Nursing Elites

1. The unit manager of a 32-bed medical-surgical unit allows the staff nurses to do self-governance for scheduling, client care assignments, and committee work. The manager would be considered which type of leader?

• A. Autocratic
• B. Democratic
• C. Bureaucratic
• D. Laissez-faire

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Laissez-faire. In a laissez-faire leadership style, the manager exerts very little control and allows the staff to have a high degree of autonomy in decision-making and problem-solving. This type of leader provides guidance when needed but largely leaves the decision-making process to the staff. Autocratic leadership (choice A) is characterized by centralizing decision-making authority, democratic leadership (choice B) involves shared decision-making, and bureaucratic leadership (choice C) relies on adherence to rules and procedures.

2. Nonverbal messages in communication, including body language and environmental factors, are called ___________.

• A. lateral communication
• B. upward communication
• C. metacommunications
• D. downward communication

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Nonverbal messages in communication, such as body language and environmental factors, are termed metacommunications. Choice A, lateral communication, refers to communication between individuals or groups on the same hierarchical level. Choice B, upward communication, involves the flow of information from lower levels to higher levels in an organization. Choice D, downward communication, relates to the transmission of information from higher levels to lower levels within an organization. Therefore, the correct term for nonverbal messages in communication is metacommunications.

3. Which of the following can cause negative effects on decision making among groups?

• A. Rationalization
• B. Groupthink
• C. Risky shift
• D. Dialectical inquiry

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Groupthink. Groupthink is a negative phenomenon occurring in highly cohesive, isolated groups where members tend to think alike, which hinders critical thinking and can lead to poor decision-making. Rationalization refers to justifying or explaining behaviors or decisions in a logical manner. Risky shift is a phenomenon in groups where decisions become riskier or more extreme than individual members would make on their own. Dialectical inquiry is a technique used to counteract groupthink by encouraging debate and presenting opposing viewpoints to arrive at more thoughtful decisions.

4. The decades between the 1960s and 1980s brought about many changes in nursing. Which of the following contributed to advances in nursing?

• A. Decreased demand for health care
• B. Development of specialty care disciplines
• C. Gender discrimination
• D. Advances in technology leading to more generalized care

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because the development of specialty care disciplines, such as intensive care, neurosurgical techniques, and cardiothoracic surgery, played a significant role in advancing nursing during the specified decades. Choice A is incorrect as decreased demand for health care would not drive advances in nursing. Choice C is also incorrect as gender discrimination, while an issue in the past, does not directly relate to the advancements in nursing during this period. Choice D is incorrect because advances in technology usually lead to more specialized care rather than generalized care.

5. Many patient classification systems have some type of shortcoming. Among these are:

• A. The client's condition changes before the next shift.
• B. The staffing needs are predicted on a short-term basis.
• C. The potential admissions cannot be accounted for.
• D. The staffing mix changes because of illness.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Patient classification systems have limitations in accounting for changes in a client's condition, unexpected influx of new admissions, and changes in staffing due to illness. These systems often focus on short-term staffing needs rather than utilizing demand management, which considers client outcomes to predict staffing needs over a longer period. Not being able to account for potential admissions can lead to challenges in effectively managing staff allocation and resources. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not address the specific limitation of patient classification systems related to accounting for potential admissions.

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