Question 1

Which action by the nurse manager is a demonstration of satisficing?

Accepted Answer

1. Satisficing would not involve extra effort to honor requested days off.
2. If the nurse manager was satisficing, someone would be hired, even if the fit was not good.
3. This is an example of satisficing. An example of not satisficing would be the nurse manager not agreeing with the budget until funding for the beds was provided.
4. A nurse manager who is satisficing would provide continued counseling, work with the nurse, make excuses, and retain the nurse on staff.

Question 2

At the beginning of a brainstorming session, the manager lists the rules to be followed. Which rule should be included and enforced?

Accepted Answer

1. Although all organizations are governed by a budget, what is "prohibitive" to one committee member may not be so to another. All solutions should be presented.
2. Sometimes an "old" solution is workable.
3. Brainstorming is for idea generation only. Idea critique will follow in another session.
4. The idea of brainstorming is to generate many ideas quickly. It would be better to limit the time than to limit the number of ideas.

Question 3

A serious disagreement has arisen between two staff nurses. The unit manager elects not to make a decision regarding the disagreement until more evidence is collected. Which part of the nursing process does this manager's critical thinking reflect?

Accepted Answer

1. Assessment is collecting the evidence.
2. Suspending judgment is equivalent to the diagnosis step.
3. Planning would occur when information is collected and analyzed and a course of action is being determined.
4. Deciding which hypothesis is correct is evaluation.

Question 4

A nurse on a mission trip needs a urinary catheter for an infant. The nurse only has a pediatric feeding tube and must think creatively. The nurse knows the creative process includes which stages? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and not incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Communication is not included in the stages of the creative process.
2. Incubation is included in the stages of the creative process.
3. Verification is included in the stages of the creative process.
4. Innovation is not included in the stages of the creative process.
5. Insight is included in the stages of the creative process.

Question 5

The nurse manager needs to cover vacation shifts and must decide whether to use agency nurses or the PRN nursing pool. The manager must decide between the two choices. Decision making includes which steps? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and not incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Seeking alternative is one of the steps in the decision-making process.
2. Making a decision is not one of the steps in the decision-making process.
3. Defining the problem is not one of the steps in the decision-making process.
4. Weighing the criteria is one of the steps in the decision-making process.
5. Troubleshooting is one of the steps in the decision-making process.

Question 6

A nurse believes that milk is part of the healthy adult's diet. The nurse frequently offers milk to adults as a between-meal beverage. This action is based on which concept?

Accepted Answer

1. Scientific evidence shows that milk is not tolerated by all adults. This action is not based in science.
2. The nurse's assumption is that milk is good for adults.
3. The nurse has not considered the alternative perspective that milk is not tolerated by some adults.
4. An inquiring attitude would lead the nurse to investigate research about adult tolerance to milk.

Question 7

A nurse manager who is retiring is helping the new manager learn about the position. As part of this education, the current manager has the new manager make all decisions that can be made under certainty. What conditions will these decisions have in common? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. With decisions made under certainty, there is little if any risk.
2. When a decision is made under certainty, the possible alternatives are known.
3. When a decision is made under certainty, the conditions surrounding possible alternatives are clear.
4. If possible consequences of alternatives are not known, the decision is being made under conditions of uncertainty.
5. Complex and dynamic decisions are those made under uncertainty.

Question 8

A nurse manager is committed to establishing an environment that supports critical thinking and creativity. What strategies would help in this effort? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Exposure to new ideas and a fresh environment outside the facility increases creativity.
2. Freedom is necessary to support the creative process.
3. Filling in a spreadsheet is a bureaucratic, regimented strategy that will not foster creativity.
4. Making creativity an assignment is a sure way to stifle it.
5. Being receptive to new ideas encourages creativity.

Question 9

Which statements by a nurse in the emergency department are examples of groupthink? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Suppression of dissent and new ideas occurs with groupthink.
2. Stereotyping outsiders is a symptom of groupthink.
3. There is a strong tendency in groupthink to seek concurrence.
4. Considering the opinion of others is not a symptom of groupthink.
5. Leadership controls the discussion and numbers of topics to be discussed in groupthink.

Question 10

A group of nurses has been convened to solve a problem. As the first step in this process, the group leader asks for a definition of the problem to be solved. Which statement reflects the best problem statement?

Accepted Answer

1. This is a judgment statement.
2. This is a judgment statement.
3. "Getting sloppy" is a judgment statement.
4. A good problem statement reflects the facts without judgment as to cause.

Question 11

A disagreement has arisen between two staff nurses. Both have discussed the situation with the manager. The manager feels that that problem is likely self-solving. How should the manager approach this situation? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Many situations resolve themselves with time.
2. Support from the manager is important and may lead to self-solving of the problem.
3. Depending on the problem, the nurses may need information, time off, or problem-solving practice.
4. The manager should intervene if client care begins to suffer.
5. The manager must manage this situation.

Question 12

Part of the facility's performance evaluation is based on the nurse's strength in the three types of decisions. During a nurse manager's performance evaluation, the supervisor says, "You are very good at adaptive decisions, but you need to be more precise in routine decisions. When the situation calls for really innovative decisions, you do not seem sure of yourself." How should the manager interpret this information? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Routine decisions are based on policies and rules.
2. Routine decisions are based on procedures.
3. Adaptive decisions are often modifications of well-known problems or solutions.
4. Solving unusual or unclear problems requires innovative decision making.
5. Novel situations require innovative decision-making abilities.

Quiz 9: Thinking Critically, Making Decisions, Solving Problems