Chapter 2 Effective Leadership and Management in Nursing 8th Edition

Chapter 2  Effective Leadership and Management in Nursing 8th Edition

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

Question 1
Type: MCSA
Using the classical organizational theory model, what would be the most appropriate method for the nurse to voice concern over unfair client workload assignments?
1. Circulate a petition to all staff seeking support for change in assignment policy and present the signed petition to the nursing supervisor.
2. Discuss the problem with the nurse’s team leader and then the charge nurse if the problem remains unsolved.
3. Invite the vice president in charge of nursing to a unit meeting.
4. Organize a unit meeting to discuss the problem on all shifts.
Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Circulating a petition among staff does not follow the formal chain of command inherent in classical organizational theory.
Rationale 2: In classical theory there is a formal chain of command and system for communication. Discussing the issue with the team leader is the first step in the chain of command. If that strategy is ineffective, the next step is discussing the issue with the charge nurse.
Rationale 3: Taking concerns straight to the vice president in charge of nursing does not follow the formal chain of command inherent in classical organizational theory.
Rationale 4: Organizing a unit meeting does not follow the formal chain of command inherent in classical organizational theory.
Global Rationale:

Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 2-1: Discuss how organizational theories differ.

Question 2
Type: MCSA
Which relationship is an example of staff authority in classical theory?
1. The shift supervisor directs the staff nurse to help another nurse admit two new clients.
2. The unit manager asks the staff nurse to participate in a unit conference.
3. The team leader asks the staff nurse to assume care of an extra client after another nurse goes home ill.
4. The staff nurse’s mentor calls to see how the nurse’s first day on a new unit progressed.
Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: The staff nurse/shift supervisor is an example of line authority. The shift supervisor is responsible for the work of the staff nurse.
Rationale 2: The staff nurse/unit manager relationship is an example of line authority. The unit manager is responsible for the work of the staff nurse.
Rationale 3: The staff nurse/team leader relationship is an example of line authority. The team leader is responsible for the work of the staff nurse.
Rationale 4: The staff nurse/mentor relationship is one in which the mentor offers advice and recommendations to the staff nurse but is not responsible for the care the nurse provides.
Global Rationale:

Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Assessment
Learning Outcome: 2-1: Discuss how organizational theories differ.

Question 3
Type: MCSA
The nurse manager has established a program that recognizes a different staff member each month for contributions to client care. As a result, overall staff productivity and the number of client compliments have increased. This is an example of which concept of organizational theory?
1. Span of control
2. Line authority
3. Hawthorne effect
4. Adhocracy
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Span of control is the number of persons a manager can effectively supervise.
Rationale 2: Line authority is a linear hierarchy through which activity is directed.
Rationale 3: The Hawthorne effect is the tendency of people to perform as expected because of special attention.
Rationale 4: Adhocracy is a fluid structure in which management, staff, and experts work together on teams.
Global Rationale:

Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: 2-6: Discuss how the organizational environment and culture affect workplace conditions.

Question 4
Type: MCSA
A community-owned hospital has been purchased by a health care conglomerate. The staff is aware that the organizational theory governing the hospital is likely to change. Which statement indicates a lack of understanding of organizational theory on the part of a staff nurse?
1. “If our new bosses want a classical organization, we can expect a strong hierarchy.”
2. “If we don’t want to see lots of changes, we should hope our new bosses don’t like chaos theory.”
3. “If this new company is based on systems theory, there will be a lot of focus on how much work we can produce.”
4. “If this new company is based on contingency theory, we will see lots of focus on how our environment impacts our work.”
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Classical organizational theory focuses on structure with a strong hierarchy.
Rationale 2: Those who support chaos theory believe that organizational function and integrity must be guided by flexibility, fluidity, speedy adaptability, and cultural sensitivity. Change is inevitable and embraced.
Rationale 3: Systems theory focuses on “input” or resources, “throughput” or the work done, and “output” or the product of the work.
Rationale 4: Contingency theory posits that organization performance can be enhanced by matching an organization’s structure to its environment.
Global Rationale:

Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: 2-1: Discuss how organizational theories differ.

Question 5
Type: MCSA
During a performance evaluation the nurse manager states, “My span of control is just too large.” How should the unit supervisor interpret this statement?
1. The nurse manager is not capable of performing all the duties expected of the role.
2. The nurse manager may have too many staff members to manage.
3. The nurse manager is burned out and needs time away from the unit.
4. The nurse manager is not educationally prepared for the role.
Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Span of control is not directly related to the number of duties expected.
Rationale 2: Span of control addresses the number of employees a manager can effectively supervise.
Rationale 3: Span of control issues may result in burnout, but there is no indication from this scenario that this is the case.
Rationale 4: There is no indication that the nurse manager’s level of education is insufficient for the role.
Global Rationale:

Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: 2-6: Discuss how the organizational environment and culture affect workplace conditions.