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DHA Leadership, Ethics & Prioritisation Practice Questions
Leadership questions test which patient to see first, what can be delegated, ethical principles and safe communication such as SBAR handover. Below are 5 free sample questions for the DHA Registered Nurse exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- Prioritisation: ABCs and unstable vs stable
- Delegation to nursing assistants
- SBAR handover
- Ethical principles and confidentiality
- Informed consent and advocacy
- Disaster triage (START)
The full bank has 70 leadership, ethics & prioritisation questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free DHA leadership, ethics & prioritisation questions
1. When delegating a task, who remains accountable for the overall care of the patient?
- A. The nursing assistant who performs the task
- B. The patient's family
- C. The registered nurse who delegated the task
- D. The hospital pharmacist
Show answer and rationale
The registered nurse retains accountability for the decision to delegate and for the patient's overall care; the assistant is responsible for carrying out the task correctly.
Reference: Saunders NCLEX review – delegation principles
2. A nursing assistant says they have never performed a task the nurse has delegated. What is the nurse's best response?
- A. Tell them to do their best
- B. Reassign the task or provide supervision and teaching first
- C. Ask another assistant to guide them
- D. Report them for refusing work
Show answer and rationale
Delegation requires that the person is competent; if not, the nurse should reassign the task or teach and supervise.
Reference: Saunders NCLEX review – delegation principles
3. In an infection outbreak, which is usually the first priority for the ward team?
- A. Identify cases and implement control measures to stop further spread
- B. Wait for final laboratory confirmation before any action
- C. Discharge all patients immediately
- D. Close the hospital
Show answer and rationale
Early case identification and prompt control measures (isolation, hand hygiene, PPE, cleaning) limit spread; action should not wait for final confirmation.
Reference: WHO – outbreak response principles
4. A nurse off duty in a shopping centre witnesses a person collapse. Which statement about professional responsibility is best?
- A. Nurses must never help outside the workplace
- B. The nurse should provide help within their competence, such as calling for emergency help and starting CPR if needed
- C. The nurse should wait for a doctor to arrive before doing anything
- D. The nurse should only act if the person is a former patient
Show answer and rationale
Professional codes expect nurses to offer help in an emergency within their competence, such as summoning help and giving basic life support.
Reference: Standard nursing professional practice – duty of care
5. The nurse receives four laboratory results. Which requires immediate action?
- A. Haemoglobin 128 g/L in a woman
- B. Potassium 6.4 mmol/L in a patient with kidney disease
- C. Sodium 138 mmol/L
- D. Fasting glucose 5.6 mmol/L (101 mg/dL)
Show answer and rationale
Potassium 6.4 mmol/L is significantly raised and can cause fatal arrhythmias. The other results are within or near normal ranges.
Reference: Saunders NCLEX review – prioritisation of laboratory values
Study tip
For 'who first' questions, look for the patient whose airway, breathing or circulation is at risk right now.
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