Deck 12: Staffing and Scheduling

Question 1

Automated computerized staffing allows for which advantage to the institution?

A)Reduces workload of nurse manager
B)Provides coverage on weekends
C)Uses part-time staff
D)Provides coverage for daily changes in acuity of patients

Answer 1

Reduces workload of nurse manager

Question 2

What factors are primarily used when quantifying patient care required and staffing needs?

A)Number of patients per nurse
B)Number of discharges
C)Acuity and time required for care
D)Number of admissions

Answer 2

Acuity and time required for care

Question 3

There are four major types of staffing plans.The centralized method of staff planning refers to which of the following?

A)The schedule is planned based on the core staff.
B)The schedule is planned on each individual unit.
C)The schedule is planned by the nurses themselves.
D)The schedule is planned by the nursing service.

Answer 3

The schedule is planned by the nursing service.

Question 4

The process of determining daily staffing incorporates which factor?

A)Competency of staff
B)Nursing degree of staff
C)Acute change in patient acuity
D)Emergency department admissions

Question 5

There are four major types of staffing plans.The self-scheduling method of staff planning refers to which of the following?

A)The schedule is planned based on the central or core staff.
B)The schedule is planned on each individual unit by the nurse manager.
C)The schedule is planned by the nurses themselves.
D)The schedule is planned by nursing service.

Question 6

Most institutions use one or more types of future scheduling in their planning.Which of the following provides advantages for creativity and staff satisfaction in scheduling?

A)Pattern scheduling
B)Preference scheduling
C)Rules scheduling
D)Self-scheduling

Question 7

There are four major types of staffing plans.The mixed method of staff planning refers to which of the following?

A)The schedule uses decentralized scheduling and its staffing needs are supplemented by the centralized office.
B)The schedule is planned on each individual unit by the nurse manager.
C)The schedule is planned by the nurses themselves.
D)The schedule is planned by nursing service.

Question 8

What is the disadvantage to the institution in using external agency nurses?

A)Cost
B)Competency
C)Availability
D)Staff relationships

Question 9

What is the best advantage to preference scheduling for nurses?

A)Institutional rules can be applied.
B)Staff decide shifts.
C)Scheduling is determine by first-come, first-served basis.
D)Blocks of time are predictable.

Question 10

Most institutions use one or more types of future scheduling in their planning.Which of the following provides advantages for the organization's scheduling policies?

A)Pattern scheduling
B)Preference scheduling
C)Rules scheduling
D)Self-scheduling

Question 11

Which ANA Principles for Nurse Staffing standard is applied to the organization?

A)Nursing ratios are mandated.
B)The need for documented competencies for all nurses delivering patient care is supported.
C)That nursing budgeted positions are not filled in a timely manner is accepted.
D)The needs of the staff nurse are secondary to the patient's needs.

Question 12

Which ANA Principles for Nurse Staffing standard is applied to staffing?

A)Nurse/patient ratios should be mandated.
B)Clinical competencies of the staff are standardized for all units.
C)Support of the staff nurses must come from all levels of nursing.
D)Experienced nurses should work the day shift because it is the busiest.

Question 13

What is the advantage to the institution in using external agency nurses?

A)Competency
B)Availability
C)Cost
D)Staff relationships

Question 14

A new nurse is interested in working a "weekend option." Which of the following describes this pattern of scheduling?

A)Nurse works two 12-hour shifts on the weekend and is paid for either 36 or 40 hours a week.
B)Nurse works five shifts a week with alternating weekends.
C)Nurse works three shifts a week and alternates weekends.
D)Nurse works alternating weekends and alternates shifts.

Question 15

There are four major types of staffing plans.The decentralized method of staff planning refers to which of the following?

A)The schedule is planned based on the central or core staff.
B)The schedule is planned on each individual unit by the nurse manager.
C)The schedule is planned by the nurses themselves.
D)The schedule is planned by nursing service.

Question 16

Automated computerized staffing allows for which advantage to the staff?

A)It reduces the workload of the nurse manager.
B)Staff has many options on a first-come, first-served basis.
C)It provides for changes in daily patient acuity.
D)Weekend options are available.

Question 17

When calculating for staffing needs, what should be considered?

A)Weekend option
B)Hourly salary of employee
C)Productive versus nonproductive hours of an employee
D)Vacation time accrued

Question 18

Which ANA Principles for Nurse Staffing standards are applied to patient care?

A)Staffing levels that must be sufficient for providing quality patient care
B)Mandated staffing ratios
C)Recommended a new method for determining staffing needs
D)Staffing based on patient census

Question 19

The best determinant of staffing needs is based on which factor?

A)Patient acuity
B)Productive time
C)Nonproductive time
D)Nurse/patient ratio

Question 20

There are four major types of staffing plans used in the hospital setting.The primary advantage of self-scheduling is which of the following?

A)It saves the nurse manager time.
B)It encourages negotiation among staff.
C)The most senior staff get first pick.
D)The freshman staff get the more undesirable shifts.

Question 21

Leadership structures in health care can be centralized or decentralized.The nurse understands that she is working in a centralized structured environment when which of the following occurs?

A)All organizational decisions must be approved by the CEO.
B)Changes can be made rapidly based on immediate needs.
C)Nurses must work under a dual-authority structure.
D)Decisions can be made at the "point of care."

Question 22

A nurse who is interested in developing clinical decision-making skills would look for a unit that practices which model for health care delivery?

A)Primary nursing
B)Team nursing
C)Functional nursing
D)Case management

Question 23

In a team nursing health care delivery model environment, the nurse would observe for which action by the staff?

A)The UAPs answer all call lights.
B)The charge nurse is notified when there are patient complaints about care.
C)The UAPs answer their patients' call lights.
D)The RN is notified when there are patient care complaints.

Question 24

The student nurse learns about the advantages and disadvantages of various patient care delivery models.The student understands that besides an historical perspective of nursing practice, a patient delivery care model may need to be instituted to adapt to

A)alterations in available staff due to weather emergencies.
B)the financial environment of the patient population.
C)a wide range of ages among the staff.
D)a limited number of unlicensed staff on the unit.

Question 25

In interviewing for a new position, a nurse may want to inquire about the institution's views on autonomy in the workplace for nurses.The nurse concludes that autonomy is valued when told that the unit has

A)infrequent "floating."
B)self-scheduling.
C)cover of another nurse's assignment while she or he is on break.
D)hourly pay differential for the night shift.

Question 26

An agency nurse is assigned to work on a unit that uses the team nursing model of health care delivery.Which of the following would the nurse expect to experience in this environment?

A)UAP taking vital signs and giving baths
B)RN taking vital signs and giving baths
C)RN delegating patient care delivery to a group of patients
D)Charge nurse delegating care delivery

Question 27

A nurse working on a unit using the primary care delivery model would expect to observe which practice specific to primary care delivery?

A)The UAP measures blood sugar levels on all patients.
B)The RN administers medications to a team of patients.
C)The RN verifies a new order for patient started on an antihypertensive with a blood pressure of 100/60 mm Hg.
D)The RN holds the morning dose of insulin for a patient scheduled for surgery later that day.

Question 28

The fundamental element of any patient care delivery combines work allocation with

A)patient acuity.
B)leadership.
C)clinical decision making.
D)delegation.

Question 29

Travel nurses have become very popular, especially among single, unattached nurses.Which of the following is an advantage of contracting with a travel nurse to the agency?

A)Cost
B)Availability
C)Competency
D)Contractual agreement

Question 30

Overtime to cover shortages in staff coverage can be a daunting problem.Which of the following can be a short-term solution to a nursing shortage?

A)Increase length of shift.
B)Work a double shift.
C)Use an agency nurse.
D)Ask each shift to work 4 extra hours.

Question 31

A nurse has accepted a position on a nursing unit where the nurse manager promotes autonomy and staff involvement in decision making.What would the nurse expect to observe on this unit?

A)Nurse manager mandates changes.
B)Staff takes responsibility for assignments.
C)Staff participates on hospital committees.
D)Nurses are recognized for excellence in practice.

Question 32

Part-time staffing by nurses includes which advantages? (Select all that apply.)

A)Provides a backup
B)Maintains skills
C)Increases income
D)Provides life outside of family
E)Maintains education

Question 33

The patient care delivery system used by an institution should be based on which fundamental elements? (Select all that apply.)

A)Work allocation
B)Accountability
C)Allocation of resources
D)Mission statement
E)Leadership style
F)Cultural diversity of patients

Question 34

Which action by the nurse indicates a primary care delivery model environment?

A)Development of the plan of care by primary RN to be used on all shifts
B)Calling the physician for clarification after an illegible order is written
C)The unit secretary takes off all orders initially.
D)The charge nurse makes all patient care assignments.

Question 35

In which health care delivery model would the nurse expect to see "point-of-care" decision making occur?

A)Primary care nursing
B)Team nursing
C)Functional nursing
D)Modular nursing

Question 36

A nurse would expect to see which action on a unit that uses the team nursing model of health care delivery?

A)The nurse makes patient care decisions at the bedside.
B)The nurse delegates patient care to other team members.
C)The nurse works on discharge plans on admission.
D)The UAP takes vital signs on the patients on one hallway.