Chapter 01: Role Transitions
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A graduate nurse has been out of school for 3 months and working in a staff nurse
position for the past 2 months. What type of transition is the nurse experiencing? .
a. A developmental transition
b. An organizational transition
c. A health-oriented transition
d. A situational transition .
ANS: D
A situational transition is a lifestyle change that occurs because of a new situation.
Most often the changes are by choice—for instance, graduations, marriages, and
new jobs. Developmental transitions include becoming a parent or going through a
midlife crisis. An organizational transition involves a change in leadership. A
health-oriented transition involves dealing with an illness or health issue, such as
coping with a chronic illness.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying REF: p. 3
OBJ: Discuss the concepts of transitions.
TOP: Types of transitions MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable.
2. The graduate nurse understands that transitions occur throughout life. What major
factor does the nurse identify as influential in a successful transition from school to
practice?
a. Level of new knowledge and skills required in the new environment.
b. Amount of classwork required to obtain a degree
c. Personal history of previous developmental transitions
, d. Influence of classmates and their transitional experiences.
ANS: A
The transition from student to practice reflects a situational transition that is most
often affected by the anticipation of changes in the new work environment.
Classwork no longer affects this transition. A personal history of previous
developmental transitions and the influence of classmates are not as prominent as
the anticipated requirements to function in the new environment of work.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension/Understanding
REF: p. 4 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition. TOP:
Types of transitions MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
3. A nurse manager is giving a presentation at a local community college. The nurse
manager understands the job expectations of a new graduate when making which of the
following statements? .
a. “A graduate nurse should be able to perform as independently as was
demonstrated the last semester of nursing.”
b. “A graduate nurse should be able to function competently as a registered nurse
at the entry level.” .
c. “A graduate nurse should be able to function in the role that was described in the
curriculum for the school of nursing.”
d. “A graduate nurse should be able to be able to function independently with
ability to make clinical nursing judgments.”
ANS: B
The job expectations of a new graduate nurse are those of an entry-level new
employee. This frequently includes an extended orientation to assist the new
graduate to transition into the independent role of the nurse. The new graduate nurse
is not expected to function independently with the ability to make clinical nursing
, judgments. School curriculum and how one functioned the last semester of school
are usually not considered in the job expectations of a new graduate.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension/Understanding REF: p. 12
OBJ: Discuss the concepts of transitions.
TOP: Successful transitions MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
4. Which action by the graduate nurse shows that a successful transition to nursing has
been made?
a. The nurse begins to work with the nursing team and functions as others expect.
b. The nurse begins to objectively evaluate work experiences and enjoy the humor
of clinical situations.
c. The nurse believes everything is great, patients are wonderful, and the new unit
is so nice.
d. The nurse meets regularly with other new graduates to. compare and discuss
problems.
ANS: B
Objectivity and humor are two of the characteristics of a successful transition.
“Going native” occurs when the graduate begins to provide care in the manner that
the team or group wants it done, not necessarily the correct way. The “honeymoon
phase” is when everything is going great. Meeting with other new graduates can be
productive, but it is a part of the transition and not an indication of successful
transition.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 8 OBJ: Compare and contrast the phases of reality shock. .
TOP: Characteristics of a successful transition MSC: NCLEX®: Not
applicable
, 5. A student nurse is in the last semester of nursing school. Which action by the nursing
student indicates appropriate preparation for the transition experience?
a. The nursing student requests additional experiences in performing skills and
procedures.
b. The nursing student maintains close contact with a nursing instructor. to observe
nursing procedures.
c. The nursing student practices nursing assessments and care on one or two
patients to become more competent.
d. The nursing student increases communication with a nursing instructor to
maintain a resource person after graduation.
ANS: A
Students should get all the experience, not just observation, you can before
graduation. Ask to perform procedures and skills and request feedback from staff
nurses and instructors. Students should also begin to build resources that will be
available after graduation. It is during the last semester that students begin to care
for more complex patients (and more patient numbers) to gain experience in the
“real world” of nursing management and to have less reliance on the nursing
instructor as a resource person.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 13 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition. TOP:
Activities to promote successful transition before graduation
MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
6. A graduate nurse has been reviewing the NCSBN’s Transition to Practice model. The
graduate nurse understands the intention of the model when making which of the
following statements? .
a. “The intention of the model is to mandate that all state boards of nursing provide
a regulatory model for transition
b. “The intention of the model is to provide educational modules so that the new to
practice.” graduate does not need to work with a preceptor.” .
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A graduate nurse has been out of school for 3 months and working in a staff nurse
position for the past 2 months. What type of transition is the nurse experiencing? .
a. A developmental transition
b. An organizational transition
c. A health-oriented transition
d. A situational transition .
ANS: D
A situational transition is a lifestyle change that occurs because of a new situation.
Most often the changes are by choice—for instance, graduations, marriages, and
new jobs. Developmental transitions include becoming a parent or going through a
midlife crisis. An organizational transition involves a change in leadership. A
health-oriented transition involves dealing with an illness or health issue, such as
coping with a chronic illness.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying REF: p. 3
OBJ: Discuss the concepts of transitions.
TOP: Types of transitions MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable.
2. The graduate nurse understands that transitions occur throughout life. What major
factor does the nurse identify as influential in a successful transition from school to
practice?
a. Level of new knowledge and skills required in the new environment.
b. Amount of classwork required to obtain a degree
c. Personal history of previous developmental transitions
, d. Influence of classmates and their transitional experiences.
ANS: A
The transition from student to practice reflects a situational transition that is most
often affected by the anticipation of changes in the new work environment.
Classwork no longer affects this transition. A personal history of previous
developmental transitions and the influence of classmates are not as prominent as
the anticipated requirements to function in the new environment of work.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension/Understanding
REF: p. 4 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition. TOP:
Types of transitions MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
3. A nurse manager is giving a presentation at a local community college. The nurse
manager understands the job expectations of a new graduate when making which of the
following statements? .
a. “A graduate nurse should be able to perform as independently as was
demonstrated the last semester of nursing.”
b. “A graduate nurse should be able to function competently as a registered nurse
at the entry level.” .
c. “A graduate nurse should be able to function in the role that was described in the
curriculum for the school of nursing.”
d. “A graduate nurse should be able to be able to function independently with
ability to make clinical nursing judgments.”
ANS: B
The job expectations of a new graduate nurse are those of an entry-level new
employee. This frequently includes an extended orientation to assist the new
graduate to transition into the independent role of the nurse. The new graduate nurse
is not expected to function independently with the ability to make clinical nursing
, judgments. School curriculum and how one functioned the last semester of school
are usually not considered in the job expectations of a new graduate.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension/Understanding REF: p. 12
OBJ: Discuss the concepts of transitions.
TOP: Successful transitions MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
4. Which action by the graduate nurse shows that a successful transition to nursing has
been made?
a. The nurse begins to work with the nursing team and functions as others expect.
b. The nurse begins to objectively evaluate work experiences and enjoy the humor
of clinical situations.
c. The nurse believes everything is great, patients are wonderful, and the new unit
is so nice.
d. The nurse meets regularly with other new graduates to. compare and discuss
problems.
ANS: B
Objectivity and humor are two of the characteristics of a successful transition.
“Going native” occurs when the graduate begins to provide care in the manner that
the team or group wants it done, not necessarily the correct way. The “honeymoon
phase” is when everything is going great. Meeting with other new graduates can be
productive, but it is a part of the transition and not an indication of successful
transition.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 8 OBJ: Compare and contrast the phases of reality shock. .
TOP: Characteristics of a successful transition MSC: NCLEX®: Not
applicable
, 5. A student nurse is in the last semester of nursing school. Which action by the nursing
student indicates appropriate preparation for the transition experience?
a. The nursing student requests additional experiences in performing skills and
procedures.
b. The nursing student maintains close contact with a nursing instructor. to observe
nursing procedures.
c. The nursing student practices nursing assessments and care on one or two
patients to become more competent.
d. The nursing student increases communication with a nursing instructor to
maintain a resource person after graduation.
ANS: A
Students should get all the experience, not just observation, you can before
graduation. Ask to perform procedures and skills and request feedback from staff
nurses and instructors. Students should also begin to build resources that will be
available after graduation. It is during the last semester that students begin to care
for more complex patients (and more patient numbers) to gain experience in the
“real world” of nursing management and to have less reliance on the nursing
instructor as a resource person.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 13 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition. TOP:
Activities to promote successful transition before graduation
MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
6. A graduate nurse has been reviewing the NCSBN’s Transition to Practice model. The
graduate nurse understands the intention of the model when making which of the
following statements? .
a. “The intention of the model is to mandate that all state boards of nursing provide
a regulatory model for transition
b. “The intention of the model is to provide educational modules so that the new to
practice.” graduate does not need to work with a preceptor.” .
