Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e
Chapter 25
Question 1
Type: MCSA
An ICU nurse manager noticed a competent nurse has become forgetful and has made medication errors in the
past few months. This type of behavior is unusual for this nurse. What action should the manager take?
1. Issue a written warning to the nurse.
2. Meet individually with the nurse to discuss the behavior.
3. Ask other staff members if they have noticed the behavior.
4. Report the nurse to the human resources department.
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Assessment
Learning Outcome: 25-5: Discuss how managers can help themselves and their staff manage stress.
Question 2
Type: MCSA
A rural hospital has been at capacity for the past 3 months. The chief nursing officer (CNO) has heard numerous
complaints from the nursing staff. Most of the complaints are issues related to other nursing departments and are
minor. How should the CNO interpret these complaints?
1. The nursing staff members are inefficient in managing the client load.
2. This is a typical reaction among nursing departments.
Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e Test Bank
3. The nursing staff is stressed due to a sustained increased workload.
4. The nurses are ready to unionize.
Rationale 4: The most logical of these options is to rearrange the area so that order entry can be done in a quieter
environment.
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: 25-5: Discuss how managers can help themselves and their staff manage stress.
Question 4
Type: MCSA
A medical-surgical nurse manager has received a complaint by a client regarding the noise level on the unit. The
manager reviews the schedule and harshly reprimands the nursing staff who cared for the client. What is the
evaluation of this manager’s action?
1. It is appropriate and timely.
2. The action is inappropriate and increases the nursing staff’s level of stress.
3. The action is inappropriate and should be reported.
4. It is appropriate and should be a model for future disciplinary actions.
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: 25-2: Describe the organizational, interpersonal, and individual factors that cause stress.
Question 5
Type: MCSA
Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e Test Bank
The nurse manager holds a staff meeting and announces, “I want to aggressively manage the stress on this unit.”
Why would the manager have this goal?
1. Stress has a negative impact on the functioning of the unit.
2. If the stress level is too low, people become apathetic and bored.
3. Low stress levels will reduce turnover on the unit.
4. Coping mechanisms only work when stress is high.
Rationale 1: A nurse manager’s work is no more predictable than that of a staff nurse.
Rationale 2: There is no indication that this nurse is not being honest in this assessment.
Rationale 3: Some people seem to thrive on stress, but close examination reveals that they have developed
excellent coping skills to go along with their ability to tolerate high stress levels.
Rationale 4: While some people can hide their stress for a time, it usually will begin to show in poorer work
performance, attitude, or health issues.
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: 25-4: Discuss how individuals can manage stress.
Question 7
Type: MCMA
Which factors increase the stress associated with interpersonal relationships in health care?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Longer length of stay for clients
2. Few assistive personnel
3. Job redesign
4. New technology
5. Unrealistic expectations of other disciplines
Rationale 5: Unrealistic expectations from anyone can increase the nurse’s stress.
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: 24-2: Describe the organizational, interpersonal, and individual factors that cause stress.
Question 8
Type: MCMA
A staff nurse is late for work for the second time this week. When the manager mentions the tardiness, the nurse
says, “I’m so sorry. I’ve just got so much going on with my impending wedding. I am so stressed.” Which
responses by the manager would help this nurse cope?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. “Good stress can be just as bad as negative stress.”
2. “We need to get you back in balance.”
3. “Your personal issues should not interfere with work.”
4. “Weddings are fun, but they can be stressful as well.”
5. “If you are late again, I am going to write you up.”
Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e Test Bank
Copyright 2013 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: 25-5: Discuss how managers can help themselves and their staff manage stress.
Question 9
Type: MCSA
The hospital has elected to initiate a rotating 8-hour shift schedule. Which strategy, taken by the nurse manager,
will help staff cope with the stress associated with this staffing pattern?
1. Rotate the shifts several times each month so no one is on one shift very long.
2. Rotate the nurses among all shifts so that they know the concerns of each shift.
3. Be certain that nurses are taking their meal and work breaks each shift to increase rest.
4. Schedule a “double back” at the end of each rotation to allow new rotations to start uniformly.
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub: Management of Care
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 25-5: Discuss how managers can help themselves and their staff manage stress.
Question 10
Type: MCSA
The chief nursing officer (CNO) recognizes a large increase in turnover on a given unit. The nurse manager of the
unit says that this is just a coincidence and that the unit is “fine.” What action by the CNO is appropriate?
1. Talk to current nursing staff and review the exit interviews of those who have left.
2. Call the unit supervisor and inquire as to why the turnover rate is high.
Sullivan, Effective Leadership and Management, 8/e Test Bank
3. Discuss the matter with other nurse managers.
4. Discuss the matter with the hospital chief administrator.
4. Assistance from other nursing staff
5. The coworker who was terminated
