All Free Nursing Management and Ethics MCQs with Answers

Every Nursing Management and Ethics question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

396 questions · page 2 of 20

Fairly easy
  • A. Planning nursing services and staffing needs
  • B. Directing nurses during the current shift
  • C. Controlling completed nursing activities
  • D. Evaluating staff performance records

Explanation: Planning involves deciding in advance what resources and staff are needed to achieve service goals.

Correct answer: Planning nursing services and staffing needs
Fairly easy
  • A. Transformational leadership
  • B. Transactional leadership
  • C. Autocratic leadership
  • D. Laissez-faire leadership

Explanation: Transformational leaders motivate staff through a shared vision and encourage improvement beyond routine duties.

Correct answer: Transformational leadership
Easy
  • A. The assistant accepts responsibility for performing the task
  • B. The registered nurse remains accountable for the overall nursing care
  • C. The assistant may change the care plan without consultation
  • D. The registered nurse transfers all legal responsibility to the assistant

Explanation: Delegation transfers the duty to perform an activity, but the registered nurse remains accountable for appropriate delegation and patient…

Correct answer: The registered nurse remains accountable for the overall nursing care
  • A. The duty to perform an assigned role or task
  • B. The legal power to direct another employee
  • C. The answerability for the final outcome
  • D. The ability to influence staff decisions

Explanation: Responsibility is the obligation to carry out an assigned duty or task.

Correct answer: The duty to perform an assigned role or task
Fairly easy
  • A. Use a structured format such as SBAR
  • B. Give the report only through written notes
  • C. Wait until the next shift discovers the problem
  • D. Include every detail from the patient's admission

Explanation: SBAR organizes communication into situation, background, assessment, and recommendation, helping the receiving nurse identify priorities…

Correct answer: Use a structured format such as SBAR
Fairly easy
  • A. Collaboration to reach a mutually acceptable solution
  • B. Avoidance until one nurse changes the request
  • C. Competition so one nurse obtains the leave
  • D. Accommodation by ignoring one nurse's concern

Explanation: Collaboration addresses the concerns of both parties and seeks a solution that is acceptable to everyone.

Correct answer: Collaboration to reach a mutually acceptable solution
  • A. Match assignments with patient acuity and nurse competence
  • B. Give every nurse the same number of patients
  • C. Assign patients according to length of employment
  • D. Keep the original assignment despite changes in condition

Explanation: Safe staffing considers patient acuity, complexity, workload, and the competence of available nurses rather than patient numbers alone.

Correct answer: Match assignments with patient acuity and nurse competence
Moderate
  • A. Discuss the observation privately and clarify the correct standard
  • B. Publicly criticize the nurse during the next handover
  • C. Ignore the practice if the patient appears stable
  • D. Immediately recommend dismissal without further assessment

Explanation: Private, specific feedback allows the supervisor to clarify the standard, explore the reason for the behaviour, and plan correction.

Correct answer: Discuss the observation privately and clarify the correct standard
  • A. Recognize specific achievements and provide meaningful feedback
  • B. Threaten disciplinary action if workload complaints continue
  • C. Give the same praise to staff regardless of performance
  • D. Remove opportunities for staff to make decisions

Explanation: Specific recognition links the desired behaviour with a positive response and can strengthen motivation.

Correct answer: Recognize specific achievements and provide meaningful feedback
  • A. Explain the patient-safety reason and involve staff in implementation
  • B. Issue the procedure without explanation and monitor complaints
  • C. Allow each nurse to choose whether to follow the procedure
  • D. Delay the change until every nurse agrees with it

Explanation: Explaining the rationale and involving staff in practical implementation supports understanding, commitment, and problem solving.

Correct answer: Explain the patient-safety reason and involve staff in implementation
  • A. Planning
  • B. Organising
  • C. Directing
  • D. Controlling

Explanation: Planning involves setting goals and deciding in advance how they will be achieved.

Correct answer: Planning
Very hard
  • A. Unity of command
  • B. Span of control
  • C. Scalar chain
  • D. Equity

Explanation: The scalar chain is the formal line of authority from the highest level to the lowest level.

Correct answer: Scalar chain
  • A. The nurse's personal friendship with the team
  • B. The nurse's competence for the assigned responsibility
  • C. The nurse's preference for a shorter break
  • D. The nurse's willingness to avoid documentation

Explanation: Delegation must match the task and responsibility with the delegatee's education, competence, and scope of practice.

Correct answer: The nurse's competence for the assigned responsibility
Moderate
  • A. Effective staffing
  • B. Patient advocacy
  • C. Therapeutic communication
  • D. Professional socialisation

Explanation: Effective staffing ensures that enough appropriately qualified nurses are available for the patient workload.

Correct answer: Effective staffing
Moderate
  • A. Complete the entire assessment without involving the nurse
  • B. Explain the assessment steps, observe performance, and give feedback
  • C. Tell the nurse to study the policy after the shift
  • D. Transfer the patient permanently to another nurse

Explanation: Coaching develops a staff member by guiding performance, observing practice, and providing timely feedback.

Correct answer: Explain the assessment steps, observe performance, and give feedback
  • A. Announce the final roster without discussion
  • B. Ask staff for practical suggestions before finalising the roster
  • C. Allow each nurse to choose any weekend independently
  • D. Threaten disciplinary action for all objections

Explanation: Participative leadership involves staff in discussion and uses their ideas while the leader remains responsible for the final decision.

Correct answer: Ask staff for practical suggestions before finalising the roster
Moderate
  • A. Correct the record secretly to prevent embarrassment
  • B. Discuss the error privately and encourage accurate correction
  • C. Mention the error to other staff during the break
  • D. Ignore it because the patient was not harmed

Explanation: Private, respectful feedback promotes correction and protects professional relationships and patient safety.

Correct answer: Discuss the error privately and encourage accurate correction
Easy
  • A. Interrupt the discussion and close the meeting
  • B. Listen actively, clarify the concerns, and summarise the issues
  • C. Choose the most senior nurse's opinion immediately
  • D. Ask staff to submit complaints without any discussion

Explanation: Active listening and clarification help identify the real problem before solutions are selected.

Correct answer: Listen actively, clarify the concerns, and summarise the issues
  • A. Evidence-based decision-making
  • B. Passive supervision
  • C. Personal loyalty
  • D. Avoidance of responsibility

Explanation: Evidence-based decision-making uses reliable information to compare alternatives and select the safest reasonable option.

Correct answer: Evidence-based decision-making
  • A. The number of staff who request the nurse
  • B. The acuity and immediate safety needs of each unit
  • C. The unit with the newest furniture
  • D. The order in which staff submitted leave forms

Explanation: Staff deployment should be based first on patient acuity and immediate safety needs.

Correct answer: The acuity and immediate safety needs of each unit