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APUS NURS 450 Midterm Focused Practice Leadership Styles, Management Functions,
Delegation, and HROs Questions with Correct Answers and Rationales
Question 1
Which leadership style focuses on exchanging rewards for
performance and managing by exception?
A. Transformational
B. Transactional
C. Democratic
D. Laissez-faire
Answer: B
Rationale: Transactional leaders use rewards and corrective
actions to achieve compliance and performance.
Transformational leaders inspire and empower.
Question 2
A nurse leader who inspires staff to exceed expectations, fosters
innovation, and mentors individuals is using which style?
A. Transactional
B. Transformational
C. Autocratic
D. Bureaucratic
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Answer: B
Rationale: Transformational leadership involves inspirational
motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized
consideration.
Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic of a transactional
leader?
A. Focuses on vision and empowerment
B. Uses contingent rewards and management by exception
C. Avoids decision-making
D. Encourages shared governance only
Answer: B
Rationale: Transactional leaders rely on contingent rewards,
active/passive management by exception, and task-oriented
exchanges.
Question 4
A nurse manager makes all decisions without staff input,
especially during a crisis. This is an example of which leadership
style?
A. Democratic
B. Laissez-faire
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C. Autocratic
D. Transformational
Answer: C
Rationale: Autocratic leadership involves unilateral decision-
making; appropriate in emergencies but may reduce morale if
overused.
Question 5
Which leadership style provides minimal guidance and allows
staff significant autonomy?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
Answer: C
Rationale: Laissez-faire leaders delegate decision-making to the
group; may work with highly skilled, self-directed teams.
Question 6
A nurse leader involves staff in decisions and seeks consensus.
This reflects which style?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
APUS NURS 450 Midterm Focused Practice Leadership Styles, Management Functions,
Delegation, and HROs Questions with Correct Answers and Rationales
Question 1
Which leadership style focuses on exchanging rewards for
performance and managing by exception?
A. Transformational
B. Transactional
C. Democratic
D. Laissez-faire
Answer: B
Rationale: Transactional leaders use rewards and corrective
actions to achieve compliance and performance.
Transformational leaders inspire and empower.
Question 2
A nurse leader who inspires staff to exceed expectations, fosters
innovation, and mentors individuals is using which style?
A. Transactional
B. Transformational
C. Autocratic
D. Bureaucratic
, Page |2
Answer: B
Rationale: Transformational leadership involves inspirational
motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized
consideration.
Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic of a transactional
leader?
A. Focuses on vision and empowerment
B. Uses contingent rewards and management by exception
C. Avoids decision-making
D. Encourages shared governance only
Answer: B
Rationale: Transactional leaders rely on contingent rewards,
active/passive management by exception, and task-oriented
exchanges.
Question 4
A nurse manager makes all decisions without staff input,
especially during a crisis. This is an example of which leadership
style?
A. Democratic
B. Laissez-faire
, Page |3
C. Autocratic
D. Transformational
Answer: C
Rationale: Autocratic leadership involves unilateral decision-
making; appropriate in emergencies but may reduce morale if
overused.
Question 5
Which leadership style provides minimal guidance and allows
staff significant autonomy?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
Answer: C
Rationale: Laissez-faire leaders delegate decision-making to the
group; may work with highly skilled, self-directed teams.
Question 6
A nurse leader involves staff in decisions and seeks consensus.
This reflects which style?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
