WGU D023 EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2025/2026 | ACCURATE QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED CORRECT SOLUTIONS
AND RATIONALES || GUARANTEED
PASS <LATEST VERSION>
1. A nurse manager is implementing a new electronic health record (EHR) system. Several
experienced nurses are resistant to the change and prefer the old paper system. Which action
by the manager best demonstrates transformational leadership?
A. Mandating that all nurses attend a training session on the new EHR.
B. Explaining the financial penalties the unit will incur if the new system is not adopted.
C. Forming a committee of resistant nurses to identify their concerns and help tailor the
training.
D. Allowing the experienced nurses to continue using the paper system until they feel
comfortable.
Answer: C. Forming a committee of resistant nurses to identify their concerns and help tailor
the training.
Rationale: Transformational leadership involves inspiring and motivating followers through
collaboration, empowerment, and addressing concerns. Option C engages the resistant staff,
values their input, and fosters buy-in. Mandating (A) or using threats (B) is autocratic. Allowing a
separate system (D) creates inconsistency and undermines the change process.
2. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, which principle is
primarily demonstrated when a nurse respects a patient's decision to refuse a blood
transfusion, even if the nurse disagrees?
A. Justice
B. Fidelity
C. Autonomy
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: C. Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of a patient to make decisions about their own healthcare.
,Respecting a patient's choice, even when it contradicts medical advice or the nurse's personal
beliefs, is a direct application of this principle.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and realizes the dose is higher than
standard. The nurse clarifies the order with the prescriber, who insists it is correct. The nurse's
next best action is to:
A. Administer the medication as ordered.
B. Refuse to administer the medication and notify the nursing supervisor.
C. Ask a colleague to administer the medication.
D. Document the clarification and administer the medication to avoid conflict.
Answer: B. Refuse to administer the medication and notify the nursing supervisor.
Rationale: The nurse has an ethical and legal responsibility (under the principle of
nonmaleficence) to prevent harm. If the nurse believes the order is unsafe, they must refuse to
carry it out and follow the chain of command (e.g., notifying a supervisor) to ensure patient
safety.
4. Which quality improvement model uses a four-step cycle for continuous improvement:
Plan-Do-Study-Act?
A. Lean
B. Six Sigma
C. Root Cause Analysis
D. PDSA Cycle
Answer: D. PDSA Cycle
Rationale: The PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle is a fundamental model for testing changes on a
small scale before broad implementation. Lean focuses on reducing waste, Six Sigma on
reducing variation, and Root Cause Analysis on identifying the underlying cause of a single
event.
5. A nurse is counseling a pregnant teenager. The nurse provides information on prenatal care
and adoption services without expressing personal judgment. This best exemplifies which
ethical principle?
A. Veracity
B. Beneficence
C. Justice
D. Paternalism
Answer: B. Beneficence
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and act in the best interest of the patient. By
providing comprehensive, non-judgmental information, the nurse empowers the teenager to
make an informed decision that is best for her well-being, which is a act of "doing good."
, 6. What is the primary purpose of a root cause analysis (RCA) following a sentinel event?
A. To determine which staff member is at fault for the error.
B. To identify system-level flaws that contributed to the event.
C. To justify the event to the hospital's insurance company.
D. To discipline the individuals involved.
Answer: B. To identify system-level flaws that contributed to the event.
Rationale: RCA is a structured process designed to look beyond individual blame and find
underlying system or process failures (e.g., communication breakdowns, equipment issues,
training gaps) that can be corrected to prevent future occurrences.
7. A charge nurse notices two staff nurses consistently experiencing conflict that is disrupting
the unit's morale. Which conflict resolution style is most appropriate initially?
A. Avoiding
B. Competing
C. Collaborating
D. Accommodating
Answer: C. Collaborating
Rationale: Collaboration involves working with all parties to find a mutually agreeable solution.
It is the most effective style for resolving complex, ongoing conflicts because it addresses the
root cause and aims for a win-win outcome, which is crucial for long-term team morale.
8. Which leadership style is characterized by minimal direction and allows the group to make
decisions?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transformational
Answer: C. Laissez-faire
Rationale: Laissez-faire leadership is a hands-off approach where the leader provides little to no
direction, allowing the group significant autonomy. This can be effective with highly skilled and
motivated teams but can lead to a lack of direction if overused.
9. A hospital is striving to become a Magnet® recognized organization. Which factor is a core
component of the Magnet® model?
A. Increased use of traveling nurses
B. Structural empowerment and transformational leadership
C. Strict, hierarchical decision-making
D. Focusing solely on patient satisfaction scores
Answer: B. Structural empowerment and transformational leadership
2025/2026 | ACCURATE QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED CORRECT SOLUTIONS
AND RATIONALES || GUARANTEED
PASS <LATEST VERSION>
1. A nurse manager is implementing a new electronic health record (EHR) system. Several
experienced nurses are resistant to the change and prefer the old paper system. Which action
by the manager best demonstrates transformational leadership?
A. Mandating that all nurses attend a training session on the new EHR.
B. Explaining the financial penalties the unit will incur if the new system is not adopted.
C. Forming a committee of resistant nurses to identify their concerns and help tailor the
training.
D. Allowing the experienced nurses to continue using the paper system until they feel
comfortable.
Answer: C. Forming a committee of resistant nurses to identify their concerns and help tailor
the training.
Rationale: Transformational leadership involves inspiring and motivating followers through
collaboration, empowerment, and addressing concerns. Option C engages the resistant staff,
values their input, and fosters buy-in. Mandating (A) or using threats (B) is autocratic. Allowing a
separate system (D) creates inconsistency and undermines the change process.
2. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, which principle is
primarily demonstrated when a nurse respects a patient's decision to refuse a blood
transfusion, even if the nurse disagrees?
A. Justice
B. Fidelity
C. Autonomy
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: C. Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of a patient to make decisions about their own healthcare.
,Respecting a patient's choice, even when it contradicts medical advice or the nurse's personal
beliefs, is a direct application of this principle.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and realizes the dose is higher than
standard. The nurse clarifies the order with the prescriber, who insists it is correct. The nurse's
next best action is to:
A. Administer the medication as ordered.
B. Refuse to administer the medication and notify the nursing supervisor.
C. Ask a colleague to administer the medication.
D. Document the clarification and administer the medication to avoid conflict.
Answer: B. Refuse to administer the medication and notify the nursing supervisor.
Rationale: The nurse has an ethical and legal responsibility (under the principle of
nonmaleficence) to prevent harm. If the nurse believes the order is unsafe, they must refuse to
carry it out and follow the chain of command (e.g., notifying a supervisor) to ensure patient
safety.
4. Which quality improvement model uses a four-step cycle for continuous improvement:
Plan-Do-Study-Act?
A. Lean
B. Six Sigma
C. Root Cause Analysis
D. PDSA Cycle
Answer: D. PDSA Cycle
Rationale: The PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle is a fundamental model for testing changes on a
small scale before broad implementation. Lean focuses on reducing waste, Six Sigma on
reducing variation, and Root Cause Analysis on identifying the underlying cause of a single
event.
5. A nurse is counseling a pregnant teenager. The nurse provides information on prenatal care
and adoption services without expressing personal judgment. This best exemplifies which
ethical principle?
A. Veracity
B. Beneficence
C. Justice
D. Paternalism
Answer: B. Beneficence
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and act in the best interest of the patient. By
providing comprehensive, non-judgmental information, the nurse empowers the teenager to
make an informed decision that is best for her well-being, which is a act of "doing good."
, 6. What is the primary purpose of a root cause analysis (RCA) following a sentinel event?
A. To determine which staff member is at fault for the error.
B. To identify system-level flaws that contributed to the event.
C. To justify the event to the hospital's insurance company.
D. To discipline the individuals involved.
Answer: B. To identify system-level flaws that contributed to the event.
Rationale: RCA is a structured process designed to look beyond individual blame and find
underlying system or process failures (e.g., communication breakdowns, equipment issues,
training gaps) that can be corrected to prevent future occurrences.
7. A charge nurse notices two staff nurses consistently experiencing conflict that is disrupting
the unit's morale. Which conflict resolution style is most appropriate initially?
A. Avoiding
B. Competing
C. Collaborating
D. Accommodating
Answer: C. Collaborating
Rationale: Collaboration involves working with all parties to find a mutually agreeable solution.
It is the most effective style for resolving complex, ongoing conflicts because it addresses the
root cause and aims for a win-win outcome, which is crucial for long-term team morale.
8. Which leadership style is characterized by minimal direction and allows the group to make
decisions?
A. Autocratic
B. Democratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transformational
Answer: C. Laissez-faire
Rationale: Laissez-faire leadership is a hands-off approach where the leader provides little to no
direction, allowing the group significant autonomy. This can be effective with highly skilled and
motivated teams but can lead to a lack of direction if overused.
9. A hospital is striving to become a Magnet® recognized organization. Which factor is a core
component of the Magnet® model?
A. Increased use of traveling nurses
B. Structural empowerment and transformational leadership
C. Strict, hierarchical decision-making
D. Focusing solely on patient satisfaction scores
Answer: B. Structural empowerment and transformational leadership
