Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML)
Practice ExamQuestions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2025/2026
Q&A |Already graded A+
1. Which of the following best describes transformational
leadership in nursing?
A. Focuses on maintaining routines and policies
B. Encourages staff to follow established rules
C. Inspires and motivates staff to achieve shared goals
D. Prioritizes task completion over staff development
Rationale: Transformational leaders inspire and motivate staff,
fostering professional growth and innovation, rather than focusing
solely on tasks or compliance.
2. A nurse manager notices high turnover on her unit. What is the
most effective initial action?
A. Increase salaries for all staff
B. Replace staff with temporary hires
C. Conduct a staff satisfaction survey
D. Reduce patient assignments
Rationale: Understanding the root causes of turnover through
surveys or feedback helps develop effective, targeted retention
strategies.
3. Shared governance in nursing primarily aims to:
A. Reduce management responsibilities
,B. Empower staff to participate in decision-making
C. Centralize decision-making
D. Increase administrative control
Rationale: Shared governance structures empower nurses to have a
voice in policies, procedures, and practice decisions, improving
engagement and outcomes.
4. What is the primary purpose of a SWOT analysis for a nursing
unit?
A. Assign staff tasks efficiently
B. Schedule patient appointments
C. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
D. Monitor individual nurse performance
Rationale: SWOT analysis helps leaders understand internal and
external factors affecting unit performance, guiding strategic
planning.
5. Which leadership style is most effective during a nursing crisis or
emergency?
A. Laissez-faire
B. Transformational
C. Autocratic
D. Democratic
Rationale: In emergencies, decisive and clear direction is needed,
which is characteristic of autocratic leadership.
6. A nurse manager is developing a budget for the upcoming year.
Which approach emphasizes using historical data as a baseline?
A. Zero-based budgeting
,B. Incremental budgeting
C. Flexible budgeting
D. Activity-based budgeting
Rationale: Incremental budgeting uses previous budget amounts as a
starting point and adjusts for anticipated changes.
7. Magnet® recognition is associated with:
A. Reduced staffing needs
B. Financial incentives for nurses
C. Excellence in nursing practice and leadership
D. Mandatory reporting requirements
Rationale: Magnet recognition indicates a healthcare organization
demonstrates excellence in nursing practice, leadership, and patient
care outcomes.
8. Which of the following is a key component of effective conflict
resolution?
A. Avoiding the conflict
B. Active listening and understanding perspectives
C. Imposing solutions quickly
D. Maintaining strict hierarchy
Rationale: Active listening and seeking mutual understanding are
essential for resolving workplace conflicts constructively.
9. A nurse manager wants to implement evidence-based practice
(EBP) on the unit. What is the first step?
A. Apply the latest clinical guideline
B. Formulate a clear clinical question
, C. Train staff in documentation
D. Audit patient charts
Rationale: EBP begins with a well-formulated clinical question to
guide the search for best evidence.
10. What is the best measure of a unit’s patient safety culture?
A. Staff turnover rates
B. Number of patients per nurse
C. Frequency of incident reporting and follow-up
D. Number of annual audits
Rationale: A positive patient safety culture encourages reporting,
learning from errors, and implementing safety improvements.
11. When delegating tasks, a nurse manager should primarily
consider:
A. Staff personal preferences
B. Staff competence and patient safety
C. Time of day
D. Job title only
Rationale: Delegation must match the skill level and training of staff
to ensure safe and effective patient care.
12. What is the primary goal of performance appraisals in nursing
management?
A. Punish underperforming staff
B. Support staff development and improve performance
C. Document for legal purposes only
D. Reduce staff workload
Practice ExamQuestions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2025/2026
Q&A |Already graded A+
1. Which of the following best describes transformational
leadership in nursing?
A. Focuses on maintaining routines and policies
B. Encourages staff to follow established rules
C. Inspires and motivates staff to achieve shared goals
D. Prioritizes task completion over staff development
Rationale: Transformational leaders inspire and motivate staff,
fostering professional growth and innovation, rather than focusing
solely on tasks or compliance.
2. A nurse manager notices high turnover on her unit. What is the
most effective initial action?
A. Increase salaries for all staff
B. Replace staff with temporary hires
C. Conduct a staff satisfaction survey
D. Reduce patient assignments
Rationale: Understanding the root causes of turnover through
surveys or feedback helps develop effective, targeted retention
strategies.
3. Shared governance in nursing primarily aims to:
A. Reduce management responsibilities
,B. Empower staff to participate in decision-making
C. Centralize decision-making
D. Increase administrative control
Rationale: Shared governance structures empower nurses to have a
voice in policies, procedures, and practice decisions, improving
engagement and outcomes.
4. What is the primary purpose of a SWOT analysis for a nursing
unit?
A. Assign staff tasks efficiently
B. Schedule patient appointments
C. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
D. Monitor individual nurse performance
Rationale: SWOT analysis helps leaders understand internal and
external factors affecting unit performance, guiding strategic
planning.
5. Which leadership style is most effective during a nursing crisis or
emergency?
A. Laissez-faire
B. Transformational
C. Autocratic
D. Democratic
Rationale: In emergencies, decisive and clear direction is needed,
which is characteristic of autocratic leadership.
6. A nurse manager is developing a budget for the upcoming year.
Which approach emphasizes using historical data as a baseline?
A. Zero-based budgeting
,B. Incremental budgeting
C. Flexible budgeting
D. Activity-based budgeting
Rationale: Incremental budgeting uses previous budget amounts as a
starting point and adjusts for anticipated changes.
7. Magnet® recognition is associated with:
A. Reduced staffing needs
B. Financial incentives for nurses
C. Excellence in nursing practice and leadership
D. Mandatory reporting requirements
Rationale: Magnet recognition indicates a healthcare organization
demonstrates excellence in nursing practice, leadership, and patient
care outcomes.
8. Which of the following is a key component of effective conflict
resolution?
A. Avoiding the conflict
B. Active listening and understanding perspectives
C. Imposing solutions quickly
D. Maintaining strict hierarchy
Rationale: Active listening and seeking mutual understanding are
essential for resolving workplace conflicts constructively.
9. A nurse manager wants to implement evidence-based practice
(EBP) on the unit. What is the first step?
A. Apply the latest clinical guideline
B. Formulate a clear clinical question
, C. Train staff in documentation
D. Audit patient charts
Rationale: EBP begins with a well-formulated clinical question to
guide the search for best evidence.
10. What is the best measure of a unit’s patient safety culture?
A. Staff turnover rates
B. Number of patients per nurse
C. Frequency of incident reporting and follow-up
D. Number of annual audits
Rationale: A positive patient safety culture encourages reporting,
learning from errors, and implementing safety improvements.
11. When delegating tasks, a nurse manager should primarily
consider:
A. Staff personal preferences
B. Staff competence and patient safety
C. Time of day
D. Job title only
Rationale: Delegation must match the skill level and training of staff
to ensure safe and effective patient care.
12. What is the primary goal of performance appraisals in nursing
management?
A. Punish underperforming staff
B. Support staff development and improve performance
C. Document for legal purposes only
D. Reduce staff workload
