Question 1

In implementing the strategic plan for effective utilization of evidence to guide nursing practice at Pacific Hospital, the nursing unit managers take the next step, which is the implementation.Implementation most likely would involve:

Accepted Answer

A)  revisiting the mission statement and objectives.
B)  reevaluating external and internal factors affecting evidence-based practice.
C)  preparing a budget to support implementation.
D)  developing unit-based objectives related to the plan. D

Question 2

Northwestern Hospital has decided to implement peer review.As a clinical leader in the Emergency Department, you have overall responsibility for ensuring that this is in place by next month.The most important step in this process is to:

Accepted Answer

A)  provide an educational session for staff on peer review.
B)  revise the mission statement, objectives, and performance standards.
C)  develop objectives and performance standards with employees.
D)  implement objectives and performance standards. A

Question 3

Shifts such as changes in the percentage of seniors in the population, governmental initiatives in health care, and the influence of income on health status are factors in the __________ environment.

Accepted Answer

A)  public
B)  macro
C)  competitive
D)  social B

Question 4

Nurses are valuable partners in marketing strategies because they:

Accepted Answer

A)  are more likely than other members of the organization to use marketing tools.
B)  have a strong background in using evidence to support decisions.
C)  have close involvement with patients, who are the target group for marketing.
D)  constitute the largest staff group in most healthcare organizations.

Question 5

After an extensive campaign to ensure that the community surrounding Pacific Hospital has been exposed to the emphasis of excellence in clinical care that occurs through the use of evidence, the marketing team finds that the public perception has changed little.This determination is made possible through:

Accepted Answer

A)  marketing surveys.
B)  focus groups.
C)  informal feedback.
D)  comparison of data against benchmarks.

Question 6

Benchmarks in the strategic marketing planning process are useful in:

Accepted Answer

A)  establishing programs.
B)  setting targets.
C)  rewarding employees.
D)  measuring progress.

Question 7

Assessment of the needs of the consumer or client (in developing a strategic marketing plan) focuses on:

Accepted Answer

A)  present needs only.
B)  present and future needs.
C)  the development of surveys.
D)  secondary analysis of existing data.

Question 8

After a year, the staff at Pacific Hospital is frustrated, and implementation of evidence-based practice has gone poorly.In responding to this situation, the strategic planning team at Pacific Hospital:

Accepted Answer

A)  recommends that the mission, objectives, and goals of the hospital be reassessed.
B)  revises the goal statements in the strategic plan.
C)  consults an external team on preparation of materials on evidence-based practice.
D)  holds focus groups with staff to determine what kinds of issues, challenges, and obstacles have occurred in implementation.

Question 9

The executive team at Hospital XYZ develops a polished strategic plan that includes a mission statement, goals, and objectives.The executive team involves the marketing team, so that the plan can be communicated internally and externally.After 2 years, no significant progress has been made toward any of the goals.What has been omitted in the plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  Planning
B)  Marketing
C)  Integrated financial planning
D)  Customer focus

Question 10

In assessing the internal environment, the strategic planning team at Pacific Hospital discovers that 90% of staff members have no idea what the current mission statement means.This is most likely related to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the level of abstraction inherent in mission statements.
B)  development of the statement by the administration team with no other staff involvement.
C)  outdated goals and objectives contained in the mission statement.
D)  failure to provide action statements within the mission statement.

Question 11

As a nursing leadership student, you have had the opportunity to develop a palliative care manual that will be utilized by the palliative care network (PCN) in your region for teaching healthcare professionals.The PCN has requested that you provide a prioritized plan of action for marketing the manual on a regional and state basis.What is the first priority?

Accepted Answer

A)  Motivate the target market.
B)  Research the target market.
C)  Communicate benefits to the target group.
D)  Package the product.

Question 12

Pacific Hospital's team develops a process to include staff in development of the mission statement.Which of the following statements would indicate that the staff has been able to develop an effective mission statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pacific Hospital will increase its sustainability by increasing revenue streams within the next 3 years.Revenue streams are important to our hospital and are a driving force in our sustainability in the face of insurer and government funding changes.
B)  Pacific Hospital has a desire to relate to its community to enable appropriate identification of programming needs by July.
C)  Pacific Hospital will provide family-centered care to the community of Pacific Rim.It is committed to delivering a full spectrum of services that foster collaborative partnerships among clients, families, and the hospital, and it utilizes evidence-based practice to guide planning and interventions.
D)  To provide health promotion programs for school-aged children

Question 13

To meet the social and human needs of a target market, it is critical to:

Accepted Answer

A)  assess the needs and priorities of the target market.
B)  revise the organization's mission statement to reflect external needs.
C)  assess the internal culture and needs.
D)  develop highly sophisticated media.

Question 14

A community-based pain management program is being planned for your region.As a coordinator of a home care agency, you have been requested to develop a conceptual framework, mission statement, philosophy, and objectives for the program.In what order will you pursue this endeavor?

Accepted Answer

A)  Objectives, philosophy, and mission statement
B)  Philosophy, objectives, and mission statement
C)  Philosophy, mission statement, and objectives
D)  Mission statement, philosophy, and objectives

Question 15

The reasons cited by nursing administrators for not planning in a systematic manner include:

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of understanding of the planning process.
B)  lack of knowledge regarding the internal and external operations of the organization.
C)  not enough hours in the day for both day-to-day operations and planning.
D)  delegation of the task to subordinates.

Question 16

A clinic nurse developed objectives for a diabetic education program.The characteristics of well-written objectives include that they should be what? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Achievable
B)  Understandable and specific
C)  People-oriented
D)  Manager-oriented
E)  Means-orientedF) Measurable

Question 17

To conduct assessment of the internal environment, the strategic planning team for Pacific Hospital:

Accepted Answer

A)  invites community members and staff of the hospital to an evening focus group session.
B)  discusses what it sees as the primary threats and opportunities in demographic shifts affecting the hospital.
C)  invites all levels of staff to focus groups on the effectiveness of the hospital environment, including information systems and staffing.
D)  asks the board to provide a summary of major opportunities for the future.

Question 18

The clinic nurse understands that the advantages of planning include:

Accepted Answer

A)  assisting staff in critical thinking and improving decisions.
B)  orienting people to react instead of act.
C)  forcing managers to be cost-efficient and cost-effective.
D)  focusing on activities, not results.

Question 19

Planning is a process designed to achieve goals in dynamic, competitive environments.As a new manager, what is the first step you will undertake to develop a strategic plan of action for a congestive heart failure program?

Accepted Answer

A)  Search the environment to determine changes that may affect the organization.
B)  Appraise the organization's strengths and weaknesses.
C)  Identify the major opportunities for and threats to the organization.
D)  Identify and evaluate the various strategies available to the organization.

Question 20

From your observation of planning activities in the organization, you have noticed that planning and decision making occur at various levels of the organization.The nurse manager has overall responsibility for which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sending out postcards
B)  Organizing a telephone follow-up
C)  Monitoring ongoing activities and projects
D)  Listing the patient population

Exam 30: The Strategic Planning Process