4 original SNLE questions on nursing teams and interprofessional relations, each with an explanation for all four options. Part of Nursing Management and Leadership, worth 10% of the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination.
Q01 / 04medium0 correct
Nursing Management and Leadershipmediumq060
A staff nurse reports to the nurse manager that a physician frequently yells at her in front of patients and other team members, causing her significant distress. What is the nurse manager's best initial action?
All 4 questions
Every question below, with the reasoning for all four options. Try to answer before you open one.
Nursing teams and interprofessional relations · medium
A staff nurse reports to the nurse manager that a physician frequently yells at her in front of patients and other team members, causing her significant distress. What is the nurse manager's best initial action?
AAcknowledge the nurse's concerns and initiate the facility's process for addressing disruptive behavior.
BEncourage the nurse to directly confront the physician about the impact of the yelling.
CAdvise the nurse to avoid the physician whenever possible to minimize further distress.
DSchedule a private meeting with the physician to discuss the reported behavior immediately.
Show the answer and why the others fail
Answer: A. Acknowledge the nurse's concerns and initiate the facility's process for addressing disruptive behavior.
A — correct
The manager's first priority is to support the nurse and activate the organization's established policy for reporting and managing disruptive conduct, ensuring a structured, safe, and consistent response.
B
Placing the burden of confrontation on the distressed nurse is inappropriate and may escalate the conflict; the manager should facilitate a structured resolution process.
C
Avoidance does not resolve the underlying behavior and may compromise patient care by impeding essential communication between the nurse and physician.
D
While addressing the physician is necessary, the initial step is to support the nurse and follow organizational policy, which typically includes documentation and investigation before direct intervention.
TakeawayWhen a nurse reports disruptive behavior, the manager's first action is to provide support and follow the facility's established process for reporting and addressing such behavior, rather than avoiding the issue, expecting the nurse to confront the individual, or immediately confronting the physician without due process.
Nursing teams and interprofessional relations · medium
A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit overhears two staff nurses arguing loudly in the hallway. The argument is disrupting the unit and drawing attention from patients and visitors. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take first?
ADirect the nurses to stop the argument immediately.
BAllow the nurses to resolve the conflict on their own.
CReport the incident to the nurse manager immediately.
DReassign one of the nurses to another unit for the shift.
Show the answer and why the others fail
Answer: A. Direct the nurses to stop the argument immediately.
A — correct
The first priority is to halt the disruptive behavior to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment; further conflict resolution can follow privately.
B
Passively allowing the argument to continue risks escalation and compromises patient safety; the charge nurse must intervene immediately.
C
Escalating to the manager is premature; the charge nurse should first address the immediate disruption at the unit level.
D
Reassignment is a last resort that does not resolve the conflict and may disrupt continuity of care and staffing.
TakeawayWhen managing conflict, the nurse leader's first action is to stop the disruptive behavior to ensure a safe environment, then facilitate a private discussion to resolve the issue.
Nursing teams and interprofessional relations · medium
A nurse manager is leading an interprofessional team meeting to plan care for a patient with complex rehabilitation needs. The team includes a staff nurse, a physical therapist, and a social worker. The nurse and physical therapist disagree about the patient's readiness for discharge. Which action by the nurse manager best promotes interprofessional collaboration?
ATable the discussion and revisit the issue at the next scheduled meeting.
BAsk the physician to make the final decision on discharge readiness.
CFacilitate a discussion to identify common goals and reach a consensus.
DSuggest the nurse and physical therapist resolve the disagreement privately after the meeting.
Show the answer and why the others fail
Answer: C. Facilitate a discussion to identify common goals and reach a consensus.
A
Postponing the discussion avoids addressing the conflict and can compromise patient care; effective leaders facilitate resolution in real time to maintain team momentum.
B
Deferring to the physician undermines the team's shared decision-making authority and does not foster collaborative problem-solving among team members.
C — correct
Facilitating a discussion to identify shared goals and reach consensus is a core interprofessional collaboration strategy that respects all perspectives and promotes team ownership of the care plan.
D
This approach excludes the rest of the team and may delay care planning; interprofessional collaboration requires inclusive, timely communication among all relevant members.
TakeawayNurse leaders promote interprofessional collaboration by facilitating open dialogue that helps team members identify common goals and reach consensus.
Nursing teams and interprofessional relations · medium
A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is making assignments for the upcoming shift. The team includes a registered nurse (RN), a licensed practical nurse (LPN), and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). All patients are stable and have predictable outcomes. Which of the following tasks should the charge nurse delegate to the UAP?
AMeasuring and recording vital signs for a patient who is 24 hours post-cholecystectomy.
BAdministering a subcutaneous insulin injection to a patient with stable blood glucose levels.
CAmbulating a patient who is 2 days post-operative after a total hip replacement for the first time.
DIrrigating an indwelling urinary catheter to maintain patency.
Show the answer and why the others fail
Answer: A. Measuring and recording vital signs for a patient who is 24 hours post-cholecystectomy.
A — correct
Measuring and recording vital signs is a routine task that does not require nursing judgment and can be safely delegated to a UAP for a stable patient, provided the UAP has been trained and the nurse follows up on the results.
B
Medication administration, including subcutaneous injections, requires clinical assessment and knowledge of pharmacology, which are within the scope of licensed nursing staff (RN or LPN) and cannot be delegated to a UAP.
C
The initial ambulation of a post-hip replacement patient requires nursing assessment of mobility, pain, and adherence to hip precautions; this clinical judgment cannot be delegated to a UAP.
D
Catheter irrigation is a sterile procedure that requires nursing knowledge to assess patency and recognize complications; it is not within the UAP scope of practice and must be performed by licensed personnel.
TakeawayUAPs can perform routine tasks that do not require nursing judgment, such as measuring vital signs for stable patients. Tasks involving medication administration, initial ambulation with specific precautions, or sterile procedures must be performed by licensed nurses.