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Clinical Nurse Leader: Management & Leadership Flashcards

7 cards from real CNL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Clinical Nurse Leader: Management & Leadership flashcards as text

  1. A CNL is implementing a new fall prevention protocol. Which change management model focuses on unfreezing current behaviors, changing, and refreezing new practices?

    Answer: Lewin's Change Theory

    Lewin's Change Theory describes three stages: unfreezing existing behaviors, implementing change, and refreezing to stabilize the new practice.

  2. A CNL notices that two nurses on the unit frequently conflict over patient assignments. What is the MOST appropriate initial conflict resolution strategy?

    Answer: Facilitate a structured conversation between the two nurses

    Facilitating direct, structured dialogue between conflicting parties is the first-line approach to resolve interpersonal conflict at the unit level.

  3. Which leadership style is MOST effective when managing highly experienced, self-directed nursing staff?

    Answer: Laissez-faire

    Laissez-faire leadership grants autonomy to experienced staff who are self-motivated and capable of independent decision-making.

  4. A CNL is reviewing staffing ratios and notices the unit is consistently understaffed on night shifts. What is the FIRST step in addressing this systemic issue?

    Answer: Collect and analyze staffing data to present to administration

    Data collection and analysis provide the evidence base needed to advocate for systemic staffing changes to administration.

  5. A CNL uses a SWOT analysis when planning a unit improvement initiative. What does the 'T' in SWOT stand for?

    Answer: Threats

    SWOT analysis evaluates Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to inform strategic planning.

  6. A unit's readmission rate has increased over the past quarter. Which quality improvement tool would BEST help the CNL identify root causes?

    Answer: Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram

    A fishbone diagram systematically identifies potential root causes of a problem by examining categories such as people, processes, and environment.

  7. A CNL is delegating medication reconciliation tasks to an RN on the team. Which principle is MOST important when delegating?

    Answer: Match the task to the delegate's competency and scope of practice

    Effective delegation requires ensuring the task aligns with the delegate's competency, licensure, and scope of practice.

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Sources & references

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  1. aacnnursing.org — Exam format, passing score, time limit, test delivery, test dates, eligibility, fees, retake fee, retake policy, score release · verified Oct 2026