NURS 6053 — INTERPROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL
AND SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP (QUARTER 3: 11 WEEKS)
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
Each question includes the correct answer and a rationale in italics.
Section 1: Interprofessional Collaboration (Questions 1–30)
1. A nurse leader is forming an interprofessional team to reduce hospital readmissions.
Which member is essential for discharge planning?
a) Respiratory therapist
b) Social worker
c) Phlebotomist
d) Chaplain
Answer: b
Social workers coordinate post-discharge resources, home care, and follow-up
appointments, directly impacting readmission rates.
2. During an interprofessional rounding session, a physician dismisses the pharmacist’s
suggestion. The nurse leader should:
a) Ignore the conflict to maintain peace
b) Redirect the discussion to the pharmacist and ask for evidence
c) Report the physician to the medical director
d) Cancel future rounds
Answer: b
The leader should validate each team member’s role and create psychological safety by
ensuring all voices are heard with supporting evidence.
,3. Which of the following is a core competency of interprofessional collaborative
practice?
a) Independent decision-making
b) Role clarification
c) Hierarchical communication
d) Siloed documentation
Answer: b
Role clarification ensures each professional understands their own and others’ scope of
practice, reducing duplication and errors.
4. A nurse leader notices tension between nursing and dietary staff. The best initial
action is to:
a) Assign blame to both parties
b) Facilitate a joint meeting to discuss workflow
c) Report to human resources
d) Reassign dietary staff to other units
Answer: b
Open dialogue allows each group to express concerns and co-create solutions, which is
central to interprofessional conflict resolution.
5. Which tool is commonly used to assess interprofessional collaboration in healthcare
teams?
a) SBAR
b) TeamSTEPPS
c) SWOT analysis
d) PDSA cycle
Answer: b
TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) is
designed to improve teamwork and communication.
6. A patient with diabetes is not meeting glucose goals. The interprofessional team
includes a nurse, MD, RD, and CDE. Who leads dietary education?
,a) Nurse
b) MD
c) RD (Registered Dietitian)
d) CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator)
Answer: c
While CDE may also provide education, the RD is specifically trained in medical nutrition
therapy, a key component of diabetes management.
7. Role blurring in interprofessional teams can lead to:
a) Improved efficiency
b) Increased patient satisfaction
c) Duplication of efforts and errors
d) Reduced need for meetings
Answer: c
Without clear role boundaries, tasks may be repeated or omitted, increasing the risk of
medical errors.
8. A nurse leader implements bedside interprofessional rounds. The primary benefit is:
a) Faster discharges
b) Patient and family inclusion in care decisions
c) Reduced nursing documentation
d) Increased physician autonomy
Answer: b
Bedside rounds allow the patient and family to hear the plan, ask questions, and
participate in real time, improving shared decision-making.
9. Which communication model is most effective during a rapid response call?
a) CUS
b) SBAR
c) GRRRR
d) PACE
Answer: b
, SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) provides a structured,
concise format for urgent interprofessional communication.
10. A pharmacist recommends vancomycin dose adjustment for renal function. The
nurse’s best response is:
a) “I’ll check with the attending first.”
b) “Please put that in your note, and I’ll pass it along.”
c) “Thank you, I will notify the provider for an order change.”
d) “That’s outside your scope.”
Answer: c
The nurse acknowledges the pharmacist’s expertise and takes appropriate action within
the interprofessional chain.
11. Interprofessional rounds are delayed because lab results are not ready. The systems
issue is:
a) Individual laziness
b) Lack of role clarity
c) Process inefficiency
d) Poor interpersonal skills
Answer: c
This is a systems/process problem (e.g., phlebotomy timing, lab processing), not an
individual failure.
12. A team’s decision to use a structured communication tool during handoffs is an
example of:
a) Micromanagement
b) Standardization for safety
c) Individual preference
d) Regulatory requirement only
Answer: b
Standardizing handoff communication reduces omitted information and improves patient
safety across shifts and disciplines.
AND SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP (QUARTER 3: 11 WEEKS)
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
Each question includes the correct answer and a rationale in italics.
Section 1: Interprofessional Collaboration (Questions 1–30)
1. A nurse leader is forming an interprofessional team to reduce hospital readmissions.
Which member is essential for discharge planning?
a) Respiratory therapist
b) Social worker
c) Phlebotomist
d) Chaplain
Answer: b
Social workers coordinate post-discharge resources, home care, and follow-up
appointments, directly impacting readmission rates.
2. During an interprofessional rounding session, a physician dismisses the pharmacist’s
suggestion. The nurse leader should:
a) Ignore the conflict to maintain peace
b) Redirect the discussion to the pharmacist and ask for evidence
c) Report the physician to the medical director
d) Cancel future rounds
Answer: b
The leader should validate each team member’s role and create psychological safety by
ensuring all voices are heard with supporting evidence.
,3. Which of the following is a core competency of interprofessional collaborative
practice?
a) Independent decision-making
b) Role clarification
c) Hierarchical communication
d) Siloed documentation
Answer: b
Role clarification ensures each professional understands their own and others’ scope of
practice, reducing duplication and errors.
4. A nurse leader notices tension between nursing and dietary staff. The best initial
action is to:
a) Assign blame to both parties
b) Facilitate a joint meeting to discuss workflow
c) Report to human resources
d) Reassign dietary staff to other units
Answer: b
Open dialogue allows each group to express concerns and co-create solutions, which is
central to interprofessional conflict resolution.
5. Which tool is commonly used to assess interprofessional collaboration in healthcare
teams?
a) SBAR
b) TeamSTEPPS
c) SWOT analysis
d) PDSA cycle
Answer: b
TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) is
designed to improve teamwork and communication.
6. A patient with diabetes is not meeting glucose goals. The interprofessional team
includes a nurse, MD, RD, and CDE. Who leads dietary education?
,a) Nurse
b) MD
c) RD (Registered Dietitian)
d) CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator)
Answer: c
While CDE may also provide education, the RD is specifically trained in medical nutrition
therapy, a key component of diabetes management.
7. Role blurring in interprofessional teams can lead to:
a) Improved efficiency
b) Increased patient satisfaction
c) Duplication of efforts and errors
d) Reduced need for meetings
Answer: c
Without clear role boundaries, tasks may be repeated or omitted, increasing the risk of
medical errors.
8. A nurse leader implements bedside interprofessional rounds. The primary benefit is:
a) Faster discharges
b) Patient and family inclusion in care decisions
c) Reduced nursing documentation
d) Increased physician autonomy
Answer: b
Bedside rounds allow the patient and family to hear the plan, ask questions, and
participate in real time, improving shared decision-making.
9. Which communication model is most effective during a rapid response call?
a) CUS
b) SBAR
c) GRRRR
d) PACE
Answer: b
, SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) provides a structured,
concise format for urgent interprofessional communication.
10. A pharmacist recommends vancomycin dose adjustment for renal function. The
nurse’s best response is:
a) “I’ll check with the attending first.”
b) “Please put that in your note, and I’ll pass it along.”
c) “Thank you, I will notify the provider for an order change.”
d) “That’s outside your scope.”
Answer: c
The nurse acknowledges the pharmacist’s expertise and takes appropriate action within
the interprofessional chain.
11. Interprofessional rounds are delayed because lab results are not ready. The systems
issue is:
a) Individual laziness
b) Lack of role clarity
c) Process inefficiency
d) Poor interpersonal skills
Answer: c
This is a systems/process problem (e.g., phlebotomy timing, lab processing), not an
individual failure.
12. A team’s decision to use a structured communication tool during handoffs is an
example of:
a) Micromanagement
b) Standardization for safety
c) Individual preference
d) Regulatory requirement only
Answer: b
Standardizing handoff communication reduces omitted information and improves patient
safety across shifts and disciplines.
