Question 1

Why would the strategic planning committee choose shared visioning as a strategy for change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Shared visioning makes change easier. 
B)  Shared visioning facilitates the more rapid implementation of changes. 
C)  Shared visioning means responsibility for error is shared. 
D)  Shared visioning means the leader has less responsibility for getting things done. 
A)  Shared visioning makes change easier. 
B)  Shared visioning facilitates the more rapid implementation of changes. 
C)  Shared visioning means responsibility for error is shared. 
D)  Shared visioning means the leader has less responsibility for getting things done. A

Question 2

The nurse manager realizes that power must be used to influence a change that is needed on the unit. What should this nurse remember when exerting this power?

Accepted Answer

A)  The best strategy is to overwhelm opposition by exerting a great deal of power. 
B)  The best strategy is to focus the use of power on the persons who are slow to make the desired change. 
C)  The best type of power for these situations is coercion. 
D)  The best strategy is to undertake all power interactions in a polite manner. 
A)  The best strategy is to overwhelm opposition by exerting a great deal of power. 
B)  The best strategy is to focus the use of power on the persons who are slow to make the desired change. 
C)  The best type of power for these situations is coercion. 
D)  The best strategy is to undertake all power interactions in a polite manner. D

Question 3

The nurse leader wishes to develop a culture of shared visioning for the health care organization. How should the nurse proceed with this plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  The leader should be a passive observer in meetings. 
B)  The leader should encourage a change to a more efficient top-down management system. 
C)  The leader should survey employees regarding what is important to them for the organization's future. 
D)  The leader should encourage innovative ideas. 
E)  The leader should use coercive primary power. 
A)  The leader should be a passive observer in meetings. 
B)  The leader should encourage a change to a more efficient top-down management system. 
C)  The leader should survey employees regarding what is important to them for the organization's future. 
D)  The leader should encourage innovative ideas. 
E)  The leader should use coercive primary power. C,D

Question 4

The nurse manager has decided that the only way to deal with an issue is to use coercive power. What strategy is important for this nurse manager to employ?

Accepted Answer

A)  Administer behavioral warnings in public to alert other staff to the seriousness of the issue. 
B)  Reduce punishments for noncompliance after the majority of staff members have complied. 
C)  Wait at least 72 hours prior to responding to infractions so as to better control emotions during the meeting. 
D)  Investigate to get the facts of potential infractions before responding to them. 
A)  Administer behavioral warnings in public to alert other staff to the seriousness of the issue. 
B)  Reduce punishments for noncompliance after the majority of staff members have complied. 
C)  Wait at least 72 hours prior to responding to infractions so as to better control emotions during the meeting. 
D)  Investigate to get the facts of potential infractions before responding to them.

Question 5

The nurse educator has recruited nursing preceptors to work with senior nursing students. The educator is teaching the preceptors about power and the education process. Which statement by a preceptor indicates learning has been effective?

Accepted Answer

A)  "I am only showing the student how to take care of patients, so I have no need for power." 
B)  "I can use power to teach the student how to motivate, communicate, and achieve outcomes." 
C)  "I do not want to give the student the idea that nurses are all about who has the most power." 
D)  "I can use power to ensure that other disciplines know I am the one who really does the work." 
A)  "I am only showing the student how to take care of patients, so I have no need for power." 
B)  "I can use power to teach the student how to motivate, communicate, and achieve outcomes." 
C)  "I do not want to give the student the idea that nurses are all about who has the most power." 
D)  "I can use power to ensure that other disciplines know I am the one who really does the work."

Question 6

One of the nurses often fails to attend educational offerings available to the staff. The nurse manager who implies the nurse may receive a negative evaluation is using which type of power?

Accepted Answer

A)  Coercive power 
B)  Information power 
C)  Referent power 
D)  Reward power 
A)  Coercive power 
B)  Information power 
C)  Referent power 
D)  Reward power

Question 7

A home health agency has a policy requiring nurses to make routine visits at night. How might politics be used to change this policy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Make visits during the day and tell the supervisor that the clients are not home at night. 
B)  Obtain research material to provide reasons why routine nursing visits at night are not as effective as during the day. 
C)  Encourage others to refuse to make routine visits at night so you will not be alone. 
D)  Take the supervisor to lunch and invite all the staff to join to talk the supervisor into changing the policy. 
A)  Make visits during the day and tell the supervisor that the clients are not home at night. 
B)  Obtain research material to provide reasons why routine nursing visits at night are not as effective as during the day. 
C)  Encourage others to refuse to make routine visits at night so you will not be alone. 
D)  Take the supervisor to lunch and invite all the staff to join to talk the supervisor into changing the policy.

Question 8

Which would be the most effective way for nursing to improve the power of its image?

Accepted Answer

A)  All nurses becoming politically active 
B)  Dressing, speaking, and acting in a professional manner 
C)  Motivating others to become nurses 
D)  Encouraging clients to speak positively about their encounters with nurses 
A)  All nurses becoming politically active 
B)  Dressing, speaking, and acting in a professional manner 
C)  Motivating others to become nurses 
D)  Encouraging clients to speak positively about their encounters with nurses

Question 9

How can a nurse best influence policies in an organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  Follow the nursing process. 
B)  React to problems as they occur. 
C)  Connect with the outside community. 
D)  Look to administrators to be the policy makers. 
A)  Follow the nursing process. 
B)  React to problems as they occur. 
C)  Connect with the outside community. 
D)  Look to administrators to be the policy makers.

Question 10

Leaders and managers often exercise power differently. Select the powers most frequently used by leaders.

Accepted Answer

A)  Reward power 
B)  Information power 
C)  Legitimate power 
D)  Expert power 
E)  Referent power 
A)  Reward power 
B)  Information power 
C)  Legitimate power 
D)  Expert power 
E)  Referent power

Question 11

Which event would likely improve a nurse's position power within an organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  The nurse is promoted to nurse manager. 
B)  The nurse is voted "most likable" as part of a Nursing Day celebration. 
C)  The nurse has just graduated from a master's program in nursing. 
D)  The nurse's wife has just been elected to the town council. 
A)  The nurse is promoted to nurse manager. 
B)  The nurse is voted "most likable" as part of a Nursing Day celebration. 
C)  The nurse has just graduated from a master's program in nursing. 
D)  The nurse's wife has just been elected to the town council.

Question 12

As part of a career advancement strategy, the nurse has identified a need to increase personal power in the organization. Which abilities should the nurse focus on improving?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ability to reward others 
B)  Technical competence and knowledge 
C)  Ability to access data 
D)  Relationships with people who are influential in the organization 
E)  Being friendly, helpful, and likable 
A)  Ability to reward others 
B)  Technical competence and knowledge 
C)  Ability to access data 
D)  Relationships with people who are influential in the organization 
E)  Being friendly, helpful, and likable

Question 13

A nurse is overheard saying, "I just don't want to be involved in this power struggle. I don't want power; I just want to do my job." What is a common reason nurses may feel power is not desirable?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nurses are knowledge workers, not power workers. 
B)  Many nurses view power as oppressive. 
C)  Having power with others is a part of providing nursing care. 
D)  Being powerful reduces self-esteem. 
A)  Nurses are knowledge workers, not power workers. 
B)  Many nurses view power as oppressive. 
C)  Having power with others is a part of providing nursing care. 
D)  Being powerful reduces self-esteem.

Question 14

Which statements reveal that the nurse being described has real power?

Accepted Answer

A)  "She is so powerful. I have to admit I'm a little afraid of her." 
B)  "I have such respect for her and the work she does." 
C)  "It is an honor to work with her." 
D)  "She had an opportunity to go to another hospital, but she chose to stay here and help us through accreditation." 
E)  "She knows how to use her power to get what she wants." 
A)  "She is so powerful. I have to admit I'm a little afraid of her." 
B)  "I have such respect for her and the work she does." 
C)  "It is an honor to work with her." 
D)  "She had an opportunity to go to another hospital, but she chose to stay here and help us through accreditation." 
E)  "She knows how to use her power to get what she wants."

Question 15

Which statement reflects the most important use of power in nursing?

Accepted Answer

A)  The nurse manager uses power when evaluating staff. 
B)  The nurse can use power to impact and improve client care. 
C)  The nurse uses power in relationships with unlicensed personnel. 
D)  The nurse manager can use power to assist newly licensed nurses. 
A)  The nurse manager uses power when evaluating staff. 
B)  The nurse can use power to impact and improve client care. 
C)  The nurse uses power in relationships with unlicensed personnel. 
D)  The nurse manager can use power to assist newly licensed nurses.

Question 16

Which strategy could be used by nurses to promote nursing's power image?

Accepted Answer

A)  Maintaining expertise by attending continuing education events 
B)  Encouraging clients to write letters of praise for a job well done 
C)  Encouraging all disciplines to work towards organizational goals 
D)  Attending local events with influential people 
E)  Asking questions about reasons behind processes and policies 
A)  Maintaining expertise by attending continuing education events 
B)  Encouraging clients to write letters of praise for a job well done 
C)  Encouraging all disciplines to work towards organizational goals 
D)  Attending local events with influential people 
E)  Asking questions about reasons behind processes and policies

Question 17

The female nurse identifies that many of the power positions in her organization are held by male nurses. Which strategies should the nurse use to improve her image and increase her power?

Accepted Answer

A)  Identify what she really wants 
B)  Keep her focus on her unit, not the entire organization 
C)  Prioritize her needs in order of importance 
D)  Identify her current resources 
E)  Determine who stands in the way of what she wants 
A)  Identify what she really wants 
B)  Keep her focus on her unit, not the entire organization 
C)  Prioritize her needs in order of importance 
D)  Identify her current resources 
E)  Determine who stands in the way of what she wants

Question 18

The nurse cared for Senator Bill Smith while he was hospitalized last year. The nurse now wishes to send him a letter supporting a bill that will be voted on in the current legislative session. Which salutation should the nurse use in the letter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dear Senator: 
B)  Dear Bill: 
C)  Dear Sir: 
D)  To whom it may concern: 
A)  Dear Senator: 
B)  Dear Bill: 
C)  Dear Sir: 
D)  To whom it may concern:

Question 19

There is a shortage of nurses on weekends. The unit manager asks nurses to work every other weekend in return for an additional 8 hours of paid vacation per month. Which type of power is this manager using?

Accepted Answer

A)  Legitimate power 
B)  Expert power 
C)  Referent power 
D)  Reward power 
A)  Legitimate power 
B)  Expert power 
C)  Referent power 
D)  Reward power

Question 20

Which actions diminish the image of power for nurses?

Accepted Answer

A)  Wearing a crisp, clean uniform 
B)  Addressing colleagues in endearing terms 
C)  Using power plays to achieve goals 
D)  Aggressively advocating for clients 
E)  Accepting orders without question 
A)  Wearing a crisp, clean uniform 
B)  Addressing colleagues in endearing terms 
C)  Using power plays to achieve goals 
D)  Aggressively advocating for clients 
E)  Accepting orders without question

Exam 7: Understanding Power and Politics

Why would the strategic planning committee choose shared visioning as a strategy for change?

The nurse manager realizes that power must be used to influence a change that is needed on the unit. What should this nurse remember when exerting this power?

The nurse leader wishes to develop a culture of shared visioning for the health care organization. How should the nurse proceed with this plan?

The nurse manager has decided that the only way to deal with an issue is to use coercive power. What strategy is important for this nurse manager to employ?

The nurse educator has recruited nursing preceptors to work with senior nursing students. The educator is teaching the preceptors about power and the education process. Which statement by a preceptor indicates learning has been effective?

One of the nurses often fails to attend educational offerings available to the staff. The nurse manager who implies the nurse may receive a negative evaluation is using which type of power?

A home health agency has a policy requiring nurses to make routine visits at night. How might politics be used to change this policy?

Which would be the most effective way for nursing to improve the power of its image?

How can a nurse best influence policies in an organization?

Leaders and managers often exercise power differently. Select the powers most frequently used by leaders.

Which event would likely improve a nurse's position power within an organization?

As part of a career advancement strategy, the nurse has identified a need to increase personal power in the organization. Which abilities should the nurse focus on improving?

A nurse is overheard saying, "I just don't want to be involved in this power struggle. I don't want power; I just want to do my job." What is a common reason nurses may feel power is not desirable?

Which statements reveal that the nurse being described has real power?

Which statement reflects the most important use of power in nursing?

Which strategy could be used by nurses to promote nursing's power image?

The female nurse identifies that many of the power positions in her organization are held by male nurses. Which strategies should the nurse use to improve her image and increase her power?

The nurse cared for Senator Bill Smith while he was hospitalized last year. The nurse now wishes to send him a letter supporting a bill that will be voted on in the current legislative session. Which salutation should the nurse use in the letter?

There is a shortage of nurses on weekends. The unit manager asks nurses to work every other weekend in return for an additional 8 hours of paid vacation per month. Which type of power is this manager using?

Which actions diminish the image of power for nurses?

Introducing Nursing Management

Designing Organizations

Delivering Nursing Care

Leading, Managing, Following

Initiating and Managing Change

Managing and Improving Quality

Thinking Critically, Making Decisions, Solving Problems

Communicating Effectively

Delegating Successfully

Building and Managing Teams

Handling Conflict

Managing Time

Budgeting and Managing Fiscal Resources

Recruiting and Selecting Staff

Staffing and Scheduling

Motivating and Developing Staff

Evaluating Staff Performance

Coaching, Disciplining, and Terminating Staff

Managing Absenteeism, Reducing Turnover, Retaining Staff

Dealing With Staff Problems

Preparing for Emergencies

Preventing Workplace Violence

Handling Collective Bargaining Issues

Managing Stress

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