Nursing Elites

1. A Staff Nurse submits a six-week notice of resignation. The Nurse Manager prepares a request to immediately post the position and begin interviews. This action is best described as which of the following?

• A. Delegation
• B. A time-waster
• C. Reactive management
• D. Proactive management

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Proactive management. Proactive management involves taking steps to prevent issues from occurring rather than just reacting to them. In this scenario, the Nurse Manager is being proactive by preparing to fill the position before the Staff Nurse leaves, thereby preventing short staffing. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Delegation refers to assigning tasks to others, not preparing to fill a vacant position. Calling it a time-waster is subjective and not reflective of the manager's proactive approach. Reactive management would involve waiting until the Nurse leaves and then trying to fill the position, causing short staffing.

2. Politics is defined as the art of influencing the allocation of scarce resources. An example of a scarce resource allocated by the manager of a patient care unit is:

• A. Raises for the staff.
• B. Patient supplies in the utility room.
• C. Staffing that minimizes overtime.
• D. Paper for the printer.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a healthcare setting, scarce resources can include money, time, personnel, and materials. Staffing decisions directly impact the allocation of personnel resources and can affect overtime costs, making it a critical resource managed by the unit manager. Patient supplies in the utility room and paper for the printer are important, but staffing decisions have a more direct impact on resource allocation within the unit. Raises for staff are typically granted by the institution and are not directly controlled by the unit manager.

3. During a staffing crisis, managers may need to use nurse extenders. These individuals are better known as:

• A. Float RNs.
• B. Unlicensed assistive personnel.
• C. LPNs.
• D. Agency nurses.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: During a staffing crisis, managers may need to utilize unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) as nurse extenders. UAPs help free up nurses' time, enabling them to focus more on direct client care. Float RNs (Choice A) refer to registered nurses who work in various units as needed, not specifically as nurse extenders during crises. LPNs (Choice C) are licensed practical nurses, not typically used as nurse extenders. Agency nurses (Choice D) are temporary nurses hired from external agencies, not necessarily designated as nurse extenders.

4. Through which of the following methods are values learned?

• A. Reading books
• B. Formal degrees
• C. Continuous reinforcement
• D. Meeting diverse individuals

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Values are learned through continuous reinforcement, where behaviors are positively reinforced to instill values. Reading books (choice A) may expose individuals to different perspectives but doesn't necessarily lead to internalizing values. Formal degrees (choice B) provide education but may not directly teach values. Meeting diverse individuals (choice D) can broaden perspectives but doesn't guarantee learning specific values through reinforcement.

5. Which of the following is an example of total time lost?

• A. Number of days off that an employee asks for
• B. Number of scheduled days missed
• C. Number of days missed
• D. Number of days perceived to be absent

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Total time lost refers to the number of scheduled days that an employee misses. This includes days that were planned to be worked but were not. Choice A, 'Number of days off that an employee asks for,' is not necessarily time lost as these are approved absences. Choice C, 'Number of days missed,' is vague and does not specify if they are scheduled or unscheduled. Choice D, 'Number of days perceived to be absent,' is subjective and does not clearly relate to scheduled time lost.

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