Question 1

A highly respected staff RN on the medical-surgical unit has been asked to champion the implementation of a new nursing protocol. What does champion mean in this situation? The staff nurse will be:

Accepted Answer

In this situation, champion means leading the support for implementing the new nursing protocol. The staff RN has been tasked with advocating for the successful adoption of the new protocol on the medical-surgical unit. This involves taking a leadership role, educating and motivating others to support the change, and addressing any concerns or barriers that may arise during the implementation process.

Question 2

Operational choices for action that are made to implement a strategy are called:

Accepted Answer

Operational choices for action that are made to implement a strategy are called tactics. Objectives are the specific and measurable steps that must be taken to achieve a goal. Core values are guiding principles that an organization believes in and operates by. Strategic plans are the overall long-term plans for achieving a goal or mission.

Question 3

An action plan:

Accepted Answer

An action plan breaks down the overall strategy into manageable parts by outlining specific steps and activities that need to be taken to achieve the strategic goals. It is a more detailed plan than the strategic plan, focusing on how to put the strategy into action.

Question 4

The guiding framework that describes what the organization considers to be its business direction is the:

Accepted Answer

The organizational vision describes the overall direction and purpose of the organization and serves as a guiding framework for all its decision-making and activities. The strategic plan is a detailed plan for achieving the vision, while "futuristic guidelines" and "tactical operand" are not commonly used terms in describing an organization's business direction.

Question 5

The statement, "We will increase our profit by 8% each year," is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

The statement is an example of an organization objective, which is a specific, measurable goal that an organization aims to achieve. In this case, the objective is to increase profit by 8% each year. It is not a strategic plan, mission statement, or implementation strategy.

Question 6

An organization's strategy should consist of how it (select all that apply):

Accepted Answer

An organization's strategy should include how it plans to grow and develop, capitalize on new opportunities, achieve its financial and strategic objectives, and respond to changes in the industry and marketplace. How the organization treats its competitors and defines its organizational culture are also important considerations, but they may be more specific tactics within the broader strategy.

Question 7

Strategic management, long used in business to ensure a competitive advantage over similar enterprises, involves (select all that apply):

Accepted Answer

Strategic management involves setting targets and establishing goals to provide direction, evaluating success to measure progress, developing an action plan to achieve objectives, and conducting an environmental scan to understand external factors. Defining the core purpose is more related to mission statements rather than strategic management processes.

Question 8

Strategic management is defined as the management of an organization based on its:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Strategic management is defined as the management...

Question 9

Addressing the strategic planning process questions involves considering environmental factors. An example of an external environmental factor to be considered is:

Accepted Answer

Regulatory bodies are an example of an external environmental factor because they are outside of the organization's control but can still greatly impact the organization's operations and strategies. Financial factors, human resources, and organizational culture may all be important factors to consider, but they are internal factors that can be directly managed by the organization.

Question 10

Objectives are:

Accepted Answer

Objectives are targets or goals that the organization wants to achieve. Bylaws (A) are rules and regulations that govern the organization, financial minimums (B) are related to the resources needed to operate, and performance-based criteria (C) are standards used for measurement and evaluation, typically for accreditation or certification purposes.

Question 11

The statement, "We will provide high-quality care and services to our patients. We are committed to maintaining excellence, respect, and integrity in all aspects of our operations and our professional and business conduct," is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The mission defines what the organization does; the core purpose delineates why.

Question 12

The purpose of strategic management is to (select all that apply):

Accepted Answer

The answer of The purpose of strategic management is to...

Question 13

A nurse manager enjoys implementing new programs and beginning new projects. She is beginning to find herself overwhelmed and needs to decrease her workload. Which of the following ideas might best help decrease her workload?

Accepted Answer

Following the strategic objectives and mission of the hospital can help the nurse manager prioritize and focus on the most important projects and programs, which can decrease her workload by eliminating unnecessary tasks. Comparing her vision with that of the institution or reviewing the action plan and vision of the hospital system may also be helpful, but following the strategic objectives and mission of the hospital is the most direct approach to reducing workload. Using intuition to determine which project should continue is not a reliable method and may lead to ineffective decision-making.

Question 14

The first step of the strategic planning process is to:

Accepted Answer

The first step of strategic planning is to identify the organization's vision, which establishes the overarching purpose and direction for the organization. This vision will guide the development of strategic goals, the survey of the environment, and the implementation of the action plan.

Question 15

Part of the evaluative process of a strategic plan includes:

Accepted Answer

An annual review of the strategic plan is necessary to evaluate its effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments. Designing a form to critique the guidelines, formulating an implementation outline, and rewriting the vision and mission statement may be part of the initial development of the strategic plan, but are not necessarily part of the evaluative process.

Question 16

A new cancer center is being built in the local hospital. A patient survey has revealed that patients are not certain which caregiver is the registered nurse (RN) during their hospital stay. A group is formed to recommend methods to help patients identify which caregiver is their RN for the new cancer center. Which of the following groups best represents those who should be involved in forming recommendations?

Accepted Answer

The group that should be involved in forming recommendations are those who work directly with patients, particularly those who are involved in patient care and communication. The oncology clinical nurse specialist, nurse's aides, and RNs can provide insight on what methods have worked for them in the past and what suggestions they have for improvement.

Question 17

A hospital with a large surgery department is concerned about surgeons starting their own surgical centers. In relation to the strategic plan evaluative process, this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The concern about surgeons starting their own surgical centers is an external threat to the hospital's strategic plan, as it is outside of the hospital's control and can impact its operations and revenue. An economic monopoly refers to a situation where one entity has control over a particular market, which is not the case here as the surgeons are trying to start their own centers. Marketplace competition is a general term that does not specifically relate to this scenario, and political strength does not apply in this context.

Question 18

SWOT is an acronym for:

Accepted Answer

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate a business or project. Option A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately depict the meaning of SWOT.

Question 19

Answering questions such as, "What business are we in?" and "What business do we want to be in?" can lead the organization to define the:

Accepted Answer

The core purpose can be defined and refined by asking, "Why are we in business?" As a result, the initial response, "We are in the business of health care," may be further refined to "We want to contribute to the community in which we exist." Thus asking "why" may result in the core purpose of providing needed health care services to the community in which the organization is located.

Question 20

In their book, Educating nurses: A call for radical transformation, Benner and colleagues (2010) challenged nursing education programs to:

Accepted Answer

Benner and colleagues (2010) called for the baccalaureate in nursing to be established as the minimal educational level for entry into practice, believing that it would lead to better patient outcomes and a more effective healthcare system. This recommendation was based on evidence showing that nurses with higher levels of education are better equipped to handle complex patient care situations and to adapt to changes in healthcare delivery. While advanced nursing degrees and master's degrees may provide additional benefits, the primary focus of the book is on the need to elevate the entry-level education of nurses.

Quiz 19: Strategic Management