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WEST COAST UNIVERSITY NURS 420 –
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
2026/27 GRADED A+ | 100% GUARANTEED PASS
Covers Leadership Theories, Management Functions, Delegation,
Prioritization, Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, Ethical/Legal
Issues, Organizational Behavior, and Healthcare Policy
---
QUESTION 1
A nurse manager is implementing a shared governance model on a unit.
Which of the following best describes the primary goal of this approach?
A) To reduce the financial burden of staffing by utilizing fewer
registered nurses
B) To allow nursing staff more control over their practice and work
environment
C) To ensure all unit policies are created exclusively by the nurse
manager
D) To replace the need for a formal leadership structure on the unit
Verified Answer: B
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Rationale: Shared governance is a model that empowers nursing staff by
giving them control over their practice and work environment. It
promotes professional autonomy and accountability. It does not reduce
staffing, centralize control, or eliminate leadership structures.
QUESTION 2
A newly licensed nurse asks a charge nurse, "What is the difference
between a leader and a manager?" Which response by the charge nurse is
accurate?
A) "A leader is always a manager, but a manager is not always a leader."
B) "Leadership focuses on controlling resources, while management
focuses on influencing people."
C) "A manager is appointed to a position, while a leader is perceived as
influential by followers."
D) "Management is a trait one is born with, while leadership is a skill
that can be learned."
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: A manager holds a formal position with authority granted by
the organization. A leader is someone who has influence and is perceived
as such by followers, regardless of formal position. Leadership can be
learned and does not require formal authority.
QUESTION 3
A nurse is consistently late completing assignments and frequently calls
in sick on Mondays. The nurse manager schedules a meeting to discuss
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this pattern. This action by the manager is an example of which
management function?
A) Planning
B) Organizing
C) Staffing
D) Controlling
Verified Answer: D
Rationale: Controlling involves monitoring performance, comparing it
with standards, and taking corrective action when needed. Addressing a
pattern of lateness is a controlling function. Planning sets goals,
organizing coordinates resources, and staffing involves hiring and
scheduling.
QUESTION 4
A charge nurse notices that a staff nurse is very effective at motivating
the team to adopt new evidence-based practices, even though the staff
nurse holds no formal leadership position. Which term best describes
this staff nurse?
A) Informal leader
B) Formal leader
C) Manager
D) Change agent
Verified Answer: A
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Rationale: An informal leader is someone who influences others without
formal authority. This staff nurse has earned respect and motivates the
team. A manager holds formal authority. A change agent facilitates
change but is a broader role.
QUESTION 5
A nurse manager is implementing a change in the unit's scheduling
system. The manager first creates awareness among staff that the current
system is problematic. This strategy is most effective during which stage
of Lewin's Change Theory?
A) Unfreezing
B) Moving
C) Refreezing
D) Evaluation
Verified Answer: A
Rationale: The unfreezing stage involves creating awareness that a
change is needed and breaking down resistance. Moving is
implementing the change. Refreezing is stabilizing the change.
Evaluation occurs throughout. Change champions are most effective in
the moving stage .
QUESTION 6
A unit is transitioning to a new electronic health record (EHR) system.
The nurse manager identifies "change champions" on the unit to help
support staff through the transition. This strategy is most effective during
which stage of Lewin's Change Theory?
WEST COAST UNIVERSITY NURS 420 –
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
2026/27 GRADED A+ | 100% GUARANTEED PASS
Covers Leadership Theories, Management Functions, Delegation,
Prioritization, Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, Ethical/Legal
Issues, Organizational Behavior, and Healthcare Policy
---
QUESTION 1
A nurse manager is implementing a shared governance model on a unit.
Which of the following best describes the primary goal of this approach?
A) To reduce the financial burden of staffing by utilizing fewer
registered nurses
B) To allow nursing staff more control over their practice and work
environment
C) To ensure all unit policies are created exclusively by the nurse
manager
D) To replace the need for a formal leadership structure on the unit
Verified Answer: B
,2 | Page
Rationale: Shared governance is a model that empowers nursing staff by
giving them control over their practice and work environment. It
promotes professional autonomy and accountability. It does not reduce
staffing, centralize control, or eliminate leadership structures.
QUESTION 2
A newly licensed nurse asks a charge nurse, "What is the difference
between a leader and a manager?" Which response by the charge nurse is
accurate?
A) "A leader is always a manager, but a manager is not always a leader."
B) "Leadership focuses on controlling resources, while management
focuses on influencing people."
C) "A manager is appointed to a position, while a leader is perceived as
influential by followers."
D) "Management is a trait one is born with, while leadership is a skill
that can be learned."
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: A manager holds a formal position with authority granted by
the organization. A leader is someone who has influence and is perceived
as such by followers, regardless of formal position. Leadership can be
learned and does not require formal authority.
QUESTION 3
A nurse is consistently late completing assignments and frequently calls
in sick on Mondays. The nurse manager schedules a meeting to discuss
,3 | Page
this pattern. This action by the manager is an example of which
management function?
A) Planning
B) Organizing
C) Staffing
D) Controlling
Verified Answer: D
Rationale: Controlling involves monitoring performance, comparing it
with standards, and taking corrective action when needed. Addressing a
pattern of lateness is a controlling function. Planning sets goals,
organizing coordinates resources, and staffing involves hiring and
scheduling.
QUESTION 4
A charge nurse notices that a staff nurse is very effective at motivating
the team to adopt new evidence-based practices, even though the staff
nurse holds no formal leadership position. Which term best describes
this staff nurse?
A) Informal leader
B) Formal leader
C) Manager
D) Change agent
Verified Answer: A
, 4 | Page
Rationale: An informal leader is someone who influences others without
formal authority. This staff nurse has earned respect and motivates the
team. A manager holds formal authority. A change agent facilitates
change but is a broader role.
QUESTION 5
A nurse manager is implementing a change in the unit's scheduling
system. The manager first creates awareness among staff that the current
system is problematic. This strategy is most effective during which stage
of Lewin's Change Theory?
A) Unfreezing
B) Moving
C) Refreezing
D) Evaluation
Verified Answer: A
Rationale: The unfreezing stage involves creating awareness that a
change is needed and breaking down resistance. Moving is
implementing the change. Refreezing is stabilizing the change.
Evaluation occurs throughout. Change champions are most effective in
the moving stage .
QUESTION 6
A unit is transitioning to a new electronic health record (EHR) system.
The nurse manager identifies "change champions" on the unit to help
support staff through the transition. This strategy is most effective during
which stage of Lewin's Change Theory?
