Chapter 18: Time Management and Setting Patient Care Priorities
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is deciding on an appropriate time management strategy. Which
... [Show More] of the following time
management strategies does not belong?
a. Outcome delivery c. Focus on priorities
b. Analysis of time cost and use d. Visualization of the big picture
ANS: A
Some basic time management strategies include outcome orientation (not delivery), an analysis of the
cost of use of time, a focus upon priorities, and the ability to visualize the big picture.
PTS: 1 DIF: Comprehension REF: KEY CONCEPTS
2. The nurse manager is trying to plan the shifts in the most effective manner. The manager knows that
one characteristic of effective shift planning includes which of the following?
a. Getting the job done in the least amount of time
b. Nobody died
c. Everybody showed up for work
d. Evaluation of optimal and reasonable outcomes
ANS: D
Effective shift planning involves deciding what goals or outcomes they want to achieve. Identifying
optimal outcomes (best possible objectives), as well as reasonable outcomes (realistic objectives given
the resources at hand), and evaluating progress made toward these outcomes during and at the end of
the shift are qualities that lead to effective planning during one’s shift. Often enough, nurses do not
allow themselves permission to do less-than-optimal work, but sometimes, due to circumstances
beyond their control (short staffed), achieving reasonable goals is the best that can be expected.
PTS: 1 DIF: Application REF: KEY CONCEPTS
3. A nurse manager is providing instruction on related commonsense skills that can help nurses to use
their time in the most effective and productive manner possible. These skills are best known as which
of the following?
a. Pareto principle c. Shift planning
b. Time management d. Effective leadership
ANS: B
(Mind Tools, 2006). The Pareto principle concerns
the concept that 20 percent of focused efforts results in 80 percent of outcome results. Shift planning
deals with the organization and prioritization of patient care and tasks per shift. While the use of time
management skills is a quality of effective leadership, it encompasses a variety of other attributes and
qualities such as management skills, knowledge of leadership techniques, theory, and practice.
PTS: 1 DIF: Comprehension
REF: GENERAL TIME MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS
4. A nursing instructor wants to determine whether a nursing student understands the importance of the
Pareto principle. Which of the following responses would indicate that the student understands?
a.
b. It is a way to record your activities over a period of time to see how your time is spent.
c. It is the principle that 20 percent of focused efforts equals 20 percent of outcome results.
d. It is the principle that 80 percent of focused efforts results in 80 percent of focused time.
ANS: A
PTS: 1 DIF: Comprehension REF: THE PARETO PRINCIPLE
5. A nurse manager observes that a few of the new employees continue to mismanage their time, which
results in a flurry of activities that do not achieve the expected outcome goals for the time spent. The
most likely cause of this behavior is that the nurses:
a. want to appear busy.
b. love crises.
c. know about time management but do not think it applies to them.
d. think they are far too superior to need to plan their time.
ANS: B
People continue to mismanage their time for other reasons: they
do not know about time management, or they think they do not have time to plan or do not want to
stop to plan.
PTS: 1 DIF: Application REF: THE PARETO PRINCIPLE
6. When developing long-term goals, the nurse manager is always aware that these goals should remain:
a. long. c. flexible.
b. short. d. inflexible.
ANS: C
It is important, when making long-term goals and outcomes, that they remain flexible. The concept of
flexibility should be built into any outcome orientation such as goal setting because, at times, the
long-term goals may no longer be realistic or may need to be changed as circumstances change.
PTS: 1 DIF: Application REF: OUTCOME ORIENTATION
Continues... [Show Less]