Educational Use Only. This app is not intended to replace instructor guidance, institutional policies, clinical judgment, or professional medical training.
Leadership and management covers delegation, prioritization, legal/ethical issues, and quality improvement. NCLEX tests the nurse's ability to safely delegate, prioritize care, and navigate professional responsibilities.
Delegation: 5 rights — right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision/evaluation
Prioritization frameworks: ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), Maslow's hierarchy (physiological first), acute vs chronic, unstable vs stable
Scope of practice: RN assesses, evaluates, teaches, manages; LPN cares for stable patients with predictable outcomes; UAP performs ADLs, vitals, hygiene
SBAR communication: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation — for handoffs and provider calls
Ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, fidelity, veracity
Informed consent: patient must be competent, understand procedure/risks/benefits/alternatives, consent voluntarily; nurse witnesses, does not obtain
HIPAA: protect patient privacy; only share need-to-know information; do not discuss patients in public areas
Prioritize care using ABC: airway issues first, then breathing, then circulation, then other needs
Delegate appropriately: assign stable patients to LPN, ADLs/vitals to UAP; retain assessment and teaching for RN
Use SBAR for handoff communication and provider notifications
Advocate for patients: ensure informed consent, report unsafe practices, escalate concerns through chain of command
Document accurately and timely: factual, complete, legible, with correct time and date; never document before care
Implement quality improvement: identify problems, collect data, implement changes, evaluate outcomes
Manage time effectively: cluster care, prioritize, anticipate needs, delegate appropriately
Unstable patient takes priority over stable patient regardless of admission time
Acute changes (airway, breathing, circulation) override chronic or routine needs
Never delegate assessment, evaluation, teaching, or unstable patient care to UAP or LPN
If delegation task is beyond scope, do not delegate — perform yourself or escalate
Report suspected abuse, neglect, or unsafe practice immediately per facility policy
Medication errors: assess patient, notify provider, document, file incident report
N/A — Leadership concepts are applied knowledge, not lab-based
Key metrics: patient satisfaction scores, fall rates, infection rates, medication error rates
Staffing ratios: follow state regulations and facility policy
Documentation: within same shift, factual and complete
Understand your rights as a patient: informed consent, privacy, refusal of treatment
Ask questions about your care; participate in decision-making
Know who is caring for you: nurse, doctor, and other team members
Report concerns about care quality or safety to the charge nurse or patient advocate
Keep a list of medications and allergies; share with all healthcare providers
Understand discharge instructions before leaving; ask for clarification if needed