,2026/2027 Galen College of Nursing NUR282 Leadership and
Nursing Management Exam 2 | Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationales.
During shift assignment, the charge nurse has one highly unstable patient requiring
frequent reassessment. Who should receive this patient?
A) Newly licensed nurse caring for several admissions
B) Experienced RN with strong critical-care assessment skills
C) LPN assigned several stable patients
D) Float nurse unfamiliar with the unit
Correct Answer: Experienced RN with strong critical-care assessment skills
Rationale: Patient acuity and complexity should be matched with staff competence.
Rapidly changing conditions require advanced assessment, prioritization, and clinical
judgment, making the experienced RN the safest assignment.
2. An experienced nurse is caring for three stable patients when one suddenly develops
respiratory distress. What is the charge nurse's best response?
A) Reevaluate assignments and redistribute stable responsibilities if needed.
B) Maintain assignments because they were established at shift change.
C) Transfer the unstable patient to assistive personnel.
D) Tell the nurse to complete routine tasks before responding.
Correct Answer: Reevaluate assignments and redistribute stable responsibilities if needed.
Rationale: Staffing and assignments should remain dynamic. When patient acuity changes,
workload should be reassessed so the nurse caring for the unstable patient can focus on
immediate priorities.
3. A staffing plan assigns the same number of patients to every nurse regardless of
severity. What is the major problem with this approach?
A) It increases continuity.
B) It simplifies documentation.
C) It improves fairness automatically.
D) Equal patient numbers do not necessarily represent equal workloads.
Correct Answer: Equal patient numbers do not necessarily represent equal workloads.
Rationale: Workload depends on acuity, complexity, treatments, psychosocial needs,
admissions, discharges, and surveillance requirements. Safe staffing requires more than
simple numerical equality.
4. Before assigning a float nurse to a patient requiring a specialized infusion, the
charge nurse should first:
, A) Verify the float nurse's competency with the therapy.
B) Assume all RNs have identical competencies.
C) Assign the patient because the float nurse is senior.
D) Ask the patient to decide.
Correct Answer: Verify the float nurse's competency with the therapy.
Rationale: Licensure does not guarantee competence with every specialty-specific
procedure. Assignment decisions should consider demonstrated knowledge, experience,
and scope of practice.
5. Two staff members call in sick before a high-acuity shift. What should the charge
nurse do first?
A) Close the unit immediately.
B) Reassess patient acuity, available competencies, and staffing resources.
C) Assign all additional patients to the most experienced nurse.
D) Delay all scheduled care.
Correct Answer: Reassess patient acuity, available competencies, and staffing resources.
Rationale: Safe staffing decisions begin with a current assessment of patient-care needs,
available staff, skill mix, and organizational resources before redistributing workload or
escalating concerns.
6. A nurse manager is developing the next month's schedule. What principle should
guide scheduling?
A) Give senior nurses every preferred shift.
B) Use identical staffing regardless of census.
C) Match projected patient needs with an appropriate number and skill mix of staff.
D) Schedule according to convenience only.
Correct Answer: Match projected patient needs with an appropriate number and skill mix
of staff.
Rationale: Safe scheduling considers anticipated census, patient acuity, competencies,
required coverage, and continuity of care.
7. A staff nurse states that the current assignment is unsafe because of multiple
unstable patients. What should the charge nurse do?
A) Tell the nurse to work faster.
B) Ignore the concern.
C) Assess the assignment objectively and escalate staffing concerns when
appropriate.
D) Document the complaint without taking action.
Nursing Management Exam 2 | Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationales.
During shift assignment, the charge nurse has one highly unstable patient requiring
frequent reassessment. Who should receive this patient?
A) Newly licensed nurse caring for several admissions
B) Experienced RN with strong critical-care assessment skills
C) LPN assigned several stable patients
D) Float nurse unfamiliar with the unit
Correct Answer: Experienced RN with strong critical-care assessment skills
Rationale: Patient acuity and complexity should be matched with staff competence.
Rapidly changing conditions require advanced assessment, prioritization, and clinical
judgment, making the experienced RN the safest assignment.
2. An experienced nurse is caring for three stable patients when one suddenly develops
respiratory distress. What is the charge nurse's best response?
A) Reevaluate assignments and redistribute stable responsibilities if needed.
B) Maintain assignments because they were established at shift change.
C) Transfer the unstable patient to assistive personnel.
D) Tell the nurse to complete routine tasks before responding.
Correct Answer: Reevaluate assignments and redistribute stable responsibilities if needed.
Rationale: Staffing and assignments should remain dynamic. When patient acuity changes,
workload should be reassessed so the nurse caring for the unstable patient can focus on
immediate priorities.
3. A staffing plan assigns the same number of patients to every nurse regardless of
severity. What is the major problem with this approach?
A) It increases continuity.
B) It simplifies documentation.
C) It improves fairness automatically.
D) Equal patient numbers do not necessarily represent equal workloads.
Correct Answer: Equal patient numbers do not necessarily represent equal workloads.
Rationale: Workload depends on acuity, complexity, treatments, psychosocial needs,
admissions, discharges, and surveillance requirements. Safe staffing requires more than
simple numerical equality.
4. Before assigning a float nurse to a patient requiring a specialized infusion, the
charge nurse should first:
, A) Verify the float nurse's competency with the therapy.
B) Assume all RNs have identical competencies.
C) Assign the patient because the float nurse is senior.
D) Ask the patient to decide.
Correct Answer: Verify the float nurse's competency with the therapy.
Rationale: Licensure does not guarantee competence with every specialty-specific
procedure. Assignment decisions should consider demonstrated knowledge, experience,
and scope of practice.
5. Two staff members call in sick before a high-acuity shift. What should the charge
nurse do first?
A) Close the unit immediately.
B) Reassess patient acuity, available competencies, and staffing resources.
C) Assign all additional patients to the most experienced nurse.
D) Delay all scheduled care.
Correct Answer: Reassess patient acuity, available competencies, and staffing resources.
Rationale: Safe staffing decisions begin with a current assessment of patient-care needs,
available staff, skill mix, and organizational resources before redistributing workload or
escalating concerns.
6. A nurse manager is developing the next month's schedule. What principle should
guide scheduling?
A) Give senior nurses every preferred shift.
B) Use identical staffing regardless of census.
C) Match projected patient needs with an appropriate number and skill mix of staff.
D) Schedule according to convenience only.
Correct Answer: Match projected patient needs with an appropriate number and skill mix
of staff.
Rationale: Safe scheduling considers anticipated census, patient acuity, competencies,
required coverage, and continuity of care.
7. A staff nurse states that the current assignment is unsafe because of multiple
unstable patients. What should the charge nurse do?
A) Tell the nurse to work faster.
B) Ignore the concern.
C) Assess the assignment objectively and escalate staffing concerns when
appropriate.
D) Document the complaint without taking action.
