ATI RN Leadership 2023/2026:
Practice Questions with Answers &
Rationales
## SECTION 8: STAFFING AND SCHEDULING
### Question 51
**A nurse manager is calculating the nursing care hours needed for a
30-bed medical-surgical unit with an average acuity of 1.5. The
recommended nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD) for this acuity is
4.2. How many total nursing care hours are needed for a 24-hour
period?**
A. 126 hours
B. 150 hours
C. 189 hours
D. 210 hours
,**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Total nursing care hours = Number of patients × NHPPD
× Acuity factor. Calculation: 30 patients × 4.2 NHPPD × 1.5 acuity = 189
hours. This calculation helps determine appropriate staffing levels
based on patient acuity and evidence-based workload standards .
---
### Question 52
**A charge nurse is making shift assignments. Which factor should be
the priority when assigning patients to nursing staff?**
A. Staff preferences for patient assignments
B. Patient acuity and complexity of care needs
C. Seniority of nursing staff
D. Room numbers for efficiency
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Patient acuity and complexity of care should be the
primary factor in assignment decisions to ensure patient safety and
appropriate skill matching. While staff preferences and seniority may
be considered, patient needs must take priority .
,---
### Question 53
**A nurse manager is developing the staffing schedule for a unit. Which
scheduling approach best promotes staff satisfaction and retention?**
A. Mandatory overtime for all staff
B. Fixed schedules with no flexibility
C. Self-scheduling with guidelines
D. Random scheduling by computer
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Self-scheduling allows staff to have input into their work
schedules, promoting work-life balance, job satisfaction, and retention.
This participative approach empowers staff and reduces scheduling
conflicts .
---
### Question 54
, **The nurse manager reviews the staffing budget and notes that
overtime costs have increased significantly. What is the best initial
action?**
A. Eliminate all overtime immediately
B. Analyze the reasons for increased overtime
C. Hire more staff without analyzing the cause
D. Reduce patient admissions to decrease workload
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Before making staffing changes, the manager should
conduct a thorough analysis to identify root causes of increased
overtime, such as increased acuity, absenteeism, or inefficient
scheduling practices. This data-driven approach leads to more effective
solutions .
---
### Question 55
**Which staffing model assigns a nurse to the same group of patients
throughout their hospital stay?**
A. Team nursing
Practice Questions with Answers &
Rationales
## SECTION 8: STAFFING AND SCHEDULING
### Question 51
**A nurse manager is calculating the nursing care hours needed for a
30-bed medical-surgical unit with an average acuity of 1.5. The
recommended nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD) for this acuity is
4.2. How many total nursing care hours are needed for a 24-hour
period?**
A. 126 hours
B. 150 hours
C. 189 hours
D. 210 hours
,**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Total nursing care hours = Number of patients × NHPPD
× Acuity factor. Calculation: 30 patients × 4.2 NHPPD × 1.5 acuity = 189
hours. This calculation helps determine appropriate staffing levels
based on patient acuity and evidence-based workload standards .
---
### Question 52
**A charge nurse is making shift assignments. Which factor should be
the priority when assigning patients to nursing staff?**
A. Staff preferences for patient assignments
B. Patient acuity and complexity of care needs
C. Seniority of nursing staff
D. Room numbers for efficiency
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Patient acuity and complexity of care should be the
primary factor in assignment decisions to ensure patient safety and
appropriate skill matching. While staff preferences and seniority may
be considered, patient needs must take priority .
,---
### Question 53
**A nurse manager is developing the staffing schedule for a unit. Which
scheduling approach best promotes staff satisfaction and retention?**
A. Mandatory overtime for all staff
B. Fixed schedules with no flexibility
C. Self-scheduling with guidelines
D. Random scheduling by computer
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Self-scheduling allows staff to have input into their work
schedules, promoting work-life balance, job satisfaction, and retention.
This participative approach empowers staff and reduces scheduling
conflicts .
---
### Question 54
, **The nurse manager reviews the staffing budget and notes that
overtime costs have increased significantly. What is the best initial
action?**
A. Eliminate all overtime immediately
B. Analyze the reasons for increased overtime
C. Hire more staff without analyzing the cause
D. Reduce patient admissions to decrease workload
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Before making staffing changes, the manager should
conduct a thorough analysis to identify root causes of increased
overtime, such as increased acuity, absenteeism, or inefficient
scheduling practices. This data-driven approach leads to more effective
solutions .
---
### Question 55
**Which staffing model assigns a nurse to the same group of patients
throughout their hospital stay?**
A. Team nursing
