A nurse who waits until the second bell to assist a patient demonstrates which leadership style?

• A. Authoritarian
• B. Democratic
• C. Laissez-faire
• D. Situational

Answer: (A)

This item is testing how a leader’s responsiveness and initiative shape the way they guide others. A nurse who waits until the second bell to assist a patient demonstrates a hands-off approach to leadership. Rather than actively recognizing a patient’s need and intervening promptly, the nurse lets the situation unfold and only acts when a scheduled time arrives. That lack of proactive direction and timely intervention is the hallmark of laissez-faire leadership, where guidance is minimal and actions are left to others or to routine procedures.

In contrast, an authoritarian style would involve giving clear, immediate directives and tightly controlling actions, which isn’t happening here. Democratic leadership would show active collaboration and input from others, and situational leadership would adapt to the needs of the moment; neither fits this pattern of waiting passively for a bell to trigger action. So, the behavior aligns best with laissez-faire leadership.