ATI LEADERSHIP CMS PROCTORED EXAM
2025/2026 | REAL EXAM QUESTIONS &
100% VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS –
LATEST VERSION
Case Study 1: Managing a Staffing Crisis on a Medical-
Surgical Unit
Scenario: A nurse manager on a medical-surgical unit is addressing a staffing shortage during a
night shift. The unit has 20 patients, but only three RNs and one CNA are available instead of the
usual five RNs and two CNAs. The manager must prioritize patient safety and staff well-being.
Question 1 (Multiple Choice)
What is the nurse manager’s priority action to address the staffing shortage?
• A) Assign all patients to the three RNs equally
• B) Request additional staff from the float pool
• C) Cancel all non-emergent patient procedures
• D) Limit patient admissions to the unit
• Answer: B. Request additional staff from the float pool
• Rationale: Requesting float pool staff (B) directly addresses the shortage while
maintaining patient safety. Equal assignment (A) risks overloading staff, canceling
procedures (C) is unnecessary, and limiting admissions (D) may not be feasible.
Question 2 (Select All That Apply)
Which actions should the nurse manager take to ensure patient safety during the shortage?
(Select all that apply.)
• A) Reassign non-critical tasks to the CNA
• B) Prioritize high-acuity patients for RN care
• C) Delegate medication administration to the CNA
• D) Conduct a brief team huddle to reprioritize tasks
• E) Allow staff to skip documentation
• Answers: A, B, D
• Rationale:
, o A: Reassigning non-critical tasks (e.g., hygiene) to the CNA is appropriate.
o B: Prioritizing high-acuity patients ensures RN focus on critical care.
o D: A huddle reprioritizes tasks effectively.
o C: CNAs cannot administer medications.
o E: Skipping documentation compromises care and legal standards.
Question 3 (Bow-Tie)
Complete the bow-tie diagram for managing the staffing shortage:
• Condition: Staffing shortage on medical-surgical unit
• Actions to Take: (Select two)
o A) Request float pool staff
o B) Delegate vital signs to unlicensed personnel
o C) Administer all medications personally
• Parameters to Monitor: (Select two)
o D) Patient safety incidents
o E) Staff workload
o F) Patient satisfaction scores
• Potential Complications: (Select one)
o G) Increased medication errors
o H) Low staff morale
o I) Decreased infection rates
• Answers:
o Actions to Take: A, B
o Parameters to Monitor: D, E
o Potential Complication: G
• Rationale:
o Actions: Float pool staff (A) and delegating vital signs (B) optimize resources.
Administering medications personally (C) is impractical.
o Parameters: Safety incidents (D) and workload (E) ensure quality care.
o Complication: Medication errors (G) are a risk during shortages.
Question 4 (Multiple Choice)
Which leadership style should the nurse manager use to address staff concerns during the
shortage?
• A) Autocratic
• B) Transformational
• C) Laissez-faire
• D) Transactional
• Answer: B. Transformational
• Rationale: Transformational leadership (B) fosters collaboration and motivates staff
during crises, unlike autocratic (A), laissez-faire (C), or transactional (D) styles.
, Question 5 (Drag and Drop)
Place the steps of addressing the staffing crisis in the correct order:
• A) Assess patient acuity
• B) Request additional staff
• C) Reassign tasks
• D) Monitor patient outcomes
• E) Conduct team debrief
• Answer:
1. A) Assess patient acuity
2. B) Request additional staff
3. C) Reassign tasks
4. D) Monitor patient outcomes
5. E) Conduct team debrief
• Rationale: Assessing acuity guides prioritization, followed by requesting staff,
reassigning tasks, monitoring outcomes, and debriefing.
Question 6 (Cloze)
Complete the sentence: To manage the staffing shortage, the nurse manager should prioritize
________ and ensure ________ to maintain patient safety.
• Answer: To manage the staffing shortage, the nurse manager should prioritize patient
acuity assessment and ensure appropriate delegation to maintain patient safety.
• Rationale: Acuity assessment and delegation optimize care delivery during shortages.
Question 7 (Matrix)
Match the leadership action to its purpose:
Action Purpose
Assess patient acuity A) Prioritize care assignments
Delegate tasks B) Optimize staff resources
Monitor outcomes C) Ensure quality and safety
Conduct team huddle D) Facilitate communication and planning
• Answers:
o Assess patient acuity: A
o Delegate tasks: B
o Monitor outcomes: C
o Conduct team huddle: D
• Rationale: Each action supports a specific leadership goal during a staffing crisis.
Question 8 (Multiple Choice)
2025/2026 | REAL EXAM QUESTIONS &
100% VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS –
LATEST VERSION
Case Study 1: Managing a Staffing Crisis on a Medical-
Surgical Unit
Scenario: A nurse manager on a medical-surgical unit is addressing a staffing shortage during a
night shift. The unit has 20 patients, but only three RNs and one CNA are available instead of the
usual five RNs and two CNAs. The manager must prioritize patient safety and staff well-being.
Question 1 (Multiple Choice)
What is the nurse manager’s priority action to address the staffing shortage?
• A) Assign all patients to the three RNs equally
• B) Request additional staff from the float pool
• C) Cancel all non-emergent patient procedures
• D) Limit patient admissions to the unit
• Answer: B. Request additional staff from the float pool
• Rationale: Requesting float pool staff (B) directly addresses the shortage while
maintaining patient safety. Equal assignment (A) risks overloading staff, canceling
procedures (C) is unnecessary, and limiting admissions (D) may not be feasible.
Question 2 (Select All That Apply)
Which actions should the nurse manager take to ensure patient safety during the shortage?
(Select all that apply.)
• A) Reassign non-critical tasks to the CNA
• B) Prioritize high-acuity patients for RN care
• C) Delegate medication administration to the CNA
• D) Conduct a brief team huddle to reprioritize tasks
• E) Allow staff to skip documentation
• Answers: A, B, D
• Rationale:
, o A: Reassigning non-critical tasks (e.g., hygiene) to the CNA is appropriate.
o B: Prioritizing high-acuity patients ensures RN focus on critical care.
o D: A huddle reprioritizes tasks effectively.
o C: CNAs cannot administer medications.
o E: Skipping documentation compromises care and legal standards.
Question 3 (Bow-Tie)
Complete the bow-tie diagram for managing the staffing shortage:
• Condition: Staffing shortage on medical-surgical unit
• Actions to Take: (Select two)
o A) Request float pool staff
o B) Delegate vital signs to unlicensed personnel
o C) Administer all medications personally
• Parameters to Monitor: (Select two)
o D) Patient safety incidents
o E) Staff workload
o F) Patient satisfaction scores
• Potential Complications: (Select one)
o G) Increased medication errors
o H) Low staff morale
o I) Decreased infection rates
• Answers:
o Actions to Take: A, B
o Parameters to Monitor: D, E
o Potential Complication: G
• Rationale:
o Actions: Float pool staff (A) and delegating vital signs (B) optimize resources.
Administering medications personally (C) is impractical.
o Parameters: Safety incidents (D) and workload (E) ensure quality care.
o Complication: Medication errors (G) are a risk during shortages.
Question 4 (Multiple Choice)
Which leadership style should the nurse manager use to address staff concerns during the
shortage?
• A) Autocratic
• B) Transformational
• C) Laissez-faire
• D) Transactional
• Answer: B. Transformational
• Rationale: Transformational leadership (B) fosters collaboration and motivates staff
during crises, unlike autocratic (A), laissez-faire (C), or transactional (D) styles.
, Question 5 (Drag and Drop)
Place the steps of addressing the staffing crisis in the correct order:
• A) Assess patient acuity
• B) Request additional staff
• C) Reassign tasks
• D) Monitor patient outcomes
• E) Conduct team debrief
• Answer:
1. A) Assess patient acuity
2. B) Request additional staff
3. C) Reassign tasks
4. D) Monitor patient outcomes
5. E) Conduct team debrief
• Rationale: Assessing acuity guides prioritization, followed by requesting staff,
reassigning tasks, monitoring outcomes, and debriefing.
Question 6 (Cloze)
Complete the sentence: To manage the staffing shortage, the nurse manager should prioritize
________ and ensure ________ to maintain patient safety.
• Answer: To manage the staffing shortage, the nurse manager should prioritize patient
acuity assessment and ensure appropriate delegation to maintain patient safety.
• Rationale: Acuity assessment and delegation optimize care delivery during shortages.
Question 7 (Matrix)
Match the leadership action to its purpose:
Action Purpose
Assess patient acuity A) Prioritize care assignments
Delegate tasks B) Optimize staff resources
Monitor outcomes C) Ensure quality and safety
Conduct team huddle D) Facilitate communication and planning
• Answers:
o Assess patient acuity: A
o Delegate tasks: B
o Monitor outcomes: C
o Conduct team huddle: D
• Rationale: Each action supports a specific leadership goal during a staffing crisis.
Question 8 (Multiple Choice)
