Question 1

The management staff is investigating ways to decrease absenteeism that will also help to promote greater job satisfaction over the long term. Which suggestions should they consider?

Accepted Answer

A)   "We could convert a specified number of unused sick days to vacation days."
B)   "Is there a way we could convert unused sick time to retirement credit?"
C)   "I think we should stop putting a limit on how many sick days an employee can accumulate."
D)   "We should think up some penalty for using more than a given number of sick days in a year."
E)   "I think we should stay with our policy of taking away holiday time if the employee uses a sick day in the same week." A,B,C

Question 2

The hospital is hiring several new nurses for an expanded OB unit. The manager explains to the current staff that due to a shortage of nurses, salary compression is occurring. How should the current nurses interpret this statement?

Accepted Answer

A)   There will be no raises in the near future.
B)   The new nurses' starting salaries will be close to what the current nurses are making.
C)   All nurses will receive a merit raise for training new staff.
D)   Review of salary structure done while hiring these nurses will result in raises for all current nurses. B

Question 3

When the unit manager is on vacation, the charge nurse fills in the leadership role. While in this role the charge nurse senses a change in the nursing staff's morale. The staff appears happier, more energetic, and productive. The charge nurse believes this change is a direct effect of which variable?

Accepted Answer

A)   The staff's relationship with the nurse manager
B)   The environment of the organization
C)   Level of compensation
D)   The shifts they are working A

Question 4

Despite the nurse manager's best efforts to retain an experienced nurse, the nurse leaves for a job in a competing hospital. Which option reflects the most important thing the manager must do now?

Accepted Answer

A)   Find a replacement to hire.
B)   Have human resources interview the nurse who left.
C)   Manage personal feelings of defeat.
D)   Decrease the impact of the hospital grapevine.

Question 5

Hospital management is brainstorming ways to reduce absenteeism. Which suggestions from this session deserve further investigation?

Accepted Answer

A)   "I think we should define excessive absenteeism by total time lost instead of absence frequency."
B)   "Let's offer a salary increase for those with good attendance."
C)   "Why not include attendance as part of the employee performance appraisal?"
D)   "I don't think we are enforcing the absence policies we have now. That is the logical place to start."
E)   "We need to start at the top and be certain all of our management employees maintain good attendance."

Question 6

The nurse executive and the human resources manager of a hospital meet to discuss the recent increase in nursing turnover. Which statement reflects the best source of information about this increase?

Accepted Answer

A)   "What have the exit interviews shown as reasons for the resignations?"
B)   "Were the reports from nurse managers on resignations completed accurately?"
C)   "What are the reasons given in the survey mailed out 6 weeks after resignation?"
D)   "Has the human resources staff been making telephone calls to employees when they turn in their resignation?"

Question 7

An employee has called in to report being unable to come to work due to car trouble. This is the third time this has happened in the last 2 weeks. The manager should question which variable in this employee's attendance?

Accepted Answer

A)   Ability
B)   Motivation
C)   Need
D)   Supervision

Question 8

Which employee is eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?

Accepted Answer

A)   A female employee who has worked at the community hospital full time for 5 months and requests 12 weeks of maternity leave
B)   A male employee who has worked two 12-hour shifts for a rural hospital on weekends for 12 months and requests a 12-week leave to care for a newly adopted child
C)   A female employee who has worked for a large metropolitan hospital full time for 1 year and requests 3 months' leave to care for her dying mother
D)   A male employee who has worked full time at a small private clinic with 20 employees for the last 8 years and requests 12 weeks of leave to care for a new foster child

Question 9

The director of two nursing units is off on medical leave. The morale on these units has decreased over the past year. During the director's absence the chief nurse officer (CNO) notices a marked increase in the staff's morale. This causes the CNO to be concerned about which factor on these two units?

Accepted Answer

A)   Lack of appropriate staffing when the manager is present
B)   Recognition of the nurse's performance may be lacking
C)   A lack of authentic leadership
D)   The manager may have unrealistic attitudes about staff work levels.

Question 10

A nurse manager has recently been transferred from obstetrics to pediatrics. The manager consistently stays in the office, does not relieve staff for lunches, and rarely assists staff when the unit is busy. Lately, the manager has noticed an increase in staff absences. Which options may contribute to the situation on this unit?

Accepted Answer

A)   The manager has a lack of confidence in personal ability to provide care to pediatric clients.
B)   The manager is unable to confront staff regarding absences.
C)   The manger is not supervising the work of the unit.
D)   The staff is consciously taking advantage of the manager.
E)   The manager has a lax attitude toward absenteeism.

Question 11

The chief nursing officer notes that the nursing department has exceeded budget in salary expenses for the last 3 months and asks the hospital nurse managers why this occurred. Which would be a cause for increased salaries?

Accepted Answer

A)   Low client acuity for the past year
B)   The increase in the amount of tuition reimbursement
C)   A high turnover rate in nursing staff
D)   The cost-of-living raise given

Question 12

An organization has not updated its sick day policy in the last 5 years and has experienced an increase in employee days off for illness over the last year. Which change to the sick leave policy might have a positive effect on the organization's absenteeism?

Accepted Answer

A)   Change the policy to award personal use days rather than sick days.
B)   Place stricter limits on the number of sick days that can be accrued.
C)   Limit the amount of sick time an employee can use each year regardless of the amount accrued.
D)   Allow employees to trade sick time for money no matter how many hours are accrued.

Question 13

The nurse manager charged with hiring staff for a new nursing unit explains the unit's rigid structure and scheduling policies to all potential applicants. The manager is most likely to lose the interest of applicants of which generations?

Accepted Answer

A)   Traditionals
B)   Baby boomers
C)   Generation X
D)   Generation Y
E)   Nurses in general do not like structure and rigidity in scheduling.

Question 14

A nurse who is obtaining a bachelor's degree in nursing is formulating a project regarding nurse's job satisfaction. The nurse is aware that research has shown job satisfaction is related to which factors in the working environment?

Accepted Answer

A)   Appropriate staffing
B)   Involvement in organizational decision making
C)   Ability to work overtime
D)   Being recognized for a job well done
E)   Good relationships among staff

Question 15

A nurse manager has reduced absenteeism by increasing each nurse's job responsibilities. Why is this strategy effective?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nurses who feel their job is important realize that others depend upon their presence at work.
B)   A nurse who is given additional work responsibilities must work harder to prevent termination.
C)   Nurses who have greater responsibilities do not stress over minor responsibilities any longer.
D)   A nurse with less responsibility is always less motivated.
E)   Having greater responsibilities enriches the job experience.

Question 16

A hospital is experiencing a high nursing turnover rate. One manager suggests offering sign-on bonuses to fill positions. Why would the nurse executive veto this suggestion?

Accepted Answer

A)   Sign-on bonuses only attract newly licensed nurses.
B)   The bonus schedule adversely impacts the current salary schedule.
C)   Current nurses can be discouraged by this program.
D)   Sign-on bonuses do not recognize achievement and loyalty.
E)   Sign-on bonuses do not attract enough nurses to make it worth the time to set them up and advertise them.

Question 17

A nurse is frequently absent on Fridays. The nurse phones and reports as sick, but the manager discovers that the absences are due to child care issues. How should the manager document this on the critical incident form?

Accepted Answer

A)   Voluntary absence on multiple Fridays due to child care issues
B)   Absence frequency on Fridays
C)   Total time lost includes Fridays
D)   Involuntarily absent due to family circumstances

Question 18

A nurse who has been working the evening shift on the hospice unit for 5 years resigns. The nurse says, "I just can't work here anymore. These clients are so sad." What is the best strategy for retaining this nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Increasing the nurse's salary
B)   Facilitating a transfer to another nursing unit
C)   Offering the nurse a position on the day shift
D)   Rewrite the nurse's job description

Question 19

A nursing unit is extremely short staffed. The manager calls a nurse who is on Family and Medical leave (FMLA) to ask the nurse to return to work 2 days prior to schedule. When the nurse declines, the manager becomes insistent. What should be the nurse's first action?

Accepted Answer

A)   Contact a lawyer.
B)   Agree to return 2 days early.
C)   Contact the human resources director.
D)   Contact nursing administration.

Question 20

A newly hired nurse has incurred two absences within two pay periods. The nurse manager has scheduled a meeting with the nurse. What other action should the manager plan in addressing this issue?

Accepted Answer

A)   Have a person from human resources (HR)  present when confronting the nurse.
B)   Discuss the absenteeism with the nurse and then forget the issue.
C)   Discuss the issue of absenteeism and other nurses who have had similar experiences when first hired.
D)   Document the absences, review the attendance policy with the nurse, and provide a copy of the policy.

Exam 20: Managing Absenteeism, Reducing Turnover, Retaining Staff