WGU D229 – Nursing Leadership and
Management Exam Questions With Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales| 2026/2027 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf.
Question 1
A nurse manager notices that medication errors have increased on a
unit after several experienced nurses retired. Which leadership action is
most appropriate as the initial response?
A. Discipline the nurses involved in the errors
B. Increase mandatory overtime to improve staffing coverage
C. Conduct a root cause analysis to identify contributing factors
D. Require all nurses to repeat medication-administration training
immediately
Correct Answer: C. Conduct a root cause analysis to identify
contributing factors
Rationale: A root cause analysis focuses on identifying system-level
factors that contribute to adverse events rather than automatically
blaming individual staff members. The nurse manager should examine
staffing, workload, communication, medication processes, orientation,
and other contributing factors before implementing corrective actions.
,This approach supports a just culture and promotes sustainable patient-
safety improvements.
Question 2
Which leadership style is most associated with inspiring nurses to
exceed expectations and embrace organizational change?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Transformational leadership
C. Laissez-faire leadership
D. Transactional leadership
Correct Answer: B. Transformational leadership
Rationale: Transformational leaders motivate followers by
communicating a compelling vision, encouraging innovation, supporting
professional development, and promoting commitment to shared goals.
This leadership style is particularly valuable when healthcare
organizations are implementing significant changes. Transactional
leadership, by contrast, relies more heavily on rewards, expectations,
and corrective actions.
Question 3
A nurse manager asks staff members to participate in developing a new
scheduling policy and considers their recommendations before making
a final decision. Which leadership approach is demonstrated?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
,C. Bureaucratic
D. Laissez-faire
Correct Answer: B. Democratic
Rationale: Democratic leadership involves staff participation in decision-
making. The leader seeks input from team members and values their
perspectives while retaining responsibility for the final decision. This
approach can improve staff engagement, ownership, communication,
and acceptance of organizational decisions.
Question 4
A nurse manager delegates the task of obtaining routine vital signs to a
licensed practical nurse. Which principle of delegation is most
important?
A. The delegatee assumes the manager's accountability
B. The task must be appropriate for the delegatee's competency
C. The manager no longer has responsibility for the patient's outcome
D. Delegation is appropriate whenever the manager is busy
Correct Answer: B. The task must be appropriate for the delegatee's
competency
Rationale: Safe delegation requires consideration of the right task, right
circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, and right
supervision/evaluation. The person receiving the assignment must
possess the education, competency, and scope of practice necessary to
perform it safely. The delegating nurse retains accountability for
appropriate delegation and supervision.
, Question 5
A nurse manager is attempting to improve staff morale after several
nurses report feeling undervalued. Which intervention is most likely to
improve intrinsic motivation?
A. Offering overtime bonuses
B. Increasing surveillance of staff performance
C. Recognizing professional accomplishments and providing meaningful
feedback
D. Requiring staff to attend additional meetings
Correct Answer: C. Recognizing professional accomplishments and
providing meaningful feedback
Rationale: Intrinsic motivation is driven by internal factors such as
achievement, recognition, professional growth, autonomy, and
meaningful work. Recognition and constructive feedback can strengthen
employees' sense of competence and value. Financial incentives may
provide extrinsic motivation but do not necessarily address underlying
concerns about professional fulfillment.
Question 6
A nurse manager wants to determine whether a proposed staffing
change is improving patient outcomes. Which measure would provide
the strongest evidence?
A. Number of staff meetings held
B. Nurse satisfaction with the new schedule
Management Exam Questions With Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales| 2026/2027 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf.
Question 1
A nurse manager notices that medication errors have increased on a
unit after several experienced nurses retired. Which leadership action is
most appropriate as the initial response?
A. Discipline the nurses involved in the errors
B. Increase mandatory overtime to improve staffing coverage
C. Conduct a root cause analysis to identify contributing factors
D. Require all nurses to repeat medication-administration training
immediately
Correct Answer: C. Conduct a root cause analysis to identify
contributing factors
Rationale: A root cause analysis focuses on identifying system-level
factors that contribute to adverse events rather than automatically
blaming individual staff members. The nurse manager should examine
staffing, workload, communication, medication processes, orientation,
and other contributing factors before implementing corrective actions.
,This approach supports a just culture and promotes sustainable patient-
safety improvements.
Question 2
Which leadership style is most associated with inspiring nurses to
exceed expectations and embrace organizational change?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Transformational leadership
C. Laissez-faire leadership
D. Transactional leadership
Correct Answer: B. Transformational leadership
Rationale: Transformational leaders motivate followers by
communicating a compelling vision, encouraging innovation, supporting
professional development, and promoting commitment to shared goals.
This leadership style is particularly valuable when healthcare
organizations are implementing significant changes. Transactional
leadership, by contrast, relies more heavily on rewards, expectations,
and corrective actions.
Question 3
A nurse manager asks staff members to participate in developing a new
scheduling policy and considers their recommendations before making
a final decision. Which leadership approach is demonstrated?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
,C. Bureaucratic
D. Laissez-faire
Correct Answer: B. Democratic
Rationale: Democratic leadership involves staff participation in decision-
making. The leader seeks input from team members and values their
perspectives while retaining responsibility for the final decision. This
approach can improve staff engagement, ownership, communication,
and acceptance of organizational decisions.
Question 4
A nurse manager delegates the task of obtaining routine vital signs to a
licensed practical nurse. Which principle of delegation is most
important?
A. The delegatee assumes the manager's accountability
B. The task must be appropriate for the delegatee's competency
C. The manager no longer has responsibility for the patient's outcome
D. Delegation is appropriate whenever the manager is busy
Correct Answer: B. The task must be appropriate for the delegatee's
competency
Rationale: Safe delegation requires consideration of the right task, right
circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, and right
supervision/evaluation. The person receiving the assignment must
possess the education, competency, and scope of practice necessary to
perform it safely. The delegating nurse retains accountability for
appropriate delegation and supervision.
, Question 5
A nurse manager is attempting to improve staff morale after several
nurses report feeling undervalued. Which intervention is most likely to
improve intrinsic motivation?
A. Offering overtime bonuses
B. Increasing surveillance of staff performance
C. Recognizing professional accomplishments and providing meaningful
feedback
D. Requiring staff to attend additional meetings
Correct Answer: C. Recognizing professional accomplishments and
providing meaningful feedback
Rationale: Intrinsic motivation is driven by internal factors such as
achievement, recognition, professional growth, autonomy, and
meaningful work. Recognition and constructive feedback can strengthen
employees' sense of competence and value. Financial incentives may
provide extrinsic motivation but do not necessarily address underlying
concerns about professional fulfillment.
Question 6
A nurse manager wants to determine whether a proposed staffing
change is improving patient outcomes. Which measure would provide
the strongest evidence?
A. Number of staff meetings held
B. Nurse satisfaction with the new schedule
