a manager is prioritizing the following issues of the following issues which should be considered urgent and important

ATI RN

ATI Leadership

1. A manager is prioritizing the following issues. Of the following issues, which should be considered urgent and important?

A. The manager of physical therapy calls and complains about inappropriate behaviors of one of the staff nurses with one of his therapists.
B. A staff nurse reports a pattern of malfunctioning IV pumps on the unit during her current shift, resulting in overdosing of medications.
C. One of the staff nurses, who would have been an extra nurse for the next shift, calls in sick.
D. A small group of staff nurses request a meeting to discuss initiating a scheduling committee.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because patient safety is a critical concern in healthcare settings. Malfunctioning IV pumps leading to medication overdosing poses a direct threat to patient safety and must be addressed urgently. Choice A involves interpersonal issues between staff members which are important but can be addressed in a less urgent manner compared to patient safety concerns. Choice C, a staff nurse calling in sick, is important for staffing but can be managed through existing protocols. Choice D, initiating a scheduling committee, is a routine operational matter that can be addressed at a later time and does not pose an immediate risk to patient safety.

2. Which of the following is a trait that was found to be common among leaders in trait theory?

A. Communication of duties assigned
B. Adaptability and changing priorities
C. Order giving and decision making for a group
D. Communication of goal direction

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'Communication of goal direction.' Trait theory suggests that effective leaders possess certain traits, one of which is the ability to clearly communicate the direction and goals of the group. This trait helps in aligning the efforts of the team towards a common objective. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because while communication, adaptability, decision-making, and order giving are important skills for leaders, the specific trait commonly associated with leaders in trait theory is the ability to communicate the direction and goals.

3. Which of the following is an example of a tertiary prevention strategy?

A. Administering childhood vaccinations
B. Chemotherapy for cancer treatment
C. Routine screening for hypertension
D. Physical therapy for stroke rehabilitation

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Physical therapy for stroke rehabilitation. Tertiary prevention aims to prevent complications and manage existing conditions to improve the quality of life. Administering childhood vaccinations (A) is an example of primary prevention to prevent the onset of diseases. Chemotherapy for cancer treatment (B) is a form of secondary prevention focusing on early detection and treatment to stop the progression of the disease. Routine screening for hypertension (C) is also a form of secondary prevention to detect and treat hypertension early, preventing further complications.

4. Politics is a means for influencing events and the decisions of others. The nurse manager who consistently reminds the staff that 'there is no I in team' and periodically brings treats for the staff is using:

A. Image enhancement
B. Political skills
C. Reward power
D. Expert power

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Political skills. Politics involve interpersonal endeavors, collective activities, analysis, planning, and managing image. In this scenario, the nurse manager is skillfully building team morale and influencing staff dynamics by emphasizing teamwork ('there is no I in team') and boosting morale through occasional treats. This demonstrates the use of political skills to influence and manage relationships within the team. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the manager's actions are not solely focused on image enhancement, reward power, or expert power. Instead, they are aimed at fostering teamwork and boosting staff morale.

5. What is the primary goal of evidence-based practice (EBP)?

A. Reduce healthcare costs
B. Improve patient outcomes
C. Enhance clinical decision making
D. Ensure patient safety

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The primary goal of evidence-based practice (EBP) is to enhance clinical decision making by integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. While improving patient outcomes is a significant result of EBP, the ultimate aim is to ensure that healthcare decisions are based on the most current, relevant, and reliable evidence. While reducing healthcare costs and ensuring patient safety are important in healthcare, they are not the primary goals of evidence-based practice.