what is the primary role of a nurse manager in a healthcare setting

ATI RN

Leadership ATI Proctored

1. What is the primary role of a nurse manager in a healthcare setting?

A. To enforce hospital policies
B. To oversee patient care
C. To manage the financial aspects of the unit
D. To ensure efficient operation of the unit

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The primary role of a nurse manager in a healthcare setting is to ensure the efficient operation of the unit. While enforcing hospital policies and overseeing patient care are important aspects of their role, the main responsibility lies in ensuring the smooth and effective functioning of the unit. Managing the financial aspects of the unit is also crucial, but it is not the primary role of a nurse manager, as their focus is more on operational efficiency and quality of care.

2. A 26-year-old female with type 1 diabetes develops a sore throat and runny nose after caring for her sick toddler. The patient calls the clinic for advice about her symptoms and a blood glucose level of 210 mg/dL despite taking her usual glargine (Lantus) and lispro (Humalog) insulin. The nurse advises the patient to

A. use only the lispro insulin until the symptoms are resolved
B. limit calorie intake until the glucose is less than 120 mg/dL
C. monitor blood glucose every 4 hours and notify the clinic if it continues to rise
D. decrease carbohydrate intake until glycosylated hemoglobin is less than 7%

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse should advise the patient to monitor her blood glucose every 4 hours and notify the clinic if it continues to rise. This is important because the patient is experiencing symptoms of an illness (sore throat and runny nose) that can lead to fluctuations in blood glucose levels. By monitoring frequently, any significant rise in blood glucose can be detected early, enabling prompt intervention. Choice A is incorrect because abruptly stopping glargine (Lantus) insulin can lead to uncontrolled blood glucose levels. Choice B is incorrect as limiting calorie intake is not the appropriate immediate action for managing high blood glucose levels. Choice D is also incorrect as adjusting carbohydrate intake based on glycosylated hemoglobin levels is not the immediate action needed in this acute situation.

3. When considering virtue ethics, which of the following is true?

A. Virtue ethics attributes behaviors to moral rules.
B. Virtue ethics attributes behaviors to knowledge of consequences.
C. Virtue ethics focuses on moral character, rather than rules for behavior.
D. Virtue ethics is a formal statement of rules for behavior.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Virtue ethics focuses on qualities and moral character rather than rules or duties. Virtue ethics emphasizes developing good character traits, such as courage, honesty, and compassion, to guide behavior rather than adhering to specific moral rules or focusing on the consequences of actions. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because virtue ethics does not attribute behaviors to moral rules, knowledge of consequences, or formal statements of rules for behavior; instead, it emphasizes the importance of cultivating virtuous character.

4. 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.

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.