CNL EXAM PREP QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS |
2026 UPDATE
What is the first phase of the "waterfall model" which determines whether the project
should be initiated or supported? - Answer- Feasibility
The feasibility study is used to determine whether the project should be initiated and
supported.
What is the most effective way to collect quantitative data from the electronic medical
record? - Answer- Identify discrete fields to extract data
In healthcare, we are honoring our ability to analyze our data by making sure that those
data are comprehensive and complete, meet our needs, and are cleaned and prepared
for the data mining process.
The four stages of healthcare informatics include data, information, knowledge and
which of the following? - Answer- Wisdom
The highest stage is wisdom, where understanding, applying and applying with
compassion are present in regards to utilizing nursing informatics.
The CNL wants to implement a feature in the electronic medical record that prompts
clinicians to take action. What will the CNL need to achieve this goal? - Answer-
Decision support
Decision support entails the use of computer reminders and alerts to improve the
diagnosis and care of a patient.
What is the broadest impact of telehealth care in improving outcomes of at-risk
populations? - Answer- ensures timely interventions and minimizes acute incidents
Remote (preventative) monitoring is used to ensure that interventions are timely and
acute incidents are avoided (in at-risk populations)
,The CNL works with the EHR team to streamline a charting module for nurses.
Previously, there were multiple places to document the same thing. By reducing
redundancy, the following is accomplished? - Answer- increased standardization of
EHR charting
Nurses must be involved in the design, development and implementation of the EHR.
Nurses who have been involved in the implementation process will ensure that the
product meets the needs of the staff.
CNLs are trained to practice horizontal leadership as evidenced by - Answer- serving as
a mentor in order to advance the clinical knowledge and skills of other health care team
members
CNLs are trained to mentor new graduates and other staff members in a quality
improvement role rather than bringing new knowledge into a filed of study in a
researchers role
What best describes Kurt Lewin's Change theory? - Answer- The phases of unfreeze,
change, and refreeze and the driving/restraining forces to reach equilibrium
Kurt Lewin's theory is built upon the tree phases of change (unfreeze, change, and
refreeze) which are driven by the driving restraining forces in an effort to reach
equilibrium
A CNL is running the ACLS algorithm for a code blue and leading the interdisciplinary
team. This is an example of: - Answer- horizontal leadership
CNLs work as part of the interdisciplinary team and assume a leadership role in clinical
situations to enact horizontal leadership
What is an example of a CNL demonstrating horizontal leadership? - Answer- Acting as
a coach in an effort to help other nurses achieve their desired professional goals
As nursing leaders CNLs are in the perfect position to coach new graduate nurses and
experienced nurses who may require a refresher on current evidence based best
practices. CNLs are trained to encourage team members to offer feedback and to
support each other
The clinical microsystem as a setting in which CNLs practice horizontal leadership is
best described as? - Answer- The smallest functional unit on the front line of healthcare
delivery systems
The clinical microsystem is the smallest functional unit on the front lines of health-
systems
,CNLs use Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations when practicing horizontal
leadership as demonstrated by: - Answer- using the four components of orientation,
identification, exploitation, and resolution
Essential 9 of the CNL competencies: the CNL demonstrates effective communication,
collaboration, and interpersonal relationships with members of the care delivery team
across the continuum of care
The CNL requires a "tool kit" of skills to engage in the best practices of horizontal
leadership. What would hinder implementation of horizontal leadership for the CNL? -
Answer- The desire to negotiate only firm transactional relationships
The CNL requires a "tool kit" of skills to practice horizontal leadership. Specific tools
include but are not limited to the following: guiding EBP, healthcare outcomes, lateral
integration, use of feedback, coaching, and leading teams
The CNL on a telemetry unit and the quality improvement team developed an evidence-
based heart failure discharge planning protocol. Which of the following methods best
demonstrate dissemination of this protocol using horizontal leadership? - Answer- Share
the protocol directly with other teams
Horizontal leadership requires the CNL to share information directly by involving fewer
middle managers. Horizontal leadership provides leadership for changing practice
based on quality improvement and research findings.
The following definition describes which leadership style commonly used by the CNL: A
situation where there are two or more providers who assume leadership of a team in
order to achieve a common goal - Answer- Horizontal Leadership
Horizontal leadership is where there may be multiple individuals who assume leadership
of a team or teams in order to achieve a common goal
A CNL on the cardiac unit was asked by the unit manager to investigate reports of
increased patient falls on the unit. The CNL first conducts a clinical microsystem
assessment using a systematic approach and the following five P's. What are they? -
Answer- Purpose, patients, professions, processes, and patterns.
The clinical microsystem consist of the 5Ps
The phases of policy formation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation are part of
what process? - Answer- Public policy making process
The phases of public policy making process include: issue identification and agenda
setting, policy formation, policy implementation, policy evaluation, policy revision or
amendment
, Which of the legislative acts was created with the intent to improve access, decrease
waste, and support quality through improved outcomes? - Answer- The patient
protection and affordable care act
The patient protection and affordable care act is legislation created with the intent to
improve access, decrease waste and costs, and support quality through process
changes and improved outcomes.
A CNL on the med-surg unit, creates a checklist that ensures patients and care givers
obtain needed information regarding new medication prescriptions, what type of
advocacy is the CNL engaging in? - Answer- Advocacy for patients
The CNL engages in advocacy to protect patient autonomy when he/she ensures
patients and families have information and understanding to facilitate informed decision
making about their plan of care
In California, which statutory law governs CNL practice? - Answer- state nursing
practice act
The state nurse practice act is the administrative guide for nursing practice
What framework identifies nationwide health improvement priorities and sets directions
for health policy? - Answer- Healthy people 2020
Healthy people 2020 is a framework which identifies nationwide health improvement
priorities and sets directions for health policies. It has expanded to population health
with the goals of increasing the quality and years of a healthy life
When the CNL works within the microsystem to promote universal access to care, what
type of justice is the CNL engaged in? - Answer- social justice
Social justice is upholding moral, legal, and humanistic principles. An example of
engaging in social justice is the promotion of universal access to health care.
The CNL identifies which group of people as those who try to influence politicians or
people in power to make legislative changes on certain issues. - Answer- Lobbyist
Lobbyists are a group of people who try to influence politicians or people in power to
make legislative changes on certain issues.
The CNL would train a new nurse to minimize the use of the following problem solving
approach to patient care - Answer- Defer to the clinical nurse educator when a new
nurse asks for instructions
CNLs minimize use of middle level providers when possible. The CNL should directly
mentor and train other staff where possible.
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS |
2026 UPDATE
What is the first phase of the "waterfall model" which determines whether the project
should be initiated or supported? - Answer- Feasibility
The feasibility study is used to determine whether the project should be initiated and
supported.
What is the most effective way to collect quantitative data from the electronic medical
record? - Answer- Identify discrete fields to extract data
In healthcare, we are honoring our ability to analyze our data by making sure that those
data are comprehensive and complete, meet our needs, and are cleaned and prepared
for the data mining process.
The four stages of healthcare informatics include data, information, knowledge and
which of the following? - Answer- Wisdom
The highest stage is wisdom, where understanding, applying and applying with
compassion are present in regards to utilizing nursing informatics.
The CNL wants to implement a feature in the electronic medical record that prompts
clinicians to take action. What will the CNL need to achieve this goal? - Answer-
Decision support
Decision support entails the use of computer reminders and alerts to improve the
diagnosis and care of a patient.
What is the broadest impact of telehealth care in improving outcomes of at-risk
populations? - Answer- ensures timely interventions and minimizes acute incidents
Remote (preventative) monitoring is used to ensure that interventions are timely and
acute incidents are avoided (in at-risk populations)
,The CNL works with the EHR team to streamline a charting module for nurses.
Previously, there were multiple places to document the same thing. By reducing
redundancy, the following is accomplished? - Answer- increased standardization of
EHR charting
Nurses must be involved in the design, development and implementation of the EHR.
Nurses who have been involved in the implementation process will ensure that the
product meets the needs of the staff.
CNLs are trained to practice horizontal leadership as evidenced by - Answer- serving as
a mentor in order to advance the clinical knowledge and skills of other health care team
members
CNLs are trained to mentor new graduates and other staff members in a quality
improvement role rather than bringing new knowledge into a filed of study in a
researchers role
What best describes Kurt Lewin's Change theory? - Answer- The phases of unfreeze,
change, and refreeze and the driving/restraining forces to reach equilibrium
Kurt Lewin's theory is built upon the tree phases of change (unfreeze, change, and
refreeze) which are driven by the driving restraining forces in an effort to reach
equilibrium
A CNL is running the ACLS algorithm for a code blue and leading the interdisciplinary
team. This is an example of: - Answer- horizontal leadership
CNLs work as part of the interdisciplinary team and assume a leadership role in clinical
situations to enact horizontal leadership
What is an example of a CNL demonstrating horizontal leadership? - Answer- Acting as
a coach in an effort to help other nurses achieve their desired professional goals
As nursing leaders CNLs are in the perfect position to coach new graduate nurses and
experienced nurses who may require a refresher on current evidence based best
practices. CNLs are trained to encourage team members to offer feedback and to
support each other
The clinical microsystem as a setting in which CNLs practice horizontal leadership is
best described as? - Answer- The smallest functional unit on the front line of healthcare
delivery systems
The clinical microsystem is the smallest functional unit on the front lines of health-
systems
,CNLs use Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations when practicing horizontal
leadership as demonstrated by: - Answer- using the four components of orientation,
identification, exploitation, and resolution
Essential 9 of the CNL competencies: the CNL demonstrates effective communication,
collaboration, and interpersonal relationships with members of the care delivery team
across the continuum of care
The CNL requires a "tool kit" of skills to engage in the best practices of horizontal
leadership. What would hinder implementation of horizontal leadership for the CNL? -
Answer- The desire to negotiate only firm transactional relationships
The CNL requires a "tool kit" of skills to practice horizontal leadership. Specific tools
include but are not limited to the following: guiding EBP, healthcare outcomes, lateral
integration, use of feedback, coaching, and leading teams
The CNL on a telemetry unit and the quality improvement team developed an evidence-
based heart failure discharge planning protocol. Which of the following methods best
demonstrate dissemination of this protocol using horizontal leadership? - Answer- Share
the protocol directly with other teams
Horizontal leadership requires the CNL to share information directly by involving fewer
middle managers. Horizontal leadership provides leadership for changing practice
based on quality improvement and research findings.
The following definition describes which leadership style commonly used by the CNL: A
situation where there are two or more providers who assume leadership of a team in
order to achieve a common goal - Answer- Horizontal Leadership
Horizontal leadership is where there may be multiple individuals who assume leadership
of a team or teams in order to achieve a common goal
A CNL on the cardiac unit was asked by the unit manager to investigate reports of
increased patient falls on the unit. The CNL first conducts a clinical microsystem
assessment using a systematic approach and the following five P's. What are they? -
Answer- Purpose, patients, professions, processes, and patterns.
The clinical microsystem consist of the 5Ps
The phases of policy formation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation are part of
what process? - Answer- Public policy making process
The phases of public policy making process include: issue identification and agenda
setting, policy formation, policy implementation, policy evaluation, policy revision or
amendment
, Which of the legislative acts was created with the intent to improve access, decrease
waste, and support quality through improved outcomes? - Answer- The patient
protection and affordable care act
The patient protection and affordable care act is legislation created with the intent to
improve access, decrease waste and costs, and support quality through process
changes and improved outcomes.
A CNL on the med-surg unit, creates a checklist that ensures patients and care givers
obtain needed information regarding new medication prescriptions, what type of
advocacy is the CNL engaging in? - Answer- Advocacy for patients
The CNL engages in advocacy to protect patient autonomy when he/she ensures
patients and families have information and understanding to facilitate informed decision
making about their plan of care
In California, which statutory law governs CNL practice? - Answer- state nursing
practice act
The state nurse practice act is the administrative guide for nursing practice
What framework identifies nationwide health improvement priorities and sets directions
for health policy? - Answer- Healthy people 2020
Healthy people 2020 is a framework which identifies nationwide health improvement
priorities and sets directions for health policies. It has expanded to population health
with the goals of increasing the quality and years of a healthy life
When the CNL works within the microsystem to promote universal access to care, what
type of justice is the CNL engaged in? - Answer- social justice
Social justice is upholding moral, legal, and humanistic principles. An example of
engaging in social justice is the promotion of universal access to health care.
The CNL identifies which group of people as those who try to influence politicians or
people in power to make legislative changes on certain issues. - Answer- Lobbyist
Lobbyists are a group of people who try to influence politicians or people in power to
make legislative changes on certain issues.
The CNL would train a new nurse to minimize the use of the following problem solving
approach to patient care - Answer- Defer to the clinical nurse educator when a new
nurse asks for instructions
CNLs minimize use of middle level providers when possible. The CNL should directly
mentor and train other staff where possible.
