ESSENTIALS OF NURSING LEADERSHIP &
MANAGEMENT
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SALLY WEISS
Ch. 1 — Characteristics of a Profession
RN-level leadership & management question stem (2–4
sentences)
A newly hired RN on a medical–surgical unit witnesses an
experienced LPN routinely performing and documenting
admission assessments that include complex nursing history
and nursing diagnoses. The RN is unsure whether to accept the
practice because the LPN has done this for years and the unit is
short-staffed. Which action best demonstrates professional
accountability?
A. Allow the LPN to continue performing admissions to maintain
unit flow and sign the chart later.
B. Review the state nurse practice act and facility policy, discuss
scope concerns with the charge nurse, and immediately
complete or reassign the assessment within RN scope.
C. Refuse to work with the LPN and report the situation to the
state board of nursing without discussing with unit leadership.
,D. Ask the LPN to perform admissions but document that the
RN verified all findings to avoid confrontation.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (3–4 sentences):
Option B shows professional accountability by consulting scope-
of-practice rules, following facility policy, communicating with
unit leadership, and ensuring patient safety by completing
assessments within RN scope. It balances ethical/legal duty
with systems awareness and appropriate escalation. This aligns
with professional responsibility described in Weiss Chapter 1.
Rationales — Incorrect:
A. (1–2 sentences) Permitting an out-of-scope practice to
continue for convenience jeopardizes patient safety and legal
accountability.
C. (1–2 sentences) Immediate external reporting without local
escalation ignores chain-of-command and misses opportunity
for corrective action.
D. (1–2 sentences) Verifying after the fact creates
documentation and delegation problems and fails to address
scope violations proactively.
Teaching point: Always act within scope, consult policy, and
escalate through appropriate leadership channels.
Citation: Weiss, S. (2024). Essentials of Nursing Leadership &
Management (8th ed.). Ch. 1.
,Ch. 1 — Characteristics of a Profession
RN-level leadership & management question stem (2–4
sentences)
A nurse educator is designing orientation modules to promote
professional socialization for new graduate RNs. Which
curriculum element most directly fosters early development of
professional identity?
A. Hands-on documentation training focused solely on the
electronic health record workflow.
B. A module that integrates the nursing code of ethics,
professional standards, and reflective practice exercises.
C. A brief session on hospital parking, payroll, and employee
benefits.
D. A single lecture on time management delivered by a non-
nurse administrator.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (3–4 sentences):
Integrating the nursing code of ethics, standards, and reflective
practice promotes internalization of professional values and
identity formation—core characteristics of a profession per
Weiss. This fosters ethical reasoning and role socialization
beyond procedural skills.
Rationales — Incorrect:
A. (1–2 sentences) EHR skills are essential but insufficient alone
for professional identity formation.
, C. (1–2 sentences) Administrative logistics are practical but do
not cultivate professional values or standards.
D. (1–2 sentences) Time management is useful; delivered by a
non-nurse in a single lecture lacks profession-specific context.
Teaching point: Teach ethics, standards, and reflection to build
professional identity.
Citation: Weiss, S. (2024). Essentials of Nursing Leadership &
Management (8th ed.). Ch. 1.
Ch. 1 — Characteristics of a Profession
RN-level leadership & management question stem (2–4
sentences)
A staff nurse is offered frequent unit-level financial incentives
for obtaining a non-clinical certification (e.g., event planning).
The nurse asks the manager whether accepting the incentives
aligns with professional stewardship. Which manager response
best reflects stewardship of the profession?
A. Encourage any certification because additional credentials
always reflect well on the organization.
B. Recommend pursuing certifications that directly enhance
nursing knowledge, scope, or patient outcomes and document
competency expectations.
C. Discourage any certification because they cost the unit
money.
MANAGEMENT
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SALLY WEISS
Ch. 1 — Characteristics of a Profession
RN-level leadership & management question stem (2–4
sentences)
A newly hired RN on a medical–surgical unit witnesses an
experienced LPN routinely performing and documenting
admission assessments that include complex nursing history
and nursing diagnoses. The RN is unsure whether to accept the
practice because the LPN has done this for years and the unit is
short-staffed. Which action best demonstrates professional
accountability?
A. Allow the LPN to continue performing admissions to maintain
unit flow and sign the chart later.
B. Review the state nurse practice act and facility policy, discuss
scope concerns with the charge nurse, and immediately
complete or reassign the assessment within RN scope.
C. Refuse to work with the LPN and report the situation to the
state board of nursing without discussing with unit leadership.
,D. Ask the LPN to perform admissions but document that the
RN verified all findings to avoid confrontation.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (3–4 sentences):
Option B shows professional accountability by consulting scope-
of-practice rules, following facility policy, communicating with
unit leadership, and ensuring patient safety by completing
assessments within RN scope. It balances ethical/legal duty
with systems awareness and appropriate escalation. This aligns
with professional responsibility described in Weiss Chapter 1.
Rationales — Incorrect:
A. (1–2 sentences) Permitting an out-of-scope practice to
continue for convenience jeopardizes patient safety and legal
accountability.
C. (1–2 sentences) Immediate external reporting without local
escalation ignores chain-of-command and misses opportunity
for corrective action.
D. (1–2 sentences) Verifying after the fact creates
documentation and delegation problems and fails to address
scope violations proactively.
Teaching point: Always act within scope, consult policy, and
escalate through appropriate leadership channels.
Citation: Weiss, S. (2024). Essentials of Nursing Leadership &
Management (8th ed.). Ch. 1.
,Ch. 1 — Characteristics of a Profession
RN-level leadership & management question stem (2–4
sentences)
A nurse educator is designing orientation modules to promote
professional socialization for new graduate RNs. Which
curriculum element most directly fosters early development of
professional identity?
A. Hands-on documentation training focused solely on the
electronic health record workflow.
B. A module that integrates the nursing code of ethics,
professional standards, and reflective practice exercises.
C. A brief session on hospital parking, payroll, and employee
benefits.
D. A single lecture on time management delivered by a non-
nurse administrator.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (3–4 sentences):
Integrating the nursing code of ethics, standards, and reflective
practice promotes internalization of professional values and
identity formation—core characteristics of a profession per
Weiss. This fosters ethical reasoning and role socialization
beyond procedural skills.
Rationales — Incorrect:
A. (1–2 sentences) EHR skills are essential but insufficient alone
for professional identity formation.
, C. (1–2 sentences) Administrative logistics are practical but do
not cultivate professional values or standards.
D. (1–2 sentences) Time management is useful; delivered by a
non-nurse in a single lecture lacks profession-specific context.
Teaching point: Teach ethics, standards, and reflection to build
professional identity.
Citation: Weiss, S. (2024). Essentials of Nursing Leadership &
Management (8th ed.). Ch. 1.
Ch. 1 — Characteristics of a Profession
RN-level leadership & management question stem (2–4
sentences)
A staff nurse is offered frequent unit-level financial incentives
for obtaining a non-clinical certification (e.g., event planning).
The nurse asks the manager whether accepting the incentives
aligns with professional stewardship. Which manager response
best reflects stewardship of the profession?
A. Encourage any certification because additional credentials
always reflect well on the organization.
B. Recommend pursuing certifications that directly enhance
nursing knowledge, scope, or patient outcomes and document
competency expectations.
C. Discourage any certification because they cost the unit
money.
