CHAPTER 7 DIRECTING Flashcards
it is the final major step taken by the
nurse manager to ensure that the organization’s goals are accomplished
DIRECTING
manager must ensure that she has assigned
the work properly and that she has gotten the right person for each task that needs to be accomplished
DIRECTING
What is the primary purpose of directing an organization?
A. Setting organizational goals
B. Issuing orders and instructions
C. Developing departmental policies
D. Evaluating employee performance
Answer: B. Issuing orders and instructions
Rationale: Directing involves the act of issuing orders, assignments, and instructions to accomplish the organization’s goals and objectives. It is the process of getting the organization’s work done by explaining what is to be done, to and by whom, at what time, how, and why the task should be done.
Why is it important for directing to be consistent with departmental policies?
A. To ensure employee satisfaction
B. To promote a collaborative work environment
C. To enhance organizational communication
D. To help personnel perform their duties safely and efficiently
Answer: D. To help personnel perform their duties safely and efficiently
Rationale: Consistency between directing and departmental policies is crucial to help personnel perform their duties safely and efficiently. When directing aligns with policies, it provides a framework for employees to understand and execute tasks in a manner that complies with established guidelines, promoting overall safety and efficiency in the workplace.
What characteristic is essential for effective directions?
A. Lengthy and detailed
B. Ambiguous and vague
C. Clear, concise, consistent, and complete
D. Complicated and intricate
Answer: C. Clear, concise, consistent, and complete
Rationale: Effective directions must possess clarity, conciseness, consistency, and completeness to ensure that recipients understand and carry out tasks accurately. These characteristics minimize the risk of misinterpretation and promote successful task execution.
Which term used in directions denotes a recommendation or something that is not mandatory?
A. Must
B. Shall
C. Will
D. Should
Answer: D. Should
Rationale: “Should” is a term used in directions to indicate a recommendation or something that is not mandatory. It suggests a preferred or advisable action without strict obligation.
What is the recommended approach to delivering directions verbally?
A. Speak rapidly and assertively
B. Use vague terms to allow flexibility
C. Speak distinctly and slowly
D. Avoid personalizing the communication
Answer: C. Speak distinctly and slowly
Rationale: Speaking distinctly and slowly when delivering directions helps ensure that the information is clearly understood. It also contributes to creating an environment where directions are perceived as REQUEST RATHER than DEMAND.
Why is it advisable to avoid giving too many directions at one time?
A. Increases efficiency
B. Enhances communication
C. Reduces the risk of misinterpretation
D. Overwhelms and confuses recipients
Answer: D. Overwhelms and confuses recipients
Rationale: Providing too many directions at once can overwhelm and confuse recipients, making it more likely for them to misinterpret or forget crucial details. Breaking down instructions into manageable components enhances understanding and task completion.
What does personalizing directions involve?
A. Making them generic for all recipients
B. Tailoring them to the individual’s preferences
C. Including unnecessary details
D. Using ambiguous language
Answer: B. Tailoring them to the individual’s preferences
Rationale: Personalizing directions involves tailoring them to the individual’s preferences, communication style, and understanding, increasing the likelihood of successful execution.
How should the importance of tasks be prioritized when giving directions?
A. Randomly
B. Based on personal preferences
C. According to urgency and importance
D. In alphabetical order
Answer: C. According to URGENCY and IMPORTANCE
Rationale: Prioritizing tasks directed by urgency and importance helps recipients focus on the most critical aspects first, ensuring effective time management and goal achievement.
Which is considered the primary tool in directing patient care within the nursing process?
A) Policies and procedures
B) Standards operating procedure
C) Rules and regulations
D) Nursing Care Plan
Answer: D) Nursing Care Plan
Rationale: The nursing care plan is the primary tool in directing patient care within the nursing process. It serves as a comprehensive guide that outlines individualized nursing interventions based on the patient’s needs, promoting organized and patient-centered care.
What role do policies, standards operating procedure, and rules and regulations play in directing nursing care?
A) Primary tools in patient assessment
B) Secondary tools in the nursing process
C) Essential components of the Nursing Care Plan
D) Substitutes for critical thinking in nursing practice
Answer: B) Secondary tools in the nursing process
Rationale: While policies, standards operating procedure, and rules and regulations are important in guiding nursing practice, they serve as secondary tools within the nursing process.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NURSING CARE PLAN
What is the primary focus of the Nursing Care Plan?
A) Identifying health problems
B) Providing immediate relief
C) Addressing exciting problems
D) Minimizing patient needs
Answer: C) Addressing exciting problems
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NURSING CARE PLAN
What characterizes the development of the Nursing Care Plan?
A) Random actions based on intuition
B) Spontaneous decision-making
C) Deliberate systematic process
D) Instantaneous problem-solving
Answer: C) Deliberate systematic process
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NURSING CARE PLAN
In terms of time orientation, how does the Nursing Care Plan relate to patient care?
A) Past-oriented
B) Present-oriented
C) Future-oriented
D) Time-independent
Answer: C) Future-oriented
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NURSING CARE PLAN
What serves as the foundation for the Nursing Care Plan?
A) Patient preferences
B) Personal opinions of the nurse
C) Identifiable health and nursing problems
D) General medical guidelines
Answer: C) IDENTIFIABLE health and nursing problems
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NURSING CARE PLAN
What is the primary focus of the Nursing Care Plan in addressing patient needs?
A) Physical needs only
B) Psychological needs only
C) Holistic needs
D) Routine needs
Answer: C) Holistic needs
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NURSING CARE PLAN
What is the overarching goal of the Nursing Care Plan?
A) Meeting some of the patient’s needs
B) Addressing a single health problem
C) Minimizing the patient’s concerns
D) Aiming to meet all the needs of the patient
Answer: D) Aiming to meet all the needs of the patient
PRINCIPLES OF DELEGATION
Which principle of delegation emphasizes the importance of choosing the most appropriate individual for a delegated task?
A) Delegate interesting and uninteresting tasks
B) Provide subordinates with enough time to learn
C) Select the right person to whom the job is to be delegated
D) Avoid gaps and overlaps
Answer: C) Select the right person to whom the job is to be delegated
PRINCIPLES OF DELEGATION
Which principle of delegation suggests the importance of distributing a variety of tasks, both interesting and uninteresting?
A) Delegate gradually
B) Consult before delegating
C) Delegate interesting and uninteresting tasks
D) Avoid gaps and overlaps
Answer: C) Delegate interesting and uninteresting tasks
Rationale: Delegating a mix of interesting and uninteresting tasks helps maintain motivation among team members and prevents monotony. This principle promotes a balanced distribution of responsibilities, contributing to a positive work environment.
PRINCIPLES OF DELEGATION
What does the principle “Delegate gradually” in the delegation process encourage?
A) Swift delegation of tasks
B) Assigning multiple tasks simultaneously
C) Gradual increase in delegation over time
D) Delegating only routine tasks
Answer: C) Gradual increase in delegation over time
Rationale: Delegating gradually involves progressively assigning more responsibilities as the subordinate gains experience and demonstrates competence. This approach allows for a smooth transition of tasks and helps build confidence in the delegated individual.
PRINCIPLES OF DELEGATION
When is the best time to implement the principle “Delegate in advance” in the delegation process?
A) Immediately after a task is identified
B) At the last minute to ensure accuracy
C) When subordinates request additional responsibilities
D) Well before the task deadline or need arises
Answer: D) Well before the task deadline or need arises
Rationale: Delegating in advance involves planning and assigning tasks well before they are due or needed. This principle allows subordinates ample time for preparation and execution, reducing the likelihood of rushed or incomplete work.
SUMMARY: PRINCIPLES OF DELEGATION
PRINCIPLES OF DELEGATION
o Select the right person to whom the job is to be
delegated.
o Delegate interesting and uninteresting task.
o Provide subordinates with enough time to learn.
o Delegate gradually.
o Delegate in advance.
o Consult before delegating.
o Avoid gaps and overlaps.
6 ELEMENTS OF DIRECTING
D,S,S,C,C,E
- DELEGATION
- SUPERVISION
- STAFF DEVELOPMENT
- COORDINATION
- COMMUNICATION
- EVALUATION
What is the primary purpose of delegation in nursing management?
Answer: D) To assign tasks with corresponding Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability (ARA)
Rationale: Delegation involves assigning tasks to others with the appropriate authority, responsibility, and accountability.
An assignment is a task done without authority
while a delegation is a task done with ARA
What is the common fear among nurse managers that may hinder effective delegation?
A) Fear of criticism
B) Fear of losing control of the staff
C) Fear of excessive workload
D) Fear of staff incompetence
Answer: B) Fear of losing control of the staff
topic: C7, Page 2 WHY NURSES MANAGER DO NOT DELEGATE?
What is the primary goal of staff development in nursing?
Answer: B) Enhancing competence in practice, education, administration, and research
topic: pg. 3
#3 ELEMENT OF DIRECTING: STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Which type of communication involves clear, correct, complete, and concise written messages, such as memoranda, policies, and procedures?
5 ELEMENT OF DIRECTING
Answer: C) Written communication
Rationale: Written communication involves the use of clear, correct, complete, and concise messages in written form, such as memoranda, policies, and procedures.
topic: TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
What is the primary function of coordination in nursing management?
A) Creating disharmony in the workplace
B) Linking different components of an organization toward goal achievement
C) Increasing loose ends in organizational tasks
D) Minimizing communication within the team
Answer: B) Linking different components of an organization toward goal achievement
COORDINATION: #4 ELEMENT OF DIRECTING
What is the primary purpose of evaluation in nursing management?
A) To ignore performance
B) To recognize and further develop strengths
C) To discourage employees
D) To avoid fair employment practices
Answer: B) To recognize and further develop strengths
Rationale: The primary purpose of evaluation is to recognize and further develop strengths while minimizing weaknesses in individual and organizational performance.
: #4 ELEMENT OF DIRECTING
What type of evaluation focuses on the response of patients after nursing care is provided?
A) Outcome evaluation
B) Process evaluation
C) Structure evaluation
D) Anecdotal evaluation
Answer: A) Outcome evaluation
Rationale: Outcome evaluation assesses the response of patients after nursing care is provided, determining the effectiveness of the care delivered.
Topic: EVALUATION #6 ELEMENT OF DIRECTING
Which is an example of a potential barrier to effective communication related to social/psychological factors?
A) Physical distance
B) Noise
C) Stress
D) Semantics
Answer: C) Stress
Rationale: Stress is a social/psychological barrier to effective communication, affecting individuals’ ability to understand and convey messages.
What is the primary focus of good supervision in nursing management?
A) Upgrading the worker
B) Emphasizing individual weaknesses
C) Cooperatively planning and encouraging worker participation
D) Discouraging critical thinking
Answer: C) Cooperatively planning and encouraging worker participation
Rationale: Good supervision focuses on cooperatively planning and encouraging worker participation in order to improve work and enhance individual and organizational effectiveness.
SUPERVISION #2 ELEMENT OF DIRECTING
What is the primary responsibility of supervisors in staff development?
A) Avoiding consultation with staff
B) Delegating all responsibilities to subordinates
C) Assessing and evaluating work performance and conditions
D) Ignoring staff needs and problems
Answer: C) Assessing and evaluating work performance and conditions
Rationale: Supervisors in staff development have the responsibility to assess and evaluate work performance and conditions, addressing staff needs and problems to enhance overall competence.
SUPERVISION #2 ELEMENT OF DIRECTING
