HESI Management Exam 2026 Questions & Answers Nursing Leadership &
Management Review
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Part 1: Leadership Styles and Theory (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse manager consistently rewards staff for meeting unit goals and uses
disciplinary action when standards are not met. Which leadership style is this
manager demonstrating?
A) Transformational leadership
B) Transactional leadership
C) Laissez-faire leadership
D) Democratic leadership
Answer: B
,Rationale: Transactional leadership focuses on supervision, organization, and
performance monitoring. It uses rewards and punishments to motivate staff and
achieve organizational goals. Transformational leadership inspires through vision
and charisma, laissez-faire is hands-off, and democratic involves shared decision-
making .
2. A nurse leader encourages staff to participate in decision-making, shares
information openly, and supports professional growth. Which leadership style is
being demonstrated?
A) Autocratic
B) Democratic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Transactional
Answer: B
,Rationale: Democratic leadership values staff input, shared decision-making, and
collaboration. This approach fosters engagement, morale, and professional
development .
3. Which actions are characteristic of transactional leadership? (Select all that
apply)
A) Motivating and inspiring employees
B) Meeting targets within deadlines
C) Working according to organizational rules
D) Correcting errors in a reactive manner
E) Increasing employee commitment to the organization
Answer: B, C, D
, Rationale: Transactional leadership values organizational structure and rules.
Behaviors include meeting deadlines, following rules, and reactively correcting
errors. Motivating/inspiring employees and increasing commitment are
characteristics of transformational leadership .
4. A new nurse manager observes that experienced staff nurses are resistant to
changes in shift scheduling. Which leadership approach would be most effective
initially?
A) Autocratic decision-making to enforce the change
B) Democratic approach to involve staff in finding solutions
C) Laissez-faire to allow staff to work it out themselves
D) Transactional with rewards for compliance
Answer: B
Management Review
.
Part 1: Leadership Styles and Theory (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse manager consistently rewards staff for meeting unit goals and uses
disciplinary action when standards are not met. Which leadership style is this
manager demonstrating?
A) Transformational leadership
B) Transactional leadership
C) Laissez-faire leadership
D) Democratic leadership
Answer: B
,Rationale: Transactional leadership focuses on supervision, organization, and
performance monitoring. It uses rewards and punishments to motivate staff and
achieve organizational goals. Transformational leadership inspires through vision
and charisma, laissez-faire is hands-off, and democratic involves shared decision-
making .
2. A nurse leader encourages staff to participate in decision-making, shares
information openly, and supports professional growth. Which leadership style is
being demonstrated?
A) Autocratic
B) Democratic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Transactional
Answer: B
,Rationale: Democratic leadership values staff input, shared decision-making, and
collaboration. This approach fosters engagement, morale, and professional
development .
3. Which actions are characteristic of transactional leadership? (Select all that
apply)
A) Motivating and inspiring employees
B) Meeting targets within deadlines
C) Working according to organizational rules
D) Correcting errors in a reactive manner
E) Increasing employee commitment to the organization
Answer: B, C, D
, Rationale: Transactional leadership values organizational structure and rules.
Behaviors include meeting deadlines, following rules, and reactively correcting
errors. Motivating/inspiring employees and increasing commitment are
characteristics of transformational leadership .
4. A new nurse manager observes that experienced staff nurses are resistant to
changes in shift scheduling. Which leadership approach would be most effective
initially?
A) Autocratic decision-making to enforce the change
B) Democratic approach to involve staff in finding solutions
C) Laissez-faire to allow staff to work it out themselves
D) Transactional with rewards for compliance
Answer: B
