Chapter 06: Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Chapter 06: Making Decisions and Solving Problems

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. The risk manager informs the nurse manager of an orthopedic unit that her unit has had an increase in incident reports about patients falling during the 11-7 shift. The nurse manager knows that the best way to resolve the problem is to:

a.	Use creativity.
b.	Obtain support from the 7-3 shift.
c.	Use institutional research.
d.	Identify the problem.

 

ANS:   D

Identification of a problem is the first step in problem solving and occurs before any other step. Improper identification of the problem is the most common reason for failure to resolve problems.

 

REF:    Pages 108-110

TOP:    AONE competency: Knowledge of Healthcare Environment

 

2. The nurse manager of a rehab unit wants to purchase a new anti-embolic stocking. To make a high-quality decision, the nurse manager would:

a.	Involve the rehab staff in the decision.
b.	Involve the sales representative.
c.	Make the decision alone.
d.	Involve administration in the decision.

 

ANS:   A

A democratic or participative approach involves appropriate personnel in the decision-making process. Involvement of others is essential in decisions involving patient care.

 

REF:    Page 104         TOP:    AONE competency: Business Skills

 

3. Several nurses on an adolescent psychiatric unit complain that the teens are becoming unmanageable on the 11-7 shift. To resolve this problem, the nurse manager decides that the staff should have a brainstorming session. The goal of brainstorming is to:

a.	Evaluate problem solutions.
b.	Critique the ideas of others.
c.	Generate as many solutions as possible.
d.	Identify only practical and realistic ideas.

 

ANS:   C

Brainstorming encourages creativity when one is beginning to problem-solve and avoids premature shutting down of ideas through early evaluation.

 

REF:    Pages 104, 105                        TOP:    AONE competency: Business Skills

 

4. During a fire drill, several psychiatric patients become agitated. The nurse manager quickly assigns a staff member to each patient. This autocratic decision style is most appropriate for:

a.	Routine problems.
b.	Crisis situations.
c.	Managers who prefer a “telling” style.
d.	Followers who cannot agree on a solution.

 

ANS:   B

An autocratic style is appropriate when rapid decision making is required, such as in a crisis situation.

 

REF:    Page 101         TOP:    AONE competency: Business Skills

 

5. After the nurses who work on an adolescent psychiatric unit have had a brainstorming session, they are ready to resolve the problem of teenagers who are unmanageable. To maximize group effectiveness in decision making and problem solving, the nurse manager has:

a.	Prevented conflict.
b.	Formed highly cohesive groups.
c.	Used majority rule to arrive at decisions.
d.	Encouraged equal participation among members.

 

ANS:   D

The nurse leader or manager needs to provide a nonthreatening and positive environment in which group members actively participate by controlling aggressive individuals and encouraging passive individuals. Diversity, managed conflict, and moderate cohesiveness are effective in reaching quality decisions.

 

REF:    Pages 104, 105                        TOP:    AONE competency: Business Skills