Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following strategies is most effective for improving staff morale?

• A. Increasing workload
• B. Increasing salaries
• C. Providing feedback
• D. Offering incentives

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Providing feedback is the most effective strategy for improving staff morale. Feedback helps employees understand their performance, areas of improvement, and areas of strength, fostering a sense of recognition and growth. Increasing workload (choice A) can lead to burnout and decreased morale. While increasing salaries (choice B) and offering incentives (choice D) can be motivating, they may not address underlying issues or provide the same level of personal development and recognition that feedback offers.

2. A manager has a budget request deadline today at 3:00. He stops his work to answer the phone, check emails as they arrive, and speak with staff who stop by his office. As a result, he misses the deadline. What best describes the cause of missing his deadline?

• A. Goal setting
• B. Organization
• C. Time wasters
• D. Assertiveness

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best choice that describes the cause of the manager missing his deadline is 'Time wasters.' In this scenario, the manager's focus was diverted by tasks like answering the phone, checking emails, and speaking with staff, which are considered time wasters when they prevent him from meeting his deadline. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect in this context. Goal setting was not the issue as the manager was aware of the deadline; organization did not play a significant role as his tasks were interrupted by external factors, and assertiveness was not the cause of missing the deadline.

3. Which of the following is used as an indirect estimate of voluntary absenteeism?

• A. Involuntary absenteeism
• B. Voluntary absenteeism
• C. Total time lost
• D. Absence frequency

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Absence frequency.' Absence frequency is the total number of distinct absence periods, regardless of duration. It is used as an indirect estimate of voluntary absenteeism because it provides insights into the frequency of absences. Voluntary absenteeism refers to absences that are under the employee's control, while involuntary absenteeism is not under their control. Total time lost, on the other hand, represents the number of scheduled days that employees miss, which is different from absence frequency.

4. A healthcare professional is preparing to delegate client care tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the healthcare professional delegate?

• A. Confirming that a client's pain has decreased after receiving an analgesic
• B. Ambulating a client who is postoperative
• C. Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter for a client
• D. Demonstrating the use of an incentive spirometer to a client

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is option A: 'Confirming that a client's pain has decreased after receiving an analgesic.' This task involves assessing the effectiveness of the medication, which can be delegated to the assistive personnel. Options B, C, and D involve skills that should be performed by licensed healthcare professionals due to their complexity and potential risks if not done correctly. Ambulating a postoperative client requires monitoring for signs of distress or complications, inserting a urinary catheter involves an invasive procedure with infection risks, and demonstrating the use of medical devices like an incentive spirometer requires specialized knowledge to ensure correct usage.

5. The staff on a medical-surgical unit is in conflict with the occupational therapy department. What type of communication will be used to discuss the problems?

• A. Downward communication
• B. Lateral communication
• C. Distorted communication
• D. Upward communication

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Lateral communication. Lateral communication occurs between individuals or departments of the same hierarchical level, making it suitable for addressing conflicts between the staff on a medical-surgical unit and the occupational therapy department. Upward communication involves communication from staff to management or from lower management to middle or upper management. Downward communication is typically directive communication from an authority figure or manager to staff. Distorted communication is not a recognized type of communication and does not apply to this scenario.

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