# ATI RN Leadership CMS Proctored Exam – NGN Practice Questions
2026/2027 Update | 200 Questions with Answers & Rationales | A+ Guide**
**1. A nurse manager who shares responsibility with the staff and guides the team toward reaching
objectives is using which leadership style?**
A) Laissez-faire
B) Democratic
C) Autocratic
D) Transactional
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Democratic leadership encourages participation, collaboration, and shared decision-
making. Staff members are involved in the decision-making process, which promotes ownership and
teamwork.
**2. What is the primary difference between a leader and a manager?**
A) Leaders focus on maintaining the status quo; managers focus on change.
B) Leaders influence and inspire others; managers coordinate resources and processes.
C) Leaders control outcomes; managers delegate tasks.
D) There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Leaders influence and inspire others to achieve a common goal, while managers
coordinate resources and processes. Leadership is about vision and influence; management is about
planning and organizing.
**3. A nurse manager is using an autocratic leadership style. Which statement best describes this
style?**
A) "I value input from all team members before making a decision."
B) "I make decisions for the group and expect compliance."
C) "I allow the team to make all decisions without my input."
D) "I use rewards to motivate staff to achieve goals."
**Answer: B**
,*Rationale:* Autocratic leadership involves making decisions for the group and motivating by
coercion or authority. Communication is down the chain of command, which can be effective in crisis
situations.
**4. According to Lewin's Change Theory, which action occurs during the "unfreezing" stage?**
A) Reinforcing the new protocol through audits
B) Recognizing that the current practice is not optimal
C) Training staff on the new protocol
D) Evaluating outcomes of the new protocol
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* The unfreezing stage involves creating awareness that the current practice is not ideal,
which is necessary to motivate change.
**5. Which of the following is a key component of the "Performance Improvement" (PI) process in
healthcare?**
A) Disciplining staff for errors
B) Using data to identify areas for improvement
C) Increasing the budget for new equipment
D) Focusing solely on individual performance
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Performance improvement is a data-driven, systematic process that focuses on
improving outcomes at a systems level, not on punishing individuals.
**6. A nurse is serving on a committee to reduce medication errors. Which action is an example of a
systems-level intervention?**
A) Educating all nurses on the "five rights" of medication administration
B) Implementing a barcode scanning system for medication administration
C) Requiring nurses to double-check high-alert medications
D) Sending a reminder email about safe medication practices
**Answer: B**
, *Rationale:* A systems-level intervention is a change to the environment or process that makes it
easier for staff to do the right thing. Barcode scanning is a technological safeguard that addresses the
system.
**7. A unit manager is using a "shared governance" model. Which statement best describes this
model?**
A) The manager makes all decisions for the unit.
B) Staff nurses have a voice in decisions that affect their practice.
C) Decisions are made by a committee of upper-level administrators.
D) The model is only used for financial decisions.
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Shared governance is a model that empowers staff by giving them a formal role in
decision-making related to their practice, working conditions, and quality of care.
**8. A new graduate nurse is struggling with time management. Which strategy should the nurse's
preceptor recommend?**
A) Complete all tasks for one client before moving to the next.
B) Delegate all non-nursing tasks to the AP.
C) Prioritize tasks based on client acuity and needs.
D) Avoid taking breaks to ensure all work is completed.
**Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Prioritizing tasks based on client acuity and needs is an effective time management
strategy. This ensures that the most critical needs are addressed first.
**9. What is the primary purpose of a root cause analysis (RCA) after a sentinel event?**
A) To assign blame to the healthcare provider involved
B) To identify the underlying causes of the event to prevent recurrence
C) To discipline the staff member who made the error
D) To determine the financial impact of the event
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* The primary purpose of a root cause analysis is to identify the underlying causes of a
sentinel event to prevent recurrence. It is a systems-focused process, not a blame-focused one.
2026/2027 Update | 200 Questions with Answers & Rationales | A+ Guide**
**1. A nurse manager who shares responsibility with the staff and guides the team toward reaching
objectives is using which leadership style?**
A) Laissez-faire
B) Democratic
C) Autocratic
D) Transactional
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Democratic leadership encourages participation, collaboration, and shared decision-
making. Staff members are involved in the decision-making process, which promotes ownership and
teamwork.
**2. What is the primary difference between a leader and a manager?**
A) Leaders focus on maintaining the status quo; managers focus on change.
B) Leaders influence and inspire others; managers coordinate resources and processes.
C) Leaders control outcomes; managers delegate tasks.
D) There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Leaders influence and inspire others to achieve a common goal, while managers
coordinate resources and processes. Leadership is about vision and influence; management is about
planning and organizing.
**3. A nurse manager is using an autocratic leadership style. Which statement best describes this
style?**
A) "I value input from all team members before making a decision."
B) "I make decisions for the group and expect compliance."
C) "I allow the team to make all decisions without my input."
D) "I use rewards to motivate staff to achieve goals."
**Answer: B**
,*Rationale:* Autocratic leadership involves making decisions for the group and motivating by
coercion or authority. Communication is down the chain of command, which can be effective in crisis
situations.
**4. According to Lewin's Change Theory, which action occurs during the "unfreezing" stage?**
A) Reinforcing the new protocol through audits
B) Recognizing that the current practice is not optimal
C) Training staff on the new protocol
D) Evaluating outcomes of the new protocol
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* The unfreezing stage involves creating awareness that the current practice is not ideal,
which is necessary to motivate change.
**5. Which of the following is a key component of the "Performance Improvement" (PI) process in
healthcare?**
A) Disciplining staff for errors
B) Using data to identify areas for improvement
C) Increasing the budget for new equipment
D) Focusing solely on individual performance
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Performance improvement is a data-driven, systematic process that focuses on
improving outcomes at a systems level, not on punishing individuals.
**6. A nurse is serving on a committee to reduce medication errors. Which action is an example of a
systems-level intervention?**
A) Educating all nurses on the "five rights" of medication administration
B) Implementing a barcode scanning system for medication administration
C) Requiring nurses to double-check high-alert medications
D) Sending a reminder email about safe medication practices
**Answer: B**
, *Rationale:* A systems-level intervention is a change to the environment or process that makes it
easier for staff to do the right thing. Barcode scanning is a technological safeguard that addresses the
system.
**7. A unit manager is using a "shared governance" model. Which statement best describes this
model?**
A) The manager makes all decisions for the unit.
B) Staff nurses have a voice in decisions that affect their practice.
C) Decisions are made by a committee of upper-level administrators.
D) The model is only used for financial decisions.
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Shared governance is a model that empowers staff by giving them a formal role in
decision-making related to their practice, working conditions, and quality of care.
**8. A new graduate nurse is struggling with time management. Which strategy should the nurse's
preceptor recommend?**
A) Complete all tasks for one client before moving to the next.
B) Delegate all non-nursing tasks to the AP.
C) Prioritize tasks based on client acuity and needs.
D) Avoid taking breaks to ensure all work is completed.
**Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Prioritizing tasks based on client acuity and needs is an effective time management
strategy. This ensures that the most critical needs are addressed first.
**9. What is the primary purpose of a root cause analysis (RCA) after a sentinel event?**
A) To assign blame to the healthcare provider involved
B) To identify the underlying causes of the event to prevent recurrence
C) To discipline the staff member who made the error
D) To determine the financial impact of the event
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* The primary purpose of a root cause analysis is to identify the underlying causes of a
sentinel event to prevent recurrence. It is a systems-focused process, not a blame-focused one.
