An organizational chart with one line of management and one line of staff reflects which of the
following types of organizational structures? a. Authoritarian structure
b. Flat structure
c. Power structure
d. Vertical structure
.