ATI NURSING LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT EXAM 200+
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
GRADED A+ LATEST
1. A nurse manager is planning staffing for the next week. One staff nurse requests
a day off to attend a personal event. Which action by the manager reflects
appropriate leadership?
A. Deny the request because the unit is short-staffed.
B. Approve the request without consideration of staffing needs.
C. Discuss the staffing needs and negotiate alternative coverage.
D. Ask another nurse to cover the shift without consulting them.
Answer: C
Rationale: Effective leadership balances staff needs with patient care
requirements. Negotiation ensures fair coverage while supporting staff.
2. A new graduate nurse is unsure how to handle a complex patient assignment.
What is the most appropriate action for the charge nurse?
A. Assign the patient to a more experienced nurse.
B. Encourage the nurse to handle the assignment independently.
C. Provide guidance and support while supervising the assignment.
D. Remove the nurse from patient care entirely.
Answer: C
Rationale: Supporting new nurses with guidance and supervision fosters
professional growth while ensuring patient safety.
,3. During a change-of-shift report, a nurse manager observes a staff nurse leaving
medications at the bedside unsupervised. Which leadership approach is most
appropriate?
A. Write a formal reprimand immediately.
B. Provide immediate feedback and education on safe practices.
C. Ignore the behavior since no harm occurred.
D. Report the nurse to human resources.
Answer: B
Rationale: Immediate feedback with education promotes safe practice, corrects
behavior, and supports staff development without punitive measures.
4. A nurse manager is implementing a new electronic health record (EHR) system.
Some staff resist using it. Which strategy reflects effective change management?
A. Mandate immediate compliance without discussion.
B. Provide education, address concerns, and demonstrate benefits.
C. Allow staff to opt out of using the system.
D. Punish staff for not adopting the change.
Answer: B
Rationale: Effective change management includes education, communication, and
addressing staff concerns to ensure successful adoption.
5. A nurse observes that a staff member consistently documents late. Which
leadership style focuses on monitoring and correcting performance?
A. Democratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Autocratic
D. Transformational
Answer: C
Rationale: Autocratic leadership emphasizes control, rules, and immediate
correction of noncompliance.
,6. A nurse manager notices increased patient falls on a particular shift. Which is
the priority action?
A. Schedule additional staff for the shift.
B. Review fall risk assessments and implement safety interventions.
C. Discharge high-risk patients.
D. Assign the least experienced staff to that shift.
Answer: B
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. Evaluating risk and implementing
interventions prevents harm.
7. During a staff meeting, a nurse expresses dissatisfaction with unfair scheduling.
The manager asks for suggestions to improve fairness. This demonstrates which
management approach?
A. Transactional
B. Transformational
C. Laissez-faire
D. Authoritarian
Answer: B
Rationale: Transformational leadership engages staff, values input, and fosters
collaboration and improvement.
8. A nurse is assigned to care for four patients with varying needs. Which patient
should the nurse see first?
A. Patient scheduled for routine labs
B. Patient with new-onset shortness of breath
C. Patient requesting assistance with a shower
D. Patient stable post-operative day 2
Answer: B
Rationale: Prioritization is based on the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation).
New-onset respiratory difficulty takes priority.
, 9. A staff nurse refuses to perform a task outside their scope of practice. The
manager should:
A. Insist the nurse complete the task.
B. Respect the nurse’s scope of practice and reassign the task.
C. Document the refusal as insubordination.
D. Ignore the situation.
Answer: B
Rationale: Nurses must practice within their legal and professional scope;
managers ensure patient care while respecting legal boundaries.
10. A nurse manager is conducting performance evaluations. Which is the most
effective method?
A. Evaluating only negative behaviors
B. Providing constructive feedback and recognizing strengths
C. Comparing staff to each other
D. Completing evaluations without staff input
Answer: B
Rationale: Constructive feedback and recognition of strengths encourage
professional growth and motivation.
11. A nurse is delegating tasks to a UAP. Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Administering IV antibiotics
B. Ambulating a stable post-op patient
C. Performing initial patient assessment
D. Educating a patient on wound care
Answer: B
Rationale: Ambulation of stable patients is within the UAP’s scope; assessment,
IV medication, and teaching require licensed nurse skills.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
GRADED A+ LATEST
1. A nurse manager is planning staffing for the next week. One staff nurse requests
a day off to attend a personal event. Which action by the manager reflects
appropriate leadership?
A. Deny the request because the unit is short-staffed.
B. Approve the request without consideration of staffing needs.
C. Discuss the staffing needs and negotiate alternative coverage.
D. Ask another nurse to cover the shift without consulting them.
Answer: C
Rationale: Effective leadership balances staff needs with patient care
requirements. Negotiation ensures fair coverage while supporting staff.
2. A new graduate nurse is unsure how to handle a complex patient assignment.
What is the most appropriate action for the charge nurse?
A. Assign the patient to a more experienced nurse.
B. Encourage the nurse to handle the assignment independently.
C. Provide guidance and support while supervising the assignment.
D. Remove the nurse from patient care entirely.
Answer: C
Rationale: Supporting new nurses with guidance and supervision fosters
professional growth while ensuring patient safety.
,3. During a change-of-shift report, a nurse manager observes a staff nurse leaving
medications at the bedside unsupervised. Which leadership approach is most
appropriate?
A. Write a formal reprimand immediately.
B. Provide immediate feedback and education on safe practices.
C. Ignore the behavior since no harm occurred.
D. Report the nurse to human resources.
Answer: B
Rationale: Immediate feedback with education promotes safe practice, corrects
behavior, and supports staff development without punitive measures.
4. A nurse manager is implementing a new electronic health record (EHR) system.
Some staff resist using it. Which strategy reflects effective change management?
A. Mandate immediate compliance without discussion.
B. Provide education, address concerns, and demonstrate benefits.
C. Allow staff to opt out of using the system.
D. Punish staff for not adopting the change.
Answer: B
Rationale: Effective change management includes education, communication, and
addressing staff concerns to ensure successful adoption.
5. A nurse observes that a staff member consistently documents late. Which
leadership style focuses on monitoring and correcting performance?
A. Democratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Autocratic
D. Transformational
Answer: C
Rationale: Autocratic leadership emphasizes control, rules, and immediate
correction of noncompliance.
,6. A nurse manager notices increased patient falls on a particular shift. Which is
the priority action?
A. Schedule additional staff for the shift.
B. Review fall risk assessments and implement safety interventions.
C. Discharge high-risk patients.
D. Assign the least experienced staff to that shift.
Answer: B
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. Evaluating risk and implementing
interventions prevents harm.
7. During a staff meeting, a nurse expresses dissatisfaction with unfair scheduling.
The manager asks for suggestions to improve fairness. This demonstrates which
management approach?
A. Transactional
B. Transformational
C. Laissez-faire
D. Authoritarian
Answer: B
Rationale: Transformational leadership engages staff, values input, and fosters
collaboration and improvement.
8. A nurse is assigned to care for four patients with varying needs. Which patient
should the nurse see first?
A. Patient scheduled for routine labs
B. Patient with new-onset shortness of breath
C. Patient requesting assistance with a shower
D. Patient stable post-operative day 2
Answer: B
Rationale: Prioritization is based on the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation).
New-onset respiratory difficulty takes priority.
, 9. A staff nurse refuses to perform a task outside their scope of practice. The
manager should:
A. Insist the nurse complete the task.
B. Respect the nurse’s scope of practice and reassign the task.
C. Document the refusal as insubordination.
D. Ignore the situation.
Answer: B
Rationale: Nurses must practice within their legal and professional scope;
managers ensure patient care while respecting legal boundaries.
10. A nurse manager is conducting performance evaluations. Which is the most
effective method?
A. Evaluating only negative behaviors
B. Providing constructive feedback and recognizing strengths
C. Comparing staff to each other
D. Completing evaluations without staff input
Answer: B
Rationale: Constructive feedback and recognition of strengths encourage
professional growth and motivation.
11. A nurse is delegating tasks to a UAP. Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Administering IV antibiotics
B. Ambulating a stable post-op patient
C. Performing initial patient assessment
D. Educating a patient on wound care
Answer: B
Rationale: Ambulation of stable patients is within the UAP’s scope; assessment,
IV medication, and teaching require licensed nurse skills.
