CNL EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
WITH ALL ANSWERS UPDATED
The Clinical Nurse Leader role is best described as:
v v v v v v v v v
A. An advanced practice role
v v v v
B. A role with a focus on specialty nursing care
v v v v v v v v v v
C. A case manager
v v v
D. A generalist clinician with education at the master's degree level - correct answer- D. A
v v v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
generalist clinician with education at the master's degree level
v v v v v v v v v
The Clinical Nurse Leader Project Team are evaluating the role on a national basis on all
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the following patient outcomes EXCEPT:
v v v v v
A. Inpatient Readmission
v v
B. Cost of care
v v v
C. Patient falls
v v
D. Surgical infection rate - correct answer- B. Cost of care
v v v v vv v vv v v v
Which of the following best describes metabolic syndrome:
v v v v v v v
A. An advanced disturbance of fluid and electrolytes in diabetics
v v v v v v v v v
B. The constellation of lipid and non-lipid risk factors linked to insulin resistance
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
C. Evidence of impaired renal function in patients with hypertension
v v v v v v v v v
D. The occurrence of dyslipidemia in patients with obesity - correct answer- B. The
v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
constellation of lipid and non-lipid risk factors linked to insulin resistance
v v v v v v v v v v v
In preparing an educational program for your staff about delegation to LPN Team
v v v v v v v v v v v v
Members, you stress that the which of the following tasks cannot be delegated according
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
to the Nurse Practice Act:
v v v v v
A. Recording of Vital Signs
v v v v
B. IV insertion
v v
,C. Patient Reassessment
v v
D. Health and Wellness Promotion - correct answer- C. Patient Reassessment
v v v v v vv v vv v v
As a CNL, you meet with staff after a sentinel event in your work area and are asked about
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the cause. No conclusive findings have been reached but your are aware from your
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
reading that the most frequent cause of sentinel events is which one of the following:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Procedural Complications
v v v
B. Staffing
v
C. Competency Issues
v v
D. Communication Issues - correct answer- D. Communication Issues
v v v vv v vv v v
Ototoxic drugs are a potential cause of sensorineural hearing loss. Which of the following
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
drugs may cause hearing loss?
v v v v v
A. Penicillin
v
B. Minocycline
v v
C. Cephalexin
v v
D. Gentamicin - correct answer- D. Gentamicin
v v vv v vv v
Complexity theory has developed from the field of: v v v v v v v v
A. Nursing
v
B. Business
v
C. Industry
v
D. Quantum Physics - correct answer- D. Quantum Physics
v v v vv v vv v v
Research by Aiken et al. on magnet hospitals shows: v v v v v v v v
A. No relationship between job satisfaction and patient outcomes.
v v v v v v v v v
B. Magnet hospitals have higher rates of nursing turnover.
v v v v v v v v
C. No relationship between nursing satisfaction and turnover.
v v v v v v v
D. Job satisfaction is positively related to patient outcomes. - correct answer- D. Job
v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
satisfaction is positively related to patient outcomes.
v v v v v v v
The CNL recognizes that gaining trust is a fundamental element in planned change. Which
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
behavior or process would hinder the development of trust?
v v v v v v v v v
A. Providing all necessary information
v v v v
B. Providing only information deemed necessary by formal leaders
v v v v v v v v v
C. Achieving buy-in from formal and informal leaders
v v v v v v v
D. Including all interested parties in the planning of change - correct answer- B. Providing
v v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
only information deemed necessary by formal leaders
v v v v v v v
Adequate sample size for as study is defined by: v v v v v v v v
A. A minimum of ten subjects per variable
v v v v v v v
B. A minimum of thirty subjects for a descriptive study
v v v v v v v v v
C. Anticipated effect size, power of the statistical tests, and significance level
v v v v v v v v v v v v
D. Maturity of the concepts being studied - correct answer- C. Anticipated effect size,
v v v v v v v vv v vv v v v
power of the statistical tests, and significance level
v v v v v v v v
,The staff on your unit complain about the inability of their new graduates to provide a
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
comprehensive end of shift report. As CNL, you know from reading Benner's work that
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
new graduates are usually in what stage of development:
v v v v v v v v v
A. Expert
v
B. Competent
v
C. Proficient
v
D. Advanced Beginner or Novice - correct answer- D. Advanced Beginner or Novice
v v v v v vv v vv v v v v
In evaluating a data set of recently admitted patients to her unit, the CNL notes that 40% of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the patients have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. This would be an example of the CNL
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
as:
v
A. Team Manager
v v
B. Advocate
v
C. Risk Anticipator
v v
D. Educator - correct answer- C. Risk Anticipator
v v vv v vv v v
The hemoglobin A1C gives you an indication of your patient's glucose control over:
v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Month
v
B. 4-6 Weeks
v v
C. 60-90 Days
v v
D. Year - correct answer- C. 60-90 Days
v v vv v vv v v
You begin to mediate a conflict with two of your team members and recognize that the first
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
step in the mediation process is to:
v v v v v v v
A. Listen to both sides
v v v v
B. Establish the ground rules
v v v v
C. Focus on the facts not the people
v v v v v v v v
D. Don't judge - correct answer- B. Establish the ground rules
v v v vv v vv v v v v
Which of the following would not be included in a cultural assessment of patients:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Patient identification of their cultural/ethnic group
v v v v v v
B. Food preferences and taboos
v v v v
C. Communication/Language
v
D. Political views - correct answer- D. Political views
v v v vv v vv v v
When discussing supervision and delegation with nurses on your unit, you note that the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
most acutely ill patients on your unit are often given to agency nurses. If the patient were to
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
have a bad outcome and the case were reviewed by a nurse expert, which of the following
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
standards of delegation would be questioned:
v v v v v v
A. Assignment of the right task
v v v v v
B. Assignment of the right person
v v v v v
C. Follow-up with the right communication
v v v v v v
D. Provision of the right feedback - correct answer- B. Assignment of the right person
v v v v v v vv v vv v v v v v
Your health care agency is experiencing budget deficits. The Chief Nursing Officer has
v v v v v v v v v v v v
asked you to prepare a briefing for the CEO outlining the value of the CNL role. Which of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
, the following outcomes would be the most critical to highlight in making a financial case for
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
your role:
v v
A. Patient satisfaction
v v
B. Nursing staff retention
v v v
C. Reduction in Length of Stay
v v v v v v
D. Reduction in Patient Falls - correct answer- C. Reduction in Length of Stay
v v v v v vv v vv v v v v v
Which of the following statements about AIDS is incorrect?
v v v v v v v v v
A. Most diagnoses are made in persons 20-49 years of age.
v v v v v v v v v v v
B. Over 1.5 million Americans are infected with HIV
v v v v v v v v
C. The ELISA is a screening tool.
v v v v v v
D. HIV is transmitted through casual kissing - correct answer- D. HIV is transmitted
v v v v v v v vv v vv v v v
through casual kissing
v v v
Aspects of professional nursing practice that CANNOT be delegated are:
v v v v v v v v v v
A. Monitoring and Recording
v v v
B. Implementation and Feedback
v v v
C. Assessment and Evaluation
v v v
D. Reporting and Recording - correct answer- C. Assessment and Evaluation
v v v v vv v vv v v v
Osteoarthritis is often associated with: v v v v v
A. Systemic symptoms of disease
v v v v
B. Restricted joint movement
v v v
C. Elevated temperature
v v
D. Inflammation of the proximal interphalangeal joints - correct answer- B. Restricted joint
v v v v v v v vv v vv v v
movement
v
A patient is admitted to your unit after experiencing seizures. In helping a novice nurse do
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the initial nursing assessment, you remind her that the most important information in
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
seizure assessment is usually provided by:
v v v v v v
A. A CT Scan
v v v
B. An EEG
v v
C. An Eyewitness
v v
D. Magnetic Resonance Imaging - correct answer- C. An Eyewitness
v v v v vv v vv v v
Coaching is the appropriate strategy for the CNL all of the following situations EXCEPT:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Teaching staff a new skill
v v v v v
B. Helping staff work through a patient care problem
v v v v v v v v
C. Counseling staff for time and attendance issues
v v v v v v v
D. Preparing staff for changes in policies and procedures - correct answer- C. Counseling
v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
staff for time and attendance issues
v v v v v v
You are the CNL on a Cardiology Unit. The hospital has attempted to initiate computerized
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
order entry for physicians (CPOE) which has the strong support of your nursing team.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Once again, the initiative on your unit is postponed largely due to the complaints of a
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
cardiologist who admits many patients to your facility. The night nursing staff is very angry
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
WITH ALL ANSWERS UPDATED
The Clinical Nurse Leader role is best described as:
v v v v v v v v v
A. An advanced practice role
v v v v
B. A role with a focus on specialty nursing care
v v v v v v v v v v
C. A case manager
v v v
D. A generalist clinician with education at the master's degree level - correct answer- D. A
v v v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
generalist clinician with education at the master's degree level
v v v v v v v v v
The Clinical Nurse Leader Project Team are evaluating the role on a national basis on all
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the following patient outcomes EXCEPT:
v v v v v
A. Inpatient Readmission
v v
B. Cost of care
v v v
C. Patient falls
v v
D. Surgical infection rate - correct answer- B. Cost of care
v v v v vv v vv v v v
Which of the following best describes metabolic syndrome:
v v v v v v v
A. An advanced disturbance of fluid and electrolytes in diabetics
v v v v v v v v v
B. The constellation of lipid and non-lipid risk factors linked to insulin resistance
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
C. Evidence of impaired renal function in patients with hypertension
v v v v v v v v v
D. The occurrence of dyslipidemia in patients with obesity - correct answer- B. The
v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
constellation of lipid and non-lipid risk factors linked to insulin resistance
v v v v v v v v v v v
In preparing an educational program for your staff about delegation to LPN Team
v v v v v v v v v v v v
Members, you stress that the which of the following tasks cannot be delegated according
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
to the Nurse Practice Act:
v v v v v
A. Recording of Vital Signs
v v v v
B. IV insertion
v v
,C. Patient Reassessment
v v
D. Health and Wellness Promotion - correct answer- C. Patient Reassessment
v v v v v vv v vv v v
As a CNL, you meet with staff after a sentinel event in your work area and are asked about
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the cause. No conclusive findings have been reached but your are aware from your
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
reading that the most frequent cause of sentinel events is which one of the following:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Procedural Complications
v v v
B. Staffing
v
C. Competency Issues
v v
D. Communication Issues - correct answer- D. Communication Issues
v v v vv v vv v v
Ototoxic drugs are a potential cause of sensorineural hearing loss. Which of the following
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
drugs may cause hearing loss?
v v v v v
A. Penicillin
v
B. Minocycline
v v
C. Cephalexin
v v
D. Gentamicin - correct answer- D. Gentamicin
v v vv v vv v
Complexity theory has developed from the field of: v v v v v v v v
A. Nursing
v
B. Business
v
C. Industry
v
D. Quantum Physics - correct answer- D. Quantum Physics
v v v vv v vv v v
Research by Aiken et al. on magnet hospitals shows: v v v v v v v v
A. No relationship between job satisfaction and patient outcomes.
v v v v v v v v v
B. Magnet hospitals have higher rates of nursing turnover.
v v v v v v v v
C. No relationship between nursing satisfaction and turnover.
v v v v v v v
D. Job satisfaction is positively related to patient outcomes. - correct answer- D. Job
v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
satisfaction is positively related to patient outcomes.
v v v v v v v
The CNL recognizes that gaining trust is a fundamental element in planned change. Which
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
behavior or process would hinder the development of trust?
v v v v v v v v v
A. Providing all necessary information
v v v v
B. Providing only information deemed necessary by formal leaders
v v v v v v v v v
C. Achieving buy-in from formal and informal leaders
v v v v v v v
D. Including all interested parties in the planning of change - correct answer- B. Providing
v v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
only information deemed necessary by formal leaders
v v v v v v v
Adequate sample size for as study is defined by: v v v v v v v v
A. A minimum of ten subjects per variable
v v v v v v v
B. A minimum of thirty subjects for a descriptive study
v v v v v v v v v
C. Anticipated effect size, power of the statistical tests, and significance level
v v v v v v v v v v v v
D. Maturity of the concepts being studied - correct answer- C. Anticipated effect size,
v v v v v v v vv v vv v v v
power of the statistical tests, and significance level
v v v v v v v v
,The staff on your unit complain about the inability of their new graduates to provide a
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
comprehensive end of shift report. As CNL, you know from reading Benner's work that
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
new graduates are usually in what stage of development:
v v v v v v v v v
A. Expert
v
B. Competent
v
C. Proficient
v
D. Advanced Beginner or Novice - correct answer- D. Advanced Beginner or Novice
v v v v v vv v vv v v v v
In evaluating a data set of recently admitted patients to her unit, the CNL notes that 40% of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the patients have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. This would be an example of the CNL
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
as:
v
A. Team Manager
v v
B. Advocate
v
C. Risk Anticipator
v v
D. Educator - correct answer- C. Risk Anticipator
v v vv v vv v v
The hemoglobin A1C gives you an indication of your patient's glucose control over:
v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Month
v
B. 4-6 Weeks
v v
C. 60-90 Days
v v
D. Year - correct answer- C. 60-90 Days
v v vv v vv v v
You begin to mediate a conflict with two of your team members and recognize that the first
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
step in the mediation process is to:
v v v v v v v
A. Listen to both sides
v v v v
B. Establish the ground rules
v v v v
C. Focus on the facts not the people
v v v v v v v v
D. Don't judge - correct answer- B. Establish the ground rules
v v v vv v vv v v v v
Which of the following would not be included in a cultural assessment of patients:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Patient identification of their cultural/ethnic group
v v v v v v
B. Food preferences and taboos
v v v v
C. Communication/Language
v
D. Political views - correct answer- D. Political views
v v v vv v vv v v
When discussing supervision and delegation with nurses on your unit, you note that the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
most acutely ill patients on your unit are often given to agency nurses. If the patient were to
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
have a bad outcome and the case were reviewed by a nurse expert, which of the following
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
standards of delegation would be questioned:
v v v v v v
A. Assignment of the right task
v v v v v
B. Assignment of the right person
v v v v v
C. Follow-up with the right communication
v v v v v v
D. Provision of the right feedback - correct answer- B. Assignment of the right person
v v v v v v vv v vv v v v v v
Your health care agency is experiencing budget deficits. The Chief Nursing Officer has
v v v v v v v v v v v v
asked you to prepare a briefing for the CEO outlining the value of the CNL role. Which of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
, the following outcomes would be the most critical to highlight in making a financial case for
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
your role:
v v
A. Patient satisfaction
v v
B. Nursing staff retention
v v v
C. Reduction in Length of Stay
v v v v v v
D. Reduction in Patient Falls - correct answer- C. Reduction in Length of Stay
v v v v v vv v vv v v v v v
Which of the following statements about AIDS is incorrect?
v v v v v v v v v
A. Most diagnoses are made in persons 20-49 years of age.
v v v v v v v v v v v
B. Over 1.5 million Americans are infected with HIV
v v v v v v v v
C. The ELISA is a screening tool.
v v v v v v
D. HIV is transmitted through casual kissing - correct answer- D. HIV is transmitted
v v v v v v v vv v vv v v v
through casual kissing
v v v
Aspects of professional nursing practice that CANNOT be delegated are:
v v v v v v v v v v
A. Monitoring and Recording
v v v
B. Implementation and Feedback
v v v
C. Assessment and Evaluation
v v v
D. Reporting and Recording - correct answer- C. Assessment and Evaluation
v v v v vv v vv v v v
Osteoarthritis is often associated with: v v v v v
A. Systemic symptoms of disease
v v v v
B. Restricted joint movement
v v v
C. Elevated temperature
v v
D. Inflammation of the proximal interphalangeal joints - correct answer- B. Restricted joint
v v v v v v v vv v vv v v
movement
v
A patient is admitted to your unit after experiencing seizures. In helping a novice nurse do
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the initial nursing assessment, you remind her that the most important information in
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
seizure assessment is usually provided by:
v v v v v v
A. A CT Scan
v v v
B. An EEG
v v
C. An Eyewitness
v v
D. Magnetic Resonance Imaging - correct answer- C. An Eyewitness
v v v v vv v vv v v
Coaching is the appropriate strategy for the CNL all of the following situations EXCEPT:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Teaching staff a new skill
v v v v v
B. Helping staff work through a patient care problem
v v v v v v v v
C. Counseling staff for time and attendance issues
v v v v v v v
D. Preparing staff for changes in policies and procedures - correct answer- C. Counseling
v v v v v v v v v vv v vv v
staff for time and attendance issues
v v v v v v
You are the CNL on a Cardiology Unit. The hospital has attempted to initiate computerized
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
order entry for physicians (CPOE) which has the strong support of your nursing team.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Once again, the initiative on your unit is postponed largely due to the complaints of a
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
cardiologist who admits many patients to your facility. The night nursing staff is very angry
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
