TIA Leadership and Management in Nursing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse manager notices that staff consistently skip the patient identification step before medication administration. The best management strategy is:
- Terminate staff who do not comply
- Send a memo reminding staff of the policy
- Conduct a root cause analysis and implement system-level safeguards (Correct answer)
- Post warning signs at the medication cart
Correct answer: Conduct a root cause analysis and implement system-level safeguards
Root cause analysis identifies systemic factors contributing to errors, enabling system-level improvements that are more effective than individual blame.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a 'never event' as defined by the National Quality Forum?
- A patient falls while walking to the bathroom
- A surgical procedure performed on the wrong patient (Correct answer)
- A medication error caught before reaching the patient
- Delayed documentation of a routine assessment
Correct answer: A surgical procedure performed on the wrong patient
Never events (serious reportable events) include wrong-patient, wrong-site, and wrong-procedure surgeries, which are entirely preventable.
Question 3: A nurse is planning care for five patients. Using the concept of prioritization, which patient has the highest priority?
- A patient requesting a warm blanket
- A patient scheduled for discharge teaching
- A patient with SpO2 of 88% on 2 L/min nasal cannula (Correct answer)
- A patient awaiting a routine blood draw
Correct answer: A patient with SpO2 of 88% on 2 L/min nasal cannula
An SpO2 of 88% represents dangerous hypoxemia requiring immediate intervention to maintain oxygenation.
Question 4: A nurse is asked to float to the ICU but has never worked in that setting. The most appropriate action is to:
- Refuse to go and inform the supervisor of potential patient safety concerns
- Accept the assignment and do the best possible without expressing concerns
- Accept the assignment after requesting orientation and appropriate supervision (Correct answer)
- Call in sick to avoid the unsafe situation
Correct answer: Accept the assignment after requesting orientation and appropriate supervision
Nurses should accept float assignments to areas where they have basic competency but must advocate for orientation, supervision, and appropriate patient assignments.
Question 5: Which action by a nurse is an example of advocacy?
- Completing documentation on time
- Refusing to speak with a patient's family without consent
- Informing a patient of their right to refuse a recommended procedure (Correct answer)
- Administering medications as prescribed without questioning
Correct answer: Informing a patient of their right to refuse a recommended procedure
Advocacy involves ensuring patients are informed of their rights and supported in exercising them, including the right to refuse treatment.
Question 6: A newly licensed nurse is overwhelmed during a busy shift. What is the most appropriate action for the charge nurse to take?
- Reassign all of the new nurse's patients to experienced staff
- Inform the nurse to manage their time better
- Assess the new nurse's workload and offer to help reprioritize tasks (Correct answer)
- Document the new nurse's inability to manage the assignment
Correct answer: Assess the new nurse's workload and offer to help reprioritize tasks
Supportive leadership involves assessing the situation and helping the new nurse prioritize effectively, promoting learning and ensuring patient safety.
TIA Leadership and Management in Nursing 2
A nurse manager notices that staff consistently skip the patient identification step before medication administration.
The best management strategy is: