Question 1

The nurse manager believes in participative management and teamwork.Which kind of appraisal interview would the nurse manager most likely use?

Accepted Answer

Goal setting is future oriented.It focuses attention on the employee's achievement and consequently stimulates accomplishment.This method integrates institutional and personal achievement goals.

Question 2

The nurse manager is aware that decreased productivity is a side effect of:

Accepted Answer

Decreased productivity is a side effect of personnel problems.

Question 3

The nurse manager counsels the staff nurse who was making inappropriate sexual comments to other staff members.The nurse manager tells the staff nurse what behavior is required and how to prevent future disciplinary actions.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

When taking corrective,constructive action,the manager should be sure that the staff nurse understands that the behavior was contrary to the organization's requirements and should explain why such regulations are necessary.The staff nurse should be counseled as to what behavior is required and how to prevent future disciplinary action.

Question 4

As an employee benefit,the hospital provides tuition assistance for employees who pursue further education for professional development provided they agree to work at least 2 years after they complete their studies.This can be viewed as what type of modification of employee behavior?

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement increases the probability of a recurrence of desired behavior.A number of stimuli,such as assistance with tuition,can be used to reinforce behavior.Recognition is one of the easiest,cheapest,and most universally effective reinforcers.

Question 5

Management by objectives (MBO)or management by outcomes is a managerial method that focuses attention on:

Accepted Answer

MBO focuses attention on individual achievement,motivates individuals to accomplish,and measures performance in terms of results.

Question 6

Although leaders and managers both have responsibility for evaluating and disciplining personnel,they each have different functions.Leaders encourage peer review,whereas managers:

Accepted Answer

Leaders inspire high performance and encourage peer review,whereas managers evaluate performance and use a formalized system.

Question 7

All of the following are purposes of the performance appraisal except:

Accepted Answer

One purpose of performance evaluations is to improve communication between managers and staff members (not physicians)in order to reach an understanding about the objectives of the job and agency.

Question 8

After the nurse manager counseled a staff member about excessive absenteeism,the nurse manager expected his behavior to change.What type of consequence should the staff nurse expect if he changes his behavior?

Accepted Answer

The nurse manager should not just ignore reduced absenteeism and should acknowledge a change in behavior.

Question 9

One common effect in evaluation is the halo effect.In the halo effect,a logical error occurs when:

Accepted Answer

In the halo effect,a logical error occurs when a person is given a high rating on one characteristic because the person received a high rating on another characteristic that is understandably related.

Question 10

If the nurse manager rates the staff from the best performer to the weakest performer,the manager is using what method of performance management?

Accepted Answer

When a forced distribution scale is used,the evaluator rates all individuals reporting to that person in order from the best performer to the weakest performer.

Question 11

There are steps that nurse managers can take when dealing with problem employees.One of these steps is to:

Accepted Answer

Substance abusers,angry or withdrawn workers,personnel with excessive absenteeism,and an employee who is being terminated provide challenges to nurse managers.In each case the manager must be alert to symptoms of problems,help the employee solve the problem,and evaluate the results.

Question 12

The nurse manager needed to conduct an appraisal interview for a novice nurse who was completing his first 6 months of work on the unit.Which kind of appraisal interview would best fit the new employee?

Accepted Answer

The tell-and-sell method works best with young or new employees or individuals who are new to an assignment.These employees may want advice or assurance from an authority figure.

Question 13

Hospitals have disciplinary action programs that determine how staff disciplinary problems are handled.Which of the following statements is correct regarding a hospital's disciplinary action program?

Accepted Answer

Employees must be informed about the nature and meaning of codes of conduct.Agency handbooks,policy manuals,and orientation programs may be used.

Question 14

A staff nurse complains to the nurse manager that another staff member is making her feel uncomfortable by making sexual comments.Before the nurse manager takes disciplinary action,the manager most likely will:

Accepted Answer

The ramifications of disciplinary action are so serious that managers must proceed with caution.They should collect the facts,check allegations,talk to witnesses,and ask accused employees for their side of the story.

Question 15

Managers who are perfectionists may rate personnel lower than they should and may compare how a staff nurse previously performed with how the staff nurse presently performs.This is called:

Accepted Answer

The horns effect occurs when evaluators are hypercritical and rate the personnel lower than they should.

Question 16

Management by objectives (MBO)has advantages for both staff nurses and nurse managers.One advantage of MBO for staff nurses is that:

Accepted Answer

One advantage of MBO for nurses is that the standard of evaluation is based on the characteristics of a specific job and the person who performs it.

Question 17

Progressive discipline starts with a verbal reprimand,followed by a written reprimand,and then:

Accepted Answer

Progressive discipline starts with a verbal reprimand,followed by a written reprimand,and then suspension without pay.Discipline without punishment imposes disciplinary suspension with pay to demonstrate that management is sincere in the desire to see the worker change and stay.If no corrective action is taken,the last step is termination.

Question 18

The nurse manager wants to evaluate the behavior of the unlicensed personnel.One way the manager can do this is by asking staff nurses to assist in documenting certain behaviors.This is a form of:

Accepted Answer

Anecdotal records are objective descriptions of behavior recorded on plain paper or a form.Characteristic behavior cannot be determined unless several incidents depicting similar behavior are recorded.

Question 19

Hospitals have found that the major reason for disciplinary action is:

Accepted Answer

Lack of knowledge about policies and procedures is a major reason that disciplinary action becomes necessary.

Question 20

Which of the following is a multisource system of assessment that includes self-appraisal and subordinate,peer,and administrative feedback?

Accepted Answer

The 360-degree feedback is a multisource system of assessment that includes self-appraisal and subordinate,peer,and administrative feedback.

Quiz 14: Evaluation and Discipline of Personnel