1. You are the nurse manager of a busy surgical ward. You have noticed that some of the staff

nurses are frequently calling in sick, leaving the ward understaffed and increasing the workload

for the remaining nurses. You suspect that this is due to low morale and burnout among the

staff. How would you address this issue as a nurse leader? What strategies would you use to

improve staff retention and satisfaction?

Answer: As a nurse leader, you would need to identify the root causes of low morale and

burnout among the staff, such as excessive workload, lack of recognition, poor communication,

conflict, or lack of autonomy. You would then need to implement appropriate interventions to

address these issues, such as:

- Providing regular feedback and praise to the staff for their work

- Encouraging staff participation and input in decision-making and problem-solving

- Providing opportunities for staff development and career advancement

- Implementing flexible scheduling and adequate staffing levels

- Creating a supportive and collaborative work environment

- Providing resources and support for staff wellness and self-care

Rationale: These strategies are based on the principles of transformational leadership, which is

a style of leadership that inspires and motivates followers to achieve higher levels of

performance and satisfaction. Transformational leaders foster a shared vision, empower

followers, provide individualized consideration, and act as role models.

2. You are the nurse leader of a quality improvement team in your hospital. You have been

assigned to lead a project to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in your

facility. What steps would you take to plan, implement and evaluate this project? What