ESSENTIALS OF NURSING LEADERSHIP &
MANAGEMENT
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SALLY WEISS
Ch. 1 — Characteristics of a Profession
RN-Level Leadership & Management Question Stem
A newly hired RN notices that several experienced nurses
bypass reporting minor medication errors because "they're
busy" and document the events as routine care. As a charge
nurse who values the profession’s standards, which action most
appropriately demonstrates professional accountability while
promoting a culture of safety?
A. Encourage the nurses to continue documenting as before to
avoid reporting fatigue and maintain unit workflow.
B. Privately counsel the nurses to report errors but allow
informal, undocumented verbal reporting to leadership.
C. Reinforce the obligation to accurately report and document
errors, initiate a nonpunitive discussion about workload, and
escalate system concerns to nursing leadership.
D. Publicly reprimand the nurses during shift change to deter
future underreporting.
,Correct Answer: C
Rationales
Correct Option (C): Reinforcing accurate reporting and
documentation upholds professional standards and legal
accountability. Initiating a nonpunitive discussion addresses
barriers (workload, culture) and escalating system-level
concerns targets root causes—aligning with professional
responsibility to protect patients and improve systems.
Incorrect Option (A): Tolerating inaccurate documentation
compromises patient safety, violates professional and legal
standards, and erodes public trust.
Incorrect Option (B): Advising informal verbal reporting still
allows inaccurate records and avoids addressing systemic and
cultural issues that permit underreporting.
Incorrect Option (D): Public reprimand damages collegial
relationships, discourages openness, and can worsen a blame
culture—undermining professional socialization and safety.
Teaching Point
Accurate reporting and nonpunitive system-level responses
sustain professionalism and patient safety.
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
A unit manager is developing orientation for new graduate
nurses and must decide which element best fosters professional
socialization. Which approach most effectively accelerates new
nurses’ professional identity formation?
A. Assigning textbooks and expecting independent study during
orientation.
B. Pairing each graduate with an experienced preceptor,
scheduling reflective debriefs, and modeling professional
behaviors.
C. Requiring completion of mandatory computer-based
modules only.
D. Rotating graduates through multiple specialty areas every
two days to broaden exposure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales
Correct Option (B): Structured preceptorship with reflective
debriefing and role modeling fosters socialization into
professional norms and behaviors, supporting competency,
confidence, and professional identity.
Incorrect Option (A): Sole reliance on self-directed reading
provides knowledge but lacks experiential mentoring and
professional role modeling necessary for socialization.
Incorrect Option (C): Computer modules ensure baseline
knowledge but do not develop professional comportment or
, clinical judgment through interpersonal mentoring.
Incorrect Option (D): Extremely rapid rotation prevents
relationship-building and mastery, hindering assimilation into
the profession and safe practice.
Teaching Point
Preceptorship and reflection accelerate professional
socialization and competence.
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
A staff nurse is asked to perform a procedure that is outside the
facility job description and beyond the nurse’s competency. The
nurse is concerned about patient safety but fears negative
consequences. Which response best reflects professional
autonomy and ethical accountability?
A. Perform the procedure because refusal might be viewed
negatively by supervisors.
B. Agree to attempt the procedure after a brief online search for
instructions.
C. Decline the assignment, explain competency limits to the
supervisor, and request appropriate support or reassignment.
D. Ask a coworker to sign the record as if they had performed it.
MANAGEMENT
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SALLY WEISS
Ch. 1 — Characteristics of a Profession
RN-Level Leadership & Management Question Stem
A newly hired RN notices that several experienced nurses
bypass reporting minor medication errors because "they're
busy" and document the events as routine care. As a charge
nurse who values the profession’s standards, which action most
appropriately demonstrates professional accountability while
promoting a culture of safety?
A. Encourage the nurses to continue documenting as before to
avoid reporting fatigue and maintain unit workflow.
B. Privately counsel the nurses to report errors but allow
informal, undocumented verbal reporting to leadership.
C. Reinforce the obligation to accurately report and document
errors, initiate a nonpunitive discussion about workload, and
escalate system concerns to nursing leadership.
D. Publicly reprimand the nurses during shift change to deter
future underreporting.
,Correct Answer: C
Rationales
Correct Option (C): Reinforcing accurate reporting and
documentation upholds professional standards and legal
accountability. Initiating a nonpunitive discussion addresses
barriers (workload, culture) and escalating system-level
concerns targets root causes—aligning with professional
responsibility to protect patients and improve systems.
Incorrect Option (A): Tolerating inaccurate documentation
compromises patient safety, violates professional and legal
standards, and erodes public trust.
Incorrect Option (B): Advising informal verbal reporting still
allows inaccurate records and avoids addressing systemic and
cultural issues that permit underreporting.
Incorrect Option (D): Public reprimand damages collegial
relationships, discourages openness, and can worsen a blame
culture—undermining professional socialization and safety.
Teaching Point
Accurate reporting and nonpunitive system-level responses
sustain professionalism and patient safety.
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
A unit manager is developing orientation for new graduate
nurses and must decide which element best fosters professional
socialization. Which approach most effectively accelerates new
nurses’ professional identity formation?
A. Assigning textbooks and expecting independent study during
orientation.
B. Pairing each graduate with an experienced preceptor,
scheduling reflective debriefs, and modeling professional
behaviors.
C. Requiring completion of mandatory computer-based
modules only.
D. Rotating graduates through multiple specialty areas every
two days to broaden exposure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales
Correct Option (B): Structured preceptorship with reflective
debriefing and role modeling fosters socialization into
professional norms and behaviors, supporting competency,
confidence, and professional identity.
Incorrect Option (A): Sole reliance on self-directed reading
provides knowledge but lacks experiential mentoring and
professional role modeling necessary for socialization.
Incorrect Option (C): Computer modules ensure baseline
knowledge but do not develop professional comportment or
, clinical judgment through interpersonal mentoring.
Incorrect Option (D): Extremely rapid rotation prevents
relationship-building and mastery, hindering assimilation into
the profession and safe practice.
Teaching Point
Preceptorship and reflection accelerate professional
socialization and competence.
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
A staff nurse is asked to perform a procedure that is outside the
facility job description and beyond the nurse’s competency. The
nurse is concerned about patient safety but fears negative
consequences. Which response best reflects professional
autonomy and ethical accountability?
A. Perform the procedure because refusal might be viewed
negatively by supervisors.
B. Agree to attempt the procedure after a brief online search for
instructions.
C. Decline the assignment, explain competency limits to the
supervisor, and request appropriate support or reassignment.
D. Ask a coworker to sign the record as if they had performed it.
