Nursing Leadership Exam 1 | Final Exam
Study Guide 2026/2027
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing Leadership (Questions 1-20)
Q1: Which leadership style is characterized by centralized decision-making and minimal staff
input?
A) Democratic
B) Laissez-faire
C) Autocratic ✓
D) Transformational
Q2: The primary difference between leadership and management is:
A) Leaders focus on systems, managers focus on people
B) Leaders inspire change, managers maintain stability ✓
C) Managers have formal authority, leaders don't
D) There is no significant difference
Q3: Which theory suggests that leaders are born with inherent traits?
A) Behavioral theory
B) Situational theory
C) Great Man theory ✓
D) Transformational theory
Q4: Emotional Intelligence in nursing leadership includes all EXCEPT:
A) Self-awareness
B) Social skills
C) Clinical expertise ✓
D) Self-regulation
Q5: A nurse manager who encourages staff to participate in unit decisions is demonstrating:
A) Autocratic leadership
B) Democratic leadership ✓
C) Laissez-faire leadership
D) Transactional leadership
Q6: According to Kotter, the first step in leading change is:
A) Communicate the vision
B) Create a guiding coalition
,C) Establish urgency ✓
D) Generate short-term wins
Q7: Which is NOT a component of authentic leadership?
A) Self-awareness
B) Relational transparency
C) Internalized moral perspective
D) Authoritative decision-making ✓
Q8: Servant leadership primarily focuses on:
A) Achieving organizational goals at any cost
B) Serving and empowering followers ✓
C) Maintaining strict hierarchy
D) Maximizing financial outcomes
Q9: Transformational leadership differs from transactional leadership in its emphasis on:
A) Rewards and punishments
B) Inspiring and motivating change ✓
C) Maintaining status quo
D) Formal authority structures
Q10: A charge nurse who adjusts their leadership style based on staff experience level is using:
A) Situational leadership ✓
B) Transformational leadership
C) Autocratic leadership
D) Servant leadership
Q11: The "triple aim" in healthcare includes all EXCEPT:
A) Improving population health
B) Reducing per capita costs
C) Enhancing patient experience
D) Increasing staff salaries ✓
Q12: Clinical nurse leaders (CNLs) are primarily focused on:
A) Hospital administration
B) Microsystem-level outcomes ✓
C) Nursing research only
D) Physician collaboration exclusively
Q13: Magnet recognition requires demonstration of:
A) Financial profitability
,B) Empirical outcomes ✓
C) Physician satisfaction
D) All of the above
Q14: According to the ANA, the core of nursing leadership is:
A) Budget management
B) Ethical practice ✓
C) Staff scheduling
D) Policy development
Q15: Quantum leadership theory emphasizes:
A) Predictability and control
B) Chaos and complexity ✓
C) Hierarchical structures
D) Standardized processes
Q16: A nurse executive's primary responsibility is:
A) Direct patient care
B) Organizational strategy and outcomes ✓
C) Unit-level staffing
D) Physician relations
Q17: The Institute of Medicine recommends nurses should:
A) Practice to their full educational preparation ✓
B) Limit advanced practice roles
C) Focus only on technical skills
D) Avoid leadership positions
Q18: Shared governance models empower:
A) Physicians only
B) Nursing staff in decision-making ✓
C) Administration exclusively
D) External regulators
Q19: The "glass ceiling" in nursing leadership refers to:
A) Transparent communication
B) Barriers to advancement for women/minorities ✓
C) Budget constraints
D) Licensing requirements
, Q20: Interprofessional leadership requires:
A) Nursing dominance
B) Collaborative practice across disciplines ✓
C) Physician-led teams only
D) Administrative control
Section 2: Communication & Conflict Resolution (Questions 21-40)
Q21: Active listening includes:
A) Planning your response while others speak
B) Paraphrasing and clarifying ✓
C) Avoiding eye contact
D) Interrupting for clarification
Q22: The SBAR communication tool stands for:
A) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation ✓
B) Summary, Background, Analysis, Response
C) Situation, Briefing, Action, Result
D) Summary, Background, Assessment, Resolution
Q23: A "I" statement in conflict resolution typically follows this pattern:
A) "You always make mistakes"
B) "I feel frustrated when deadlines are missed" ✓
C) "Everyone knows this is wrong"
D) "The policy says you should..."
Q24: Which is NOT a barrier to effective communication?
A) Jargon
B) Active listening ✓
C) Cultural differences
D) Emotional states
Q25: The conflict resolution style that seeks mutual gain is:
A) Avoiding
B) Competing
C) Collaborating ✓
D) Accommodating
Study Guide 2026/2027
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing Leadership (Questions 1-20)
Q1: Which leadership style is characterized by centralized decision-making and minimal staff
input?
A) Democratic
B) Laissez-faire
C) Autocratic ✓
D) Transformational
Q2: The primary difference between leadership and management is:
A) Leaders focus on systems, managers focus on people
B) Leaders inspire change, managers maintain stability ✓
C) Managers have formal authority, leaders don't
D) There is no significant difference
Q3: Which theory suggests that leaders are born with inherent traits?
A) Behavioral theory
B) Situational theory
C) Great Man theory ✓
D) Transformational theory
Q4: Emotional Intelligence in nursing leadership includes all EXCEPT:
A) Self-awareness
B) Social skills
C) Clinical expertise ✓
D) Self-regulation
Q5: A nurse manager who encourages staff to participate in unit decisions is demonstrating:
A) Autocratic leadership
B) Democratic leadership ✓
C) Laissez-faire leadership
D) Transactional leadership
Q6: According to Kotter, the first step in leading change is:
A) Communicate the vision
B) Create a guiding coalition
,C) Establish urgency ✓
D) Generate short-term wins
Q7: Which is NOT a component of authentic leadership?
A) Self-awareness
B) Relational transparency
C) Internalized moral perspective
D) Authoritative decision-making ✓
Q8: Servant leadership primarily focuses on:
A) Achieving organizational goals at any cost
B) Serving and empowering followers ✓
C) Maintaining strict hierarchy
D) Maximizing financial outcomes
Q9: Transformational leadership differs from transactional leadership in its emphasis on:
A) Rewards and punishments
B) Inspiring and motivating change ✓
C) Maintaining status quo
D) Formal authority structures
Q10: A charge nurse who adjusts their leadership style based on staff experience level is using:
A) Situational leadership ✓
B) Transformational leadership
C) Autocratic leadership
D) Servant leadership
Q11: The "triple aim" in healthcare includes all EXCEPT:
A) Improving population health
B) Reducing per capita costs
C) Enhancing patient experience
D) Increasing staff salaries ✓
Q12: Clinical nurse leaders (CNLs) are primarily focused on:
A) Hospital administration
B) Microsystem-level outcomes ✓
C) Nursing research only
D) Physician collaboration exclusively
Q13: Magnet recognition requires demonstration of:
A) Financial profitability
,B) Empirical outcomes ✓
C) Physician satisfaction
D) All of the above
Q14: According to the ANA, the core of nursing leadership is:
A) Budget management
B) Ethical practice ✓
C) Staff scheduling
D) Policy development
Q15: Quantum leadership theory emphasizes:
A) Predictability and control
B) Chaos and complexity ✓
C) Hierarchical structures
D) Standardized processes
Q16: A nurse executive's primary responsibility is:
A) Direct patient care
B) Organizational strategy and outcomes ✓
C) Unit-level staffing
D) Physician relations
Q17: The Institute of Medicine recommends nurses should:
A) Practice to their full educational preparation ✓
B) Limit advanced practice roles
C) Focus only on technical skills
D) Avoid leadership positions
Q18: Shared governance models empower:
A) Physicians only
B) Nursing staff in decision-making ✓
C) Administration exclusively
D) External regulators
Q19: The "glass ceiling" in nursing leadership refers to:
A) Transparent communication
B) Barriers to advancement for women/minorities ✓
C) Budget constraints
D) Licensing requirements
, Q20: Interprofessional leadership requires:
A) Nursing dominance
B) Collaborative practice across disciplines ✓
C) Physician-led teams only
D) Administrative control
Section 2: Communication & Conflict Resolution (Questions 21-40)
Q21: Active listening includes:
A) Planning your response while others speak
B) Paraphrasing and clarifying ✓
C) Avoiding eye contact
D) Interrupting for clarification
Q22: The SBAR communication tool stands for:
A) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation ✓
B) Summary, Background, Analysis, Response
C) Situation, Briefing, Action, Result
D) Summary, Background, Assessment, Resolution
Q23: A "I" statement in conflict resolution typically follows this pattern:
A) "You always make mistakes"
B) "I feel frustrated when deadlines are missed" ✓
C) "Everyone knows this is wrong"
D) "The policy says you should..."
Q24: Which is NOT a barrier to effective communication?
A) Jargon
B) Active listening ✓
C) Cultural differences
D) Emotional states
Q25: The conflict resolution style that seeks mutual gain is:
A) Avoiding
B) Competing
C) Collaborating ✓
D) Accommodating
