Question

There are three levels of management in nursing. Which action by the nurse would indicate the nurse is a first-line nurse manager?

1) Responding to a patient complaint
2) Deciding to incorporate walking rounds shift report hospitalwide
3) Reevaluating the nursing policy permitting IV push of certain medications by RNs
4) Designating assignment of new admissions

Answer 1

Designating the assignment of new admissions indicates a nurse is a first-line nurse manager, as this task is associated with managing immediate and operational aspects of patient care.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are three levels of management in nursing which typically consist of first-line nurse managers, middle-level nurse managers, and upper-level nurse managers. First-line nurse managers are those who provide direct supervision of patient care and typically work on the front lines of patient service. Meanwhile, middle-level nurse managers and upper-level nurse managers are more likely to be involved in wide-scale policy development and long-term strategic planning.

Designating the assignment of new admissions is an action that would indicate a nurse is functioning as a first-line nurse manager. This responsibility involves managing the immediate, operational concerns of a nursing unit, including the delegation of patients to staff nurses based on a considered assessment of patient needs and staff workload.

By contrast, actions like deciding to incorporate walking rounds shift reports hospital-wide or reevaluating nursing policies reflect broader strategic decision-making typically associated with higher levels of nursing management.