ATI Leadership | Foundations of Nursing
Leadership & Management Exam 1
Questions |Answers |Rationales |2026
1. A nurse manager is using an authoritative leadership style. Which of the
following actions should the nurse expect from the manager?
A. The manager seeks consensus on unit decisions.
B. The manager provides minimal direction to the staff.
C. The manager encourages staff to participate in decision-making.
D. The manager delegates tasks with clear expectations and little input from staff.
Answer: D
Rationale: Authoritative leaders make decisions independently and maintain strict control
over the work environment, often giving orders and expecting immediate compliance.
2. A nurse is delegating tasks to an Assistive Personnel (AP). Which of the
following tasks is appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Evaluating a client’s response to pain medication.
B. Performing a sterile dressing change.
C. Assisting a client with a bath and grooming.
D. Developing a plan of care for a new admission.
Answer: C
Rationale: APs can perform non-invasive tasks such as ADLs, grooming, and ambulation.
Evaluation and sterile procedures require the skill of a licensed nurse.
,3. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which client should the nurse see
first?
A. A client with a history of hypertension whose blood pressure is 148/92 mmHg.
B. A client who is 2 days postoperative and reporting incision pain as 4 on a scale of 0 to 10.
C. A client who has a new onset of confusion and restlessness.
D. A client with diabetes mellitus who needs a routine blood glucose check.
Answer: C
Rationale: Using the ABC framework and safety/risk reduction, new onset confusion and
restlessness can indicate hypoxia or neurological changes and must be addressed
immediately.
4. A nurse is planning a quality improvement project. What is the first step the
nurse should take?
A. Identify the standard of care to be evaluated.
B. Analyze the data collected.
C. Implement a corrective action plan.
D. Conduct a chart audit.
Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in the quality improvement process is to identify the standards
against which performance will be measured.
5. Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating when they ensure a client
has given informed consent for surgery?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Autonomy
Answer: D
, Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of the client to make their own decisions.
Informed consent is a key application of this principle.
6. A nurse is managing conflict between two staff members. The nurse suggests
that both parties give up something to reach a solution. Which conflict
resolution strategy is being used?
A. Collaborating
B. Competing
C. Avoiding
D. Compromising
Answer: D
Rationale: Compromising involves both parties giving up something of value to reach a
mutually acceptable agreement.
7. A nurse is participating in a root cause analysis. Which of the following is the
primary purpose of this process?
A. To identify the person responsible for an error.
B. To determine the underlying system failures that led to an event.
C. To document the incident for legal defense.
D. To provide a performance appraisal for the nurse involved.
Answer: B
Rationale: Root cause analysis is a proactive process that focuses on systems and
processes, rather than individual performance, to prevent future errors.
Leadership & Management Exam 1
Questions |Answers |Rationales |2026
1. A nurse manager is using an authoritative leadership style. Which of the
following actions should the nurse expect from the manager?
A. The manager seeks consensus on unit decisions.
B. The manager provides minimal direction to the staff.
C. The manager encourages staff to participate in decision-making.
D. The manager delegates tasks with clear expectations and little input from staff.
Answer: D
Rationale: Authoritative leaders make decisions independently and maintain strict control
over the work environment, often giving orders and expecting immediate compliance.
2. A nurse is delegating tasks to an Assistive Personnel (AP). Which of the
following tasks is appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Evaluating a client’s response to pain medication.
B. Performing a sterile dressing change.
C. Assisting a client with a bath and grooming.
D. Developing a plan of care for a new admission.
Answer: C
Rationale: APs can perform non-invasive tasks such as ADLs, grooming, and ambulation.
Evaluation and sterile procedures require the skill of a licensed nurse.
,3. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which client should the nurse see
first?
A. A client with a history of hypertension whose blood pressure is 148/92 mmHg.
B. A client who is 2 days postoperative and reporting incision pain as 4 on a scale of 0 to 10.
C. A client who has a new onset of confusion and restlessness.
D. A client with diabetes mellitus who needs a routine blood glucose check.
Answer: C
Rationale: Using the ABC framework and safety/risk reduction, new onset confusion and
restlessness can indicate hypoxia or neurological changes and must be addressed
immediately.
4. A nurse is planning a quality improvement project. What is the first step the
nurse should take?
A. Identify the standard of care to be evaluated.
B. Analyze the data collected.
C. Implement a corrective action plan.
D. Conduct a chart audit.
Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in the quality improvement process is to identify the standards
against which performance will be measured.
5. Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating when they ensure a client
has given informed consent for surgery?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Autonomy
Answer: D
, Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of the client to make their own decisions.
Informed consent is a key application of this principle.
6. A nurse is managing conflict between two staff members. The nurse suggests
that both parties give up something to reach a solution. Which conflict
resolution strategy is being used?
A. Collaborating
B. Competing
C. Avoiding
D. Compromising
Answer: D
Rationale: Compromising involves both parties giving up something of value to reach a
mutually acceptable agreement.
7. A nurse is participating in a root cause analysis. Which of the following is the
primary purpose of this process?
A. To identify the person responsible for an error.
B. To determine the underlying system failures that led to an event.
C. To document the incident for legal defense.
D. To provide a performance appraisal for the nurse involved.
Answer: B
Rationale: Root cause analysis is a proactive process that focuses on systems and
processes, rather than individual performance, to prevent future errors.