Grohar-Murray TIF
Chapter 15: Managing Resources: Time
Learning Objective 1
Examine basic principles of time management.
1. The nurse manager scheduled a meeting with a nurse who works on the unit. The nurse enters
the nurse manager’s office while talking on a wireless cellular phone. To conserve time, which
of the following statements by the nurse manager is the best response?
1. “Come on in and sit down. I’ll write down what I want to talk about with you on this
pad of paper.”
2. “No reason to get off the phone. I think I can tell you briefly what I want you to
understand.”
3. “We’ll need to meet at another time. I can’t talk to you while you’re on the phone.”
4. “This is an unacceptable use of my time and yours, and will result in your termination
from this organization.”
Cognitive Level: Application
2. The nurse manager is preparing to implement a new policy and procedure on the unit. Which
of the following is the most important step in the nursing process to maximize time
management?
1. The nurses and surgeons evaluate the results of the new dressing change policy.
2. The nurse manager meets with several nurses on the unit regarding how to implement
the new dressing change policy and procedure.
3. The nurses state that there is a problem with the way they’ve been dressing the
postoperative clients’ new loop colostomies, which is leading to skin breakdown.
4. The nurses implement the new dressing change policy and procedure.
3. The nurse managers are discussing planning for process changes and time management
techniques that result in stress reduction. Which of the following statements indicates that the
nurse manager requires more education regarding these concepts?
1. “It is stressful for the nurses who have to do these dressing changes, because the
supplies that they need have to be acquired from four different places on the unit.”
2. “It is so stressful to implement this new policy because we do not have ‘buy–in’ from
the physicians who have clients on the unit.”
3. “It is almost impossible for the staff to carry out the new procedure regarding our
bariatric clients. How are they supposed to find 10 staff members to help turn these
clients, when the unit only has five staff members available on the night shift?”
4. “I just stay on my course. The decision has been made to implement the new process,
so I just tune everyone else out and enforce it.”
4. The registered nurse is delegating several tasks to other staff members. Which of the following
is an example of inappropriate delegation?
1. The certified nursing assistant is taking vital signs on the client receiving a
transfusion of packed red blood cells.
2. The certified nursing assistant is sent to the pharmacy to retrieve a medication for a
client.
3. The unit secretary is printing the client’s most recent laboratory results for the
physician.
4. The certified nursing assistant is interpreting the results of the laboratory results and
requesting a change in physician’s orders for the client based on these results.
Learning Objective 2
Explore time management strategies.
5. The nurses are meeting to discuss their individual progress on a unit-based project. Which of
the following statements indicate the nurse has a logical behavioral preference regarding time
styles? Select all that apply.
1. “I can’t get past how the nurse manager added in the extra piece to our original
assignments.”
2. “I think I’ve been doing a good job of managing my time because I am ahead of
schedule.”
3. “I’m not really worried about the tasks related to our project because it will all come
together. I’m just happy to be a part of this team.”
4. “I want to talk to all of you about adding in this poster that I want to make. I’ve got
some great ideas for artwork that will help illustrate our points.”
5. “I didn’t know that first part of my project was going to take so long. Maybe our
nurse manager will move the due date back a few weeks.”
6. The nurse managers are discussing problem-management styles. Which of the following
statements by a nurse manager indicates the need for further education regarding problem-
management techniques?
1. “It’s amazing, but some problems just go away all by themselves.”
2. “I think it’s really important to be able to prioritize to best manage problems.”
3. “I believe that when a problem arises, it’s important to begin searching for the
solution at that time.”
4. “Not every problem that presents itself is ‘my’ problem.”
Cognitive Level: Application
7. The nurse supervisor is planning an educational program regarding time-management
strategies for the nurse managers. Which of the following program outcomes is the most
appropriate regarding the ability to analyze implementation of interventions?
1. The nurse managers will be able to discuss the importance of thinking through
process prior to performing the process to ensure maximum time-effectiveness.
2. The nurse managers will be able to identify two tasks that currently are performed by
nurses on their units that the nurse managers can perform.
3. The nurse managers will be able to discuss the importance of increasing the number
of supervision activities that the nurse managers could perform on their units.
4. The nurse managers will be able to discuss the importance of padding time into their
routine meeting schedules to ensure that all topics are covered thoroughly.
8. The nurse manager is performing activities to prepare for annual staff evaluations. The nurse
manager has posted a notice on the office door that reads “Unavailable”. Which of the following
statements by a staff member on the unit indicates the need for further education?
1. “The nurse manager has to schedule one day a week in the office that is basically
uninterrupted.”
2. “One of the client’s family members fell in our hallway, but I didn’t tell the nurse
manager because of the sign.”
3. “I’m glad the nurse manager posts that sign, because I can never remember if it’s
every Tuesday or every Wednesday.”
4. “This is when the nurse manager can really get some important things done.”
9. The nurse manager is involved in activities regarding annual evaluations for staff members.
The evaluations are scheduled to be completed in 3 months. Which of the following statements is
the best indicator that the nurse manager will accomplish this goal?
1. “I’ve set some short-term goals and long-term goals for completing these
evaluations.”
2. “I’ve been searching for a new way to perform evaluations with a prettier format.”
3. “I treat every task that I have in front of me as equally important. I rank them
according to when the task was brought to my attention.”
4. “I’ve been meeting weekly with the nurse managers for coffee to talk about these
evaluations.”
10. The nurse leader is planning for the tasks that must be completed during this week. Which of
the following statements by the nurse manager demonstrates an understanding of time–
management skills?
1. “I’ve got to think through this problem before I start trying to solve it.”
2. “I should spread similar kinds of tasks out through the day to alleviate boredom.”
3. “I’m going to allow 2 hours for the staff meeting, even though I know we could get it
done in 1 hour.”
4. “I keep my e–mail up all of the time when I’m in my office to allow me to get back
quickly to people who e-mail me.”
11. The nurse manager on a medical–surgical unit spends most of the time during the day on her
unit, and stays at work longer each day than other nursing managers. The nurse manager states
that there are many unit-specific activities that can be performed only by a nurse manager. This
belief is a characteristic of which of the following time management barriers?
1. Habit
2. Work expansion
3. Technology invasion
4. Underdelegation
12. The new nurse leader is attempting to practice time-management skills. Which of the
following statements indicate the nurse manager needs further education? Select all that apply.
1. “I should plan how I will spend tomorrow this morning.”
2. “I will start each day with the task that is least important.”
3. “I realize that my peak energy time is at 10 a.m., and I should take a walk through the
hospital to get rid of some of my energy.”
4. “Delegating tasks takes time, and should be avoided.”
5. “I should plan social activities into my day to get more done when I’m in the office.”
13. The nurse most commonly assumes the role of charge nurse on the night shift. Which of the
following statements indicates that the nurse needs further education regarding effective time
management?
1. “After shift report, I make a list of all of the things that have to be done and then I
prioritize them so that we get the most important things done first.”
2. “I try not to socialize until we get the work done.”
3. “The nurses keep telling me that I’m micromanaging them. I tell them it’s just that
I’m ensuring quality.”
4. “I performed a time analysis and found that I was wasting time while giving
medications.”
14. The novice nurse manager is devising a work schedule to meet the needs of the unit. Which
of the following actions will help ensure effective time management?
1. The nurse manage begins to delegate some tasks to others.
2. The nurse manager decides to work during the day shift and half of the evening shift
during the week to get everything done.
3. The nurse manager adheres to a very strict “appointments only” rule, and does not
allow any interruptions.
4. The nurse manager mandates that every staff member must attend management
meetings.
15. A nurse manager is currently working on several large projects. The nurse manager is feeling
very anxious. This manager usually works on the unit instead of in the office. Which of the
following methods can be used by the nurse manager to help alleviate anxiety?
1. Allow one project to fall behind while finishing the others.
2. Take a “sick” day to work on the projects uninterrupted at home.
3. Maintain a structured schedule in the office based on identified project priorities.
4. Elicit assistance from staff members to help complete the projects.
