Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. “I think we should define excessive absenteeism by total time lost instead of absence frequency.”
2. “Let’s offer a salary increase for those with good attendance.”
3. “Why not include attendance as part of the employee performance appraisal?”
4. “I don’t think we are enforcing the absence policies we have now. That is the logical place to start.”
5. “We need to start at the top and be certain all of our management employees maintain good attendance.”
Correct Answer: 2,3,4,5
Rationale 1: Total time lost is not as sensitive an indicator of excessive absenteeism as absence frequency. For
example, an employee might miss 30 days of work due to a scheduled surgery for which the manager could make
scheduling adjustments. Another employee could miss a total of 30 days due to oversleeping, car trouble, or just
deciding not to come to work. The difference in impact on the unit is obvious.
Rationale 2: The idea of offering a salary increase should be further investigated.
Rationale 3: The idea of using attendance as part of the employee performance appraisal may work, especially if
the appraisal is tied to merit raises.
Rationale 4: If absence policies currently in place are not being followed, employees develop the idea that
absences are not a serious issue.
Rationale 5: Employees model what they see in managerial staff. If the management level employees do not have
good attendance, the staff begins to believe that absences are not a problem.
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: 20-2: Discuss ways to manage absenteeism.
Question 14
Type: MCMA
The management staff is investigating ways to decrease absenteeism that will also help to promote greater job
satisfaction over the long term. Which suggestions should they consider?
Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e Test Bank
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. “We could convert a specified number of unused sick days to vacation days.”
2. “Is there a way we could convert unused sick time to retirement credit?”
3. “I think we should stop putting a limit on how many sick days an employee can accumulate.”
4. “We should think up some penalty for using more than a given number of sick days in a year.”
5. “I think we should stay with our policy of taking away holiday time if the employee uses a sick day in the same
week.”
2. A male employee who has worked two 12-hour shifts for a rural hospital on weekends for 12 months and
requests a 12-week leave to care for a newly adopted child
3. A female employee who has worked for a large metropolitan hospital full time for 1 year and requests 3
months’ leave to care for her dying mother
4. A male employee who has worked full time at a small private clinic with 20 employees for the last 8 years and
requests 12 weeks of leave to care for a new foster child
Rationale 2: Tuition reimbursement is a benefit, not salary.
Rationale 3: High turnover rate would increase salaries because of overtime wages to cover when nurses leave
and additional staff hours for orienting newly hired nurses, as well as the cost of agency nurses.
Rationale 4: A cost-of-living raise would have been figured into the budget.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Assessment
Learning Outcome: 20-3: Describe how nursing turnover affects the organization.
Question 17
Type: MCSA
A manager is preparing to write a critical incident regarding a nurse who has voluntary absences for several
scheduled shifts. What information should the manager determine first?
1. How many hours were missed per pay period?
2. What was the frequency and time period of the absences?
3. What was the reason for these absences?
4. Who did the nurse notify of the impending absences?
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e Test Bank
Copyright 2013 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Assessment
Learning Outcome: 20-2: Discuss ways to manage absenteeism.
Question 18
Type: FIB
A nurse manager is completing a critical incident form regarding a nurse who has missed two 12-hour shifts, three
8-hour shifts, was 2 and 1/2 hours late to one shift, and left 3 hours early from another shift. The manager should
document the total time lost as ______ hours.
Standard Text:
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: 20-2: Discuss ways to manage absenteeism.
Question 19
Type: MCMA
A nurse who is obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing is formulating a project regarding nurse’s job satisfaction.
The nurse is aware that research has shown job satisfaction is related to which factors in the working
environment?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Appropriate staffing
2. Involvement in organizational decision making
3. Ability to work overtime
4. Being recognized for a job well done
Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e Test Bank
5. Good relationships among staff
Rationale 4: While there may be some differences in how generations view punctuality and attendance, it is not
clear that is an issue in this situation.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: 20-2: Discuss ways to manage absenteeism.
Question 21
Type: MCMA
A nurse manager has recently been transferred from obstetrics to pediatrics. The manager consistently stays in the
office, does not relieve staff for lunches, and rarely assists staff when the unit is busy. Lately, the manager has
noticed an increase in staff absences. Which options may contribute to the situation on this unit?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. The manager has a lack of confidence in personal ability to provide care to pediatric clients.
2. The manager is unable to confront staff regarding absences.
3. The manger is not supervising the work of the unit.
4. The staff is consciously taking advantage of the manager.
5. The manager has a lax attitude toward absenteeism.
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: 20-1: Explain absenteeism.
Question 22
Type: MCSA
An organization has not updated its sick day policy in the last 5 years and has experienced an increase in
employee days off for illness over the last year. Which change to the sick leave policy might have a positive effect
on the organization’s absenteeism?
1. Change the policy to award personal use days rather than sick days.
2. Place stricter limits on the number of sick days that can be accrued.
3. Limit the amount of sick time an employee can use each year regardless of the amount accrued.
4. Allow employees to trade sick time for money no matter how many hours are accrued.
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 20-2: Discuss ways to manage absenteeism.
Question 23
Type: MCSA
Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e Test Bank