Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following types of leadership behaviors would be most useful when managing a staff of newly trained CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants)?

• A. Achievement-oriented
• B. Supportive
• C. Participative
• D. Directive

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The most useful type of leadership behavior when managing a staff of newly trained CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) would be directive. Directive leadership involves giving specific guidance, ensuring adherence to rules and procedures, scheduling work efforts, and clearly telling employees what is expected. This approach is particularly beneficial for newly trained staff who may require clear instructions and guidance. - Achievement-oriented leadership focuses on setting challenging goals and encouraging employees to reach their highest potential. While this can be beneficial in some situations, it may not be the most suitable for managing newly trained CNAs who require more guidance and direction. - Supportive leadership involves providing emotional support, encouragement, and assistance to employees. While emotional support is essential in any work environment, newly trained CNAs may benefit more from clear direction and guidance. - Participative leadership involves involving employees in decision-making processes. While this can promote employee engagement and empowerment, newly trained CNAs may require more structured guidance and direction to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities.

2. What is the process of helping an employee to improve performance called?

• A. Coaching
• B. Disciplining
• C. Mentoring
• D. Peer reviewing

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Coaching. Coaching involves providing guidance and support to help an employee enhance their performance by focusing on skill development, addressing weaknesses, and achieving professional growth. Mentoring (choice C) is about guiding and nurturing a less experienced individual, not specifically aimed at improving performance. Peer reviewing (choice D) involves colleagues evaluating each other's performance, not necessarily focused on improvement. Disciplining (choice B) is taking corrective actions in response to policy violations or performance issues, which is different from the process of helping an employee improve their performance.

3. In dealing with a conflict on a unit, the nurse manager decides to ask one of the staff nurses, who is not moving towards resolution, to transfer to another unit. What tactic has the manager implemented?

• A. Avoidance
• B. Withdrawal
• C. Suppression
• D. Competition

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Suppression. In this scenario, the nurse manager has implemented a suppression tactic by asking the staff nurse to transfer to another unit, which eliminates one of the conflicting parties from the current unit. This technique aims to resolve the conflict by physically separating the individuals involved. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect: Avoidance involves ignoring the conflict, withdrawal is the act of pulling out or retreating, and competition refers to a situation where one party's gain is at the expense of the other.

4. A nurse manager who tells the staff to 'come to me with any problem' but then keeps the office door closed is using what type of communication?

• A. Intrasender conflict
• B. Diagonal communication
• C. Metacommunication
• D. Upward communication

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Intrasender conflict. Intrasender conflict happens when there is a discrepancy between verbal and nonverbal communication. In this scenario, the nurse manager's verbal message encourages staff to communicate openly, but the closed office door sends a conflicting nonverbal message, creating intrasender conflict. Metacommunication involves nonverbal behaviors like gestures or facial expressions that support or contradict verbal communication. Upward communication refers to the flow of information from staff to management or lower to upper management. Diagonal communication involves communication between individuals or departments at different hierarchical levels.

5. A resident on night call refuses to answer pages from the staff nurse on the night shift and complains that she calls too often with minor problems. The nurse feels offended and reacts with frequent, middle-of-the-night phone calls to 'get back' at him. The behavior displayed by the resident and the nurse is an example of what kind of conflict?

• A. Perceived conflict
• B. Disruptive conflict
• C. Competitive conflict
• D. Felt conflict

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The behavior displayed by the resident and the nurse is an example of disruptive conflict. In disruptive conflict, the parties involved engage in activities to reduce, defeat, or eliminate the opponent. The resident refusing to answer calls and the nurse retaliating with frequent calls to 'get back' at him exemplify behaviors aimed at causing disruption and conflict between them. Perceived conflict refers to each party's perception of the other's position, competitive conflict involves one side winning at the expense of the other, and felt conflict is about the feelings of opposition within the relationship, none of which fully capture the nature of the conflict displayed in this scenario.

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