Leadership NUR 4120 Chapter 1

Leadership NUR 4120 Chapter 1 The nurse is applying a decision-making process to a clinical challenge. When applying this process, the nurse must: a. analyze the root causes of a situation. b. begin by solving the underlying problem. c. choose between different courses of action. d. prioritize the maximum good for the maximum number of people. - c The nurse is applying the traditional problem-solving model when mediating in a conflict between two colleagues. When applying this model, the nurse should prioritize what task? a. Identifying the root cause of the conflict b. Implementing a solution as quickly as possible c. Eliciting input from other nurses d. Encouraging each nurse to reflect on his or her actions - A Which statement is true regarding decision making? a. Scientific methods provide identical decisions by different individuals for the same problems. b. Decisions are greatly influenced by each person's value system. c. Personal beliefs can be adjusted for when the scientific approach to problem solving is used. d. Past experience has little to do with the quality of the decision. - B The nurse-manager of a short-staffed unit needs to make a decision about a nurse's request for an unpaid leave of absence. In order to increase the chance of making a good decision, the manager should: a. involve as many people in the decision-making process as possible. b. begin the decision-making process by presuming the status quo to be the best option. c. generate as many different alternatives as possible. d. prioritize the option that is most innovative. - C An experienced nurse-manager has been described as being a "right-brain thinker." This manager's decision-making process likely prioritizes what characteristic? a. Linear analysis b. Intuition c. Transparency d. Efficiency - B The nurse-manager is applying an evidence-based approach to a clinical question around client mobilization. When using a PICO format to search for evidence, the nurse should identify what? a. The role of intuition in the decision-making process b. The preferences of clients and their families c. The clients for whom the intervention would be relevant d. Costs associated with a potential change in practice - C The nurse-manager is applying the decision-making process when addressing a nurse's high rate of absenteeism. This process should result in: a. an outcome that is desired by all. b. a chosen course of action. c. an action that guarantees success. d. a new understanding of the problem. - B The nurse-manager is faced with a difficult decision in a situation that involves the manager's values. What is the manager's best action? a. Try to base a decision on intuition rather than values. b. Set aside his or her values and make a rationale decision. c. Defer the decision to a colleague with different values. d. Identify and reflect on his or her own values. - D Which statement is true concerning critical thinking? a. It is a simple approach to decision making. b. It is narrower in scope than decision making. c. It requires reasoning and creative analysis. d. It is a synonym for the problem-solving process. - C A nurse-manager has realized that the data gathering process before a recent decision may have been influenced by confirmation bias. How can the manager best prevent this in the future? a. Delegate data gathering to a trusted colleague who has different values. b. Make sure not to prioritize information that supports the manager's beliefs. c. Consider all of the implications of an alternative before making a decision. d. Collect only the minimum quantity of data before making a decision. - B A nurse-manager has made a decision and is now preparing to evaluate the decision. What question should best guide the nurse's evaluation process? a. Is evaluation necessary when using a good decision-making model? b. Can evaluation be eliminated if the problem is resolved? c. Is every party happy with the outcomes of the decision? d. Did the outcomes align with the original objectives? - D Which statement concerning the role of the most powerful individuals in organizational decision making is true? a. They exert less influence on decisions than was previously thought. b. They often make decisions that are in congruence with their own values. c. They tend to delegate decision making rather than making decisions themselves. d. They usually make the important decisions with consideration of effect on others. - B One of the nurses on the unit said, "My Vietnamese patient won't look me in the eye, but I know that Asian patients avoid making eye contact as a way of showing respect." This nurse is demonstrating what type of illogical thinking? a. Affirming the consequences b. Arguing from analogy c. Deductive reasoning d. Overgeneralizing - D The nurse has accepted a job in a workplace where organizational power has a pronounced effect. This characteristic may have what effect on the nurse and the workplace? a. Many decisions will be delegated to the nurse by supervisors. b. There will be high levels of mistrust and suspicion at the workplace. c. Communication will be compromised in the workplace. d. The nurse may have to accept decisions contrary to his or her own values. - D The unit manager has created a decision grid in order to assist with a difficult staffing decision that will affect many nurses. The decision grid will allow the manager to: a. examine alternatives visually and compare each against the same criteria. b. ensure that the decision is made objectively rather than subjectively. c. plot the outcomes of a decision over time and evaluate the decision-making process. d. predict when events must take place to complete a project on time. - A A nurse-manager is planning to apply a decision-making model to a clinical challenge. When using a decision-making tool, what should the manager do? a. Be aware that the tool cannot eliminate the risk of human error. b. Have an impartial colleague apply the tool, if possible. c. Apply the tool as quickly as possible. d. Recognize that the tool will negate the effect of the manager's values. - A A nurse-manager had to intervene in a conflict between a client and a staff member. The manager chose to make a decision "in the moment" rather than applying a methodical or deliberate decision-making tool. How should this manager's actions be best interpreted? a. The manager applied heuristics to a problem that required a quick solution. b. The manager should have used a decision-making tool before responding. c. The manager's decision was likely made on the basis of emotion. d. The manager demonstrated an autocratic leadership style. - A Which statement is true regarding an economic man style manager? a. The manager may lack complete knowledge and generate few alternatives. b. The manager makes decisions that may not be ideal but result in solutions that have an adequate outcome. c. The manager is primarily motivated by his or her own financial gain. d. The manager gathers as much information as possible and produces many alternatives. - D What characteristic of a nurse-manager best demonstrates left-brained thinking? a. The manager highly values innovation and intuition when making decisions. b. The manager's relationships with peers are prioritized when evaluating decisions. c. The manager applies a linear, analytical model when making a decision. d. The manager is open to feedback from staff when making a decision. - C The nurse-manager is preparing to use the PERT tool when making a staffing decision. This tool will primarily address what component of the decision-making process? a. Values b. Consequences c. Timing d. Ethics - C The nurse is working with a group of students who are learning a high-risk procedure. How should the nurse best ensure learning while protecting the safety of clients? a. Create an unfolding case study featuring the procedure. b. Use simulation for the students to learn and practice the skill. c. Help the students use a decision-making model to choose the safest technique. d. Teach the students about the traditional problem-solving process before they practice the procedure. - B Which statements demonstrate a characteristic of a critical thinker? Select all that apply. a. "Since that didn't work effectively, let's try something different." b. "The solution has to be something the client is willing to do." c. "I'll talk to the client's primary care giver about the problem." d. "Maybe there is no new solution to this particular problem." e. "It's important that we not give up; our clients deserve it" - A, B, C, E What is the value of using a structured approach to problem solving for the novice nurse? a. Facilitates effective time management b. Supports the acquisition of clinical reasoning c. Supplements the orientation process d. Encourages professional autonomy - B A novice nurse has been trying to apply the nursing process to each client interaction. What should the nurse do to enhance the effectiveness of this process for making decisions and solving problems? a. Ensure that specific goals are identified during the planning process. b. Conduct assessment and diagnosis simultaneously whenever possible. c. Prioritize ethics during each phase of the nursing process. d. Avoid evaluating the process until every outcome has been met. - A A team of nurse-managers is considering the purchase of pressure-reducing mattresses to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers among long-term care residents. In order to use a payoff table to assist with the decision making, what must the managers know? Select all that apply. a. The cost for each new mattress b. Clients' expectations for how a mattress should feel c. The prognosis for recovery from a pressure ulcer d. The cost of treating pressure ulcers e. The amount of time between ordering the mattresses and their delivery - A, D A nurse is considering applying for a management job that will require the nurse to make many difficult decisions. What question should the nurse ask when considering his or her ability to make difficult decisions? a. "How comfortable am I with taking risks?" b. "Am I able to apply the nursing processes in varied circumstances?" c. "Am I usually able to please my coworkers?" d. "How quickly do I think?" - A A nurse-manager has to make some difficult decisions around the allocation of vacation time during the holiday season. When making a decision, what should the manager do first? a. Elicit ideas from as many staff members as possible. b. Consider how the issues has been addressed in the past. c. Think of as many alternatives as possible. d. Clearly identify each of the desired objectives in the situation. - D The nurses on a medical unit are using several different techniques for performing wound care and the manager recognizes a need to implement evidence-based practice (EBP). What should the manager do first when applying the principles of EBP? a. Identify the main peer-reviewed journals in field of wound care. b. Formulate a specific, searchable clinical question about wound care. c. Perform a review of the literature about wound care. d. Identify how expert nurses typically perform wound care. - B A nurse has accepted a management position in a busy ambulatory clinic and recognizes that the day-to-day operations of the clinic will require many decisions. What is the nurse's best initial action when preparing for this new role? a. Identify staff who are likely to be allies. b. Determine where organizational power exists in the clinic. c. Clarify and reflect on his or her own values. d. Collaborate with the previous manager of the clinic. - C A sales representative is describing the benefits of a new brand of incontinence brief to a manager. The representative states, "These are a superior product. With what you're currently using, you're actually causing harm to your clients." How should the manager best interpret this statement? a. The representative is analogy. b. The representative is overgeneralizing about the new briefs. c. The representative is overgeneralizing about the briefs the unit currently uses. d. The representative is affirming the consequences. - D