Dimensions of Nursing Practice
Q&A with Rationale | Rasmussen
University
1. A nurse manager is using transformational leadership. Which action best demonstrates this
style?
A. Empowering staff to participate in decision-making and shared vision.
B. Focusing strictly on day-to-day operations and task completion.
C. Using rewards and punishments to ensure compliance with unit rules.
D. Allowing staff to work independently without any guidance or oversight.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Transformational leadership involves inspiring and motivating
employees to innovate and create change. This style focuses on the development of staff
and building strong relationships within the team. It aims to empower followers to achieve
their full potential for the benefit of the organization.
2. When a nurse delegates a task to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), which factor is
most important for the nurse to consider?
A. The scope of practice and the UAP’s demonstrated competence.
,B. The UAP’s personal preference for specific tasks.
C. Whether the UAP has enough time to finish their lunch break.
D. The hospital’s profit margin for the current fiscal quarter.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The nurse must ensure the task matches the UAP’s skill set and job
description. This is part of the ‘five rights of delegation’ which ensures patient safety. Even
after delegating, the nurse remains accountable for the outcome of the task.
3. A patient decides to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. Which
ethical principle is the nurse upholding by respecting this decision?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Nonmaleficence
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Autonomy refers to the patient’s right to make their own decisions
about their healthcare. Nurses must respect these choices even if they disagree with the
patient’s rationale. This principle is a cornerstone of patient-centered care and legal rights.
4. Which element is necessary to prove nursing malpractice in a court of law?
A. The nurse was wearing the wrong color of scrubs.
, B. The patient was dissatisfied with the hospital food.
C. A written apology was not provided by the facility.
D. A breach of duty directly caused injury to the patient.
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Malpractice requires proving duty, breach of duty, causation, and
damages. The breach of duty must be the proximate cause of the patient’s harm. Without
clinical injury or damages, a malpractice claim cannot be successfully prosecuted.
5. A nurse manager notices two staff members arguing in the hallway and decides to ignore
it, hoping it will resolve itself. Which conflict management style is being used?
A. Compromising
B. Avoiding
C. Collaborating
D. Competing
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Avoiding is a passive conflict management style where the individual
chooses not to address the issue. While sometimes useful for trivial matters, it can lead to
unresolved tension if the problem is significant. It does not provide a long-term solution to
workplace disagreements.