LEADERSHIP ROLES AND MANAGEMENT
FUNCTIONS IN NURSING
THEORY AND APPLICATION
11TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)CAROL J. HUSTON
TEST BANK
Reference: Ch. 1 — Decision Making, Problem Solving, Critical
Thinking, and Clinical Reasoning
Stem: A charge nurse on a busy med-surg unit notices rising fall
rates during evening shifts. She must decide whether to
implement hourly rounding, reassign staff, or request additional
equipment. Which action best demonstrates an evidence-
based, systematic approach to solving this problem?
A. Immediately reassign the most experienced nurse to
evenings and monitor outcomes.
B. Implement hourly rounding on all patients and evaluate fall
,rates after two weeks.
C. Convene a rapid root-cause analysis team, review data, test
hourly rounding, and measure outcomes.
D. Purchase bed alarms for all high-risk patients and expect fall
rates to decrease.
Correct answer: C
Rationale — Correct: Convening a rapid root-cause analysis
team, reviewing data, piloting an intervention (hourly
rounding), and measuring outcomes follows an evidence-based,
systematic decision-making process linking problem analysis,
testing, and evaluation. This aligns with Huston’s emphasis on
gathering data, generating alternatives, and using evidence to
test solutions.
Rationale — A: Reassigning staff without data risks
misallocating resources and neglects root causes.
Rationale — B: Implementing an intervention without prior
analysis or stakeholder input limits effectiveness and
sustainability.
Rationale — D: Purchasing equipment without data and process
change may be costly and ineffective alone.
Teaching point: Use data, test interventions, measure
outcomes.
Citation: Huston, C. J. (2024). Leadership Roles and
Management Functions in Nursing (11th ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
,Reference: Ch. 1 — Decision Making, Problem Solving, Critical
Thinking, and Clinical Reasoning
Stem: During budget planning, a nurse manager must choose
between hiring a part-time clinical educator or investing in
online simulation software to improve critical-thinking skills.
The manager’s decision should be guided primarily by which
consideration?
A. Personal preference for in-person teaching.
B. Evidence of which option most effectively improves targeted
clinical reasoning on this unit.
C. The lowest immediate cost.
D. Popularity of the vendor among other hospitals.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Huston emphasizes using evidence-based
approaches and aligning objectives with outcomes. Choosing
the option supported by unit-specific evidence for improving
clinical reasoning ensures decisions meet defined goals and
resource stewardship.
Rationale — A: Personal preference risks bias and may not meet
unit needs.
Rationale — C: Lowest cost ignores effectiveness and long-term
value.
Rationale — D: Popularity alone does not guarantee fit or
effectiveness for unit objectives.
Teaching point: Match resources to evidence and unit
outcomes.
, Citation: Huston, C. J. (2024). Leadership Roles and
Management Functions in Nursing (11th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Decision Making, Problem Solving, Critical
Thinking, and Clinical Reasoning
Stem: A newly appointed nurse manager must prioritize three
competing initiatives: reduce medication errors, improve staff
morale, and update orientation. Using a decision grid, what is
the primary benefit the manager will gain?
A. It guarantees consensus among staff.
B. It visually compares alternatives against objective criteria to
support rational choice.
C. It speeds decisions by eliminating data collection.
D. It enforces the manager’s preferences.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Decision grids allow leaders to list options
and score them against criteria, facilitating transparent, rational
evaluation that reduces bias and clarifies trade-offs—consistent
with Huston’s decision-making tools.
Rationale — A: Grids aid discussion but don’t guarantee
consensus.
Rationale — C: Grids require data and careful scoring; they
don’t eliminate data collection.
Rationale — D: When used properly, grids reduce reliance on
individual preference.
FUNCTIONS IN NURSING
THEORY AND APPLICATION
11TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)CAROL J. HUSTON
TEST BANK
Reference: Ch. 1 — Decision Making, Problem Solving, Critical
Thinking, and Clinical Reasoning
Stem: A charge nurse on a busy med-surg unit notices rising fall
rates during evening shifts. She must decide whether to
implement hourly rounding, reassign staff, or request additional
equipment. Which action best demonstrates an evidence-
based, systematic approach to solving this problem?
A. Immediately reassign the most experienced nurse to
evenings and monitor outcomes.
B. Implement hourly rounding on all patients and evaluate fall
,rates after two weeks.
C. Convene a rapid root-cause analysis team, review data, test
hourly rounding, and measure outcomes.
D. Purchase bed alarms for all high-risk patients and expect fall
rates to decrease.
Correct answer: C
Rationale — Correct: Convening a rapid root-cause analysis
team, reviewing data, piloting an intervention (hourly
rounding), and measuring outcomes follows an evidence-based,
systematic decision-making process linking problem analysis,
testing, and evaluation. This aligns with Huston’s emphasis on
gathering data, generating alternatives, and using evidence to
test solutions.
Rationale — A: Reassigning staff without data risks
misallocating resources and neglects root causes.
Rationale — B: Implementing an intervention without prior
analysis or stakeholder input limits effectiveness and
sustainability.
Rationale — D: Purchasing equipment without data and process
change may be costly and ineffective alone.
Teaching point: Use data, test interventions, measure
outcomes.
Citation: Huston, C. J. (2024). Leadership Roles and
Management Functions in Nursing (11th ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
,Reference: Ch. 1 — Decision Making, Problem Solving, Critical
Thinking, and Clinical Reasoning
Stem: During budget planning, a nurse manager must choose
between hiring a part-time clinical educator or investing in
online simulation software to improve critical-thinking skills.
The manager’s decision should be guided primarily by which
consideration?
A. Personal preference for in-person teaching.
B. Evidence of which option most effectively improves targeted
clinical reasoning on this unit.
C. The lowest immediate cost.
D. Popularity of the vendor among other hospitals.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Huston emphasizes using evidence-based
approaches and aligning objectives with outcomes. Choosing
the option supported by unit-specific evidence for improving
clinical reasoning ensures decisions meet defined goals and
resource stewardship.
Rationale — A: Personal preference risks bias and may not meet
unit needs.
Rationale — C: Lowest cost ignores effectiveness and long-term
value.
Rationale — D: Popularity alone does not guarantee fit or
effectiveness for unit objectives.
Teaching point: Match resources to evidence and unit
outcomes.
, Citation: Huston, C. J. (2024). Leadership Roles and
Management Functions in Nursing (11th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Decision Making, Problem Solving, Critical
Thinking, and Clinical Reasoning
Stem: A newly appointed nurse manager must prioritize three
competing initiatives: reduce medication errors, improve staff
morale, and update orientation. Using a decision grid, what is
the primary benefit the manager will gain?
A. It guarantees consensus among staff.
B. It visually compares alternatives against objective criteria to
support rational choice.
C. It speeds decisions by eliminating data collection.
D. It enforces the manager’s preferences.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Decision grids allow leaders to list options
and score them against criteria, facilitating transparent, rational
evaluation that reduces bias and clarifies trade-offs—consistent
with Huston’s decision-making tools.
Rationale — A: Grids aid discussion but don’t guarantee
consensus.
Rationale — C: Grids require data and careful scoring; they
don’t eliminate data collection.
Rationale — D: When used properly, grids reduce reliance on
individual preference.
