Question 1

Despite repeated invitations by his colleagues to become involved in regional and state nursing practice committees,Tom refuses.His reason is that "nursing committees rarely get anything worthwhile done because of politics and conflicts." According to the text,Tom's view of involvement:

Accepted Answer

A)   Is rare in nursing today.
B)   Reflects a fear of power.
C)   Reflects the essential process of power.
D)   Reflects empowerment and capacity to make his own decisions. C

Question 2

Susan,an RN in the ED,would like to pursue leadership roles in her career.She is frustrated that others in her working environment seem to pay little attention to her creative ideas or place her in informal leadership positions.As her colleague,you want to provide her with helpful feedback.Which of the following statements will provide feedback as to how she might communicate power and demonstrate that she is capable of handling other leadership responsibilities?

Accepted Answer

A)   "I find your soft voice and manners very reassuring and calming to patients."
B)   "Try using a wider vocabulary and big words so that people will think that you are knowledgeable."
C)   "At times, you tend to slump and avoid eye contact when you are talking with colleagues and families."
D)   "Don't worry about what others think of you. If you feel like saying something, say it, even if it hurts other people's feelings." C

Question 3

Your colleague,Mary,a recent graduate announces one day that she intends to leave nursing in 3 to 4 months to pursue a position in marketing.While at your agency,she plans to give patients excellent care and to learn as much as she can,because "Who knows? Nursing is a great job with a great pay and I may return someday." Mary's statements most accurately exemplify which orientation to the concept of nursing? Nursing as a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)   Profession.
B)   Occupation.
C)   Flexible discipline.
D)   Career with off and on ramps. B

Question 4

A nurse manager must implement a 2% budget cut on the nursing unit.Which approach should the manager use to most effectively empower the staff of the unit?

Accepted Answer

A)   Discuss the guidelines for the budget cuts with the staff, making the decisions with those who participate.
B)   Inform the staff of the budget cuts in a series of small group meetings, and accept their ideas in writing only.
C)   Provide the staff with handouts about the budget cuts, and let them make recommendations in writing.
D)   Hold a series of mandatory meetings on the budget cuts, asking staff for ideas on the cuts.

Question 5

Which of the following is the best example of skilled negotiation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Linda, the manager on pediatrics, takes a proposal to her supervisor, outlining the benefits of a walk-in preoperative area for children.
B)   Kim, RN, asks for leave to pursue a semester of full-time study in her graduate program. She proposes to accept less popular rotations during peak vacation time, in return.
C)   George, the head nurse in ER, asks for additional staff for his department and points out the benefits of being able to keep patients longer.
D)   Jerry speaks with his supervisor about his supervisor's concerns related to bedside reporting before presenting a proposal to change this process.

Question 6

During a unit meeting,you notice that Vivian listens attentively when Mary is speaking and offers support and advice when Mary presents ideas to the group.You are surprised because Vivian has often confided that she does not like Mary.Vivian's behavior is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A)   Insincere.
B)   Networking.
C)   Politically sophisticated.
D)   Collegial.

Question 7

Lucy,head nurse on the surgical unit,works with her staff to find ways in which they can work together with other disciplines to provide more effective care for patients on the unit.Lucy likely knows her power is:

Accepted Answer

A)   Limited, thereby necessitating involvement of others in implementing ideas.
B)   Restricted, which necessitates finding alternative means to achieve strong patient outcomes.
C)   Directly primarily toward those who are subordinate to her.
D)   Of unlimited capacity when shared with others.

Question 8

A unit manager watches a new RN graduate interacting with a patient.When the RN comes out of the room,the unit manager says,"I don't know what they taught you in your nursing program,but if I see you do that again,I will write you up." This example demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

A)   Coercive use of power.
B)   Appropriate application of control.
C)   Use of informatory power.
D)   Use of power to provide coaching.

Question 9

The institution where you are a nurse manager has resisted the adoption of a new document management software,citing cost as a concern.You meet with other nurse managers who are in favor of the software and prepare a proposal to take to the senior executive with the goal of persuading the executive to adopt the software.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)   Collaboration.
B)   A coalition.
C)   Networking.
D)   Policy building.

Question 10

Which of the following interactions is MOST consistent with the idea of networking?

Accepted Answer

A)   Meet with the same colleagues daily to have coffee and share concerns about the workplace and stories about colleagues.
B)   Join an online workplace forum to gain ideas about how to handle workplace conflict.
C)   Suggest that you and a new team member meet after work for coffee to review unit guidelines.
D)   Join a nurse executive informal lunch meeting to meet other executives for support and for sharing ideas of expertise.

Question 11

A nurse manager recognizes the need to expand her professional network as she begins a job search for a middle-management position.Which of the following actions is least likely to expand her job-searching network?

Accepted Answer

A)   Reviewing her address book or card file for names and phone numbers of former colleagues who are now in middle-management positions
B)   Making an appointment to meet with a former instructor from her graduate program in nursing administration
C)   Making a long overdue return call to a former colleague who is now a chief nurse executive
D)   Attending a state-level conference for nurse managers and executives and attending informal luncheons and receptions

Question 12

The workgroup on NU 23 is marked by apathy to the ward's patients,high absenteeism,open conflict among team members,and high turnover of personnel,including managers.The underlying behavior in this situation may be characterized as:

Accepted Answer

A)   Powerlessness.
B)   Anger.
C)   Apathy.
D)   Oppression.

Question 13

A manager relies on his director (immediate supervisor)for advice about enrolling in graduate school to prepare for a career as a nurse executive.The director may exercise what kinds of power in the relationship with the manager in this advisory situation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Expert, coercive, and referent
B)   Reward, connection, and information
C)   Referent, expert, and information
D)   Reward, referent, and information

Question 14

Nurses who engage in in-fighting,seek physician support against nursing colleagues,and avoid membership in nursing organizations:

Accepted Answer

A)   Refuse to believe that they are acting like members of groups that suffer socioeconomic oppression.
B)   Do not understand how their failure to exercise power can limit the power of the whole profession.
C)   Purposefully choose to exercise their power in the workplace through indirect means.
D)   Suffer from learned helplessness as a result of abuse by powerful nurse executives.

Question 15

Two nurses approach their manager about a conflict regarding the next month's schedule.The nurses are talking loudly and at the same time.The manager most effectively uses communication skills to resolve the conflict by:

Accepted Answer

A)   Taking both nurses aside, separately and then together, and charging them with resolving the problem without her direct intervention.
B)   Listening to each nurse speak to the other without interruption and asking clarifying questions to help them resolve the issue themselves.
C)   Separating the nurses, instructing each to decide how the problem can be resolved, and meeting with them the next day.
D)   Calling an emergency scheduling committee meeting and asking volunteers to resolve the conflict between the two nurses.

Question 16

Literature on oppression in nursing has:

Accepted Answer

A)   Verified the presence of behaviors associated with oppression within nursing.
B)   Suggested that nurses are oppressed because of the actions of other groups.
C)   Failed to establish that oppression is present in nursing groups.
D)   Indicated that nurses use oppression negatively.

Question 17

Which of the following accurately represents the concept of political activism?

Accepted Answer

A)   Meghan, an ER supervisor, encourages staff to write letters to the local health board, protesting closure of the ER and loss of 30 full-time jobs.
B)   Sarah refuses involvement in her professional organization but is heavily involved in the Little League organization to which her son belongs.
C)   Because of her influential contributions to position papers on health care, Roberta is asked to let her name stand for election as chair of the local organization of gerontology nurse practitioners, who are lobbying for increased certification standards.
D)   Sondra volunteers to run for office in her state nursing organization because of her concern about the underrepresentation of expertise from her area of nursing practice.

Question 18

During orientation of new nurse managers,the chief nursing officer stresses strategies that help nurse managers to achieve a powerful image.Which groups of behaviors best contribute to a powerful image for the nurse manager?

Accepted Answer

A)   Greeting patients, families, and colleagues with a handshake and a smile; listening carefully when problems arise
B)   For men, no facial hair, always wearing a suit and tie; for women, always wearing a suit and high-heeled shoes
C)   Maintaining a soft voice during times of conflict; making unbroken eye contact during interactions
D)   Smiling all the time; always wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase; women should wear no jewelry

Question 19

A nurse is participating in a baccalaureate course.For the class,she has to attend the legislative session regarding the new role of medication assistants.Nurses should be involved in shaping public policy primarily because:

Accepted Answer

A)   Involvement will enable nurses to take over the healthcare system at some point in the future.
B)   Other healthcare professions are less concerned about the essential needs of clients.
C)   Such activities are important career builders for nurses who seek top-level executive positions.
D)   They are closest to the front line of health care and see how it affects clients and families.

Question 20

Politics is usually:

Accepted Answer

A)   Confined to legislatures.
B)   Seen in dysfunctional workplaces.
C)   Found in all social organizations.
D)   A representation of self-interest.

Exam 10: Power, Politics, and Influence