NUR 4590 / NUR4590 Exam 1: Professional Identity of
the Nurse Leader | ACTUAL EXAM | Questions &
Verified Answers | Latest Update –
Rasmussen University
1. A unit director is revising the shared governance structure. Which action best
demonstrates the professional identity of a nurse leader as defined by the
American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)?
A. Requiring all staff to vote on policy changes without discussion
B. Delegating all governance decisions to the Chief Medical Officer
C. Creating councils that empower direct-care nurses to influence quality and safety
outcomes
D. Posting new policies on the bulletin board and expecting automatic compliance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: AONL emphasizes that nurse leaders create systems that empower nurses to
influence outcomes (C). Voting without discussion (A) is superficial engagement.
Delegating to a non-nurse (B) erodes nursing autonomy. Passive posting (D) ignores
collaborative leadership.
, 2. Which leadership theory is most closely aligned with the nurse leader’s role in
mentoring new managers toward self-actualization?
A. Transactional leadership
B. Transformational leadership
C. Laissez-faire leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transformational leadership (B) inspires followers to reach higher levels of
motivation and self-actualization. Transactional (A) relies on rewards and corrections.
Laissez-faire (C) offers little guidance. Bureaucratic (D) focuses on rules rather than
growth.
3. A nurse leader discovers that a newly hired RN has documented a physical
assessment without performing it. According to the ANA Code of Ethics, which
value is primarily violated?
A. Accountability
B. Advocacy
C. Altruism
,D. Autonomy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Documenting care not performed breaches accountability (provision 4).
Advocacy (B) relates to patient protection. Altruism (C) is selfless service. Autonomy
(D) is patient self-determination.
4. Which statement best illustrates systems thinking by a nurse leader?
A. “Staffing shortages are solely a hospital finance problem.”
B. “We need to analyze how discharge delays ripple through ED boarding and
readmission rates.”
C. “Let’s hire more nurses and ignore other factors.”
D. “Individual nurses should work harder to complete tasks on time.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Systems thinking examines interdependencies across units (B). Blaming
finance (A), hiring alone (C), or individual effort (D) are linear, siloed views.
5. During contract negotiations, the nurse executive emphasizes shared governance,
professional development, and safe staffing. This approach reflects which
leadership framework?
, A. Servant leadership
B. Quantum leadership
C. Contingency theory
D. Great Man theory
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Servant leadership (A) prioritizes follower growth and well-being. Quantum
(B) focuses on uncertainty and complexity. Contingency (C) matches style to situation.
Great Man (D) is trait-based and outdated.
6. A nurse manager implements a policy allowing nurses to request flexible
schedules to pursue graduate education. Which professional identity attribute is
promoted?
A. Lifelong learning
B. Economic exploitation
C. Passive followership
D. Short-term task focus
Correct Answer: A
the Nurse Leader | ACTUAL EXAM | Questions &
Verified Answers | Latest Update –
Rasmussen University
1. A unit director is revising the shared governance structure. Which action best
demonstrates the professional identity of a nurse leader as defined by the
American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)?
A. Requiring all staff to vote on policy changes without discussion
B. Delegating all governance decisions to the Chief Medical Officer
C. Creating councils that empower direct-care nurses to influence quality and safety
outcomes
D. Posting new policies on the bulletin board and expecting automatic compliance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: AONL emphasizes that nurse leaders create systems that empower nurses to
influence outcomes (C). Voting without discussion (A) is superficial engagement.
Delegating to a non-nurse (B) erodes nursing autonomy. Passive posting (D) ignores
collaborative leadership.
, 2. Which leadership theory is most closely aligned with the nurse leader’s role in
mentoring new managers toward self-actualization?
A. Transactional leadership
B. Transformational leadership
C. Laissez-faire leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transformational leadership (B) inspires followers to reach higher levels of
motivation and self-actualization. Transactional (A) relies on rewards and corrections.
Laissez-faire (C) offers little guidance. Bureaucratic (D) focuses on rules rather than
growth.
3. A nurse leader discovers that a newly hired RN has documented a physical
assessment without performing it. According to the ANA Code of Ethics, which
value is primarily violated?
A. Accountability
B. Advocacy
C. Altruism
,D. Autonomy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Documenting care not performed breaches accountability (provision 4).
Advocacy (B) relates to patient protection. Altruism (C) is selfless service. Autonomy
(D) is patient self-determination.
4. Which statement best illustrates systems thinking by a nurse leader?
A. “Staffing shortages are solely a hospital finance problem.”
B. “We need to analyze how discharge delays ripple through ED boarding and
readmission rates.”
C. “Let’s hire more nurses and ignore other factors.”
D. “Individual nurses should work harder to complete tasks on time.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Systems thinking examines interdependencies across units (B). Blaming
finance (A), hiring alone (C), or individual effort (D) are linear, siloed views.
5. During contract negotiations, the nurse executive emphasizes shared governance,
professional development, and safe staffing. This approach reflects which
leadership framework?
, A. Servant leadership
B. Quantum leadership
C. Contingency theory
D. Great Man theory
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Servant leadership (A) prioritizes follower growth and well-being. Quantum
(B) focuses on uncertainty and complexity. Contingency (C) matches style to situation.
Great Man (D) is trait-based and outdated.
6. A nurse manager implements a policy allowing nurses to request flexible
schedules to pursue graduate education. Which professional identity attribute is
promoted?
A. Lifelong learning
B. Economic exploitation
C. Passive followership
D. Short-term task focus
Correct Answer: A
