AIIMS Raipur lecturer 2021
Nursing Management & leadership
Easy

_______ refers to the number of subordinates a manager can effectively manage.

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur lecturer 2021

Explanation

  • Span of control is a management principle that defines the number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
  • The ideal span of control depends on factors like task complexity, employee experience, and manager's ability.
  • A narrow span means few subordinates and close supervision, while a wide span means many subordinates and greater autonomy.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: This principle refers to the specialization of tasks to improve efficiency, not the number of people a manager supervises.
  • Option B: This principle relates to an organization's ability to adapt to change, not its supervisory structure.
  • Option D: This principle states that an employee should report to only one supervisor to avoid conflicting orders.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Management Principles: Span of Control as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • In a nursing context, a nurse manager's span of control is critical for patient safety and staff well-being. An overly wide span can lead to inadequate supervision, staff burnout, and potential for errors.
  • A manageable span of control allows the nurse manager to provide necessary support, mentorship, and clinical guidance to their team, fostering a culture of safety and quality.
  • What if? If a nursing unit is staffed with highly experienced, specialized nurses working autonomously (e.g., in an ICU), the nurse manager might effectively handle a wider span of control compared to a unit with many new graduates requiring more direct guidance.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, analyze the question stem to identify the core concept. The key phrase is 'number of subordinates a manager can effectively manage'.
  • This is a definition-based question. Your goal is to match this definition with the correct management term from the options.
  • Evaluate Option A, 'Division of work'. This is about specializing tasks, not managing people. Eliminate it.
  • Evaluate Option B, 'Principle of flexibility'. This is about adapting to change, not supervision. Eliminate it.
  • Evaluate Option C, 'Span of control'. This term directly refers to the number of people a manager supervises. This is a strong candidate.
  • Evaluate Option D, 'Unity of command'. This is about having only one boss. While related to organizational structure, it's not about the number of subordinates. Eliminate it.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Management Principles: Span of Control
  • Stem keywords: subordinates, manager, effectively manage
  • Lead-in keywords: refers to
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QmSDGfeXRLUw-RcGV6rNc-

Reference Book

E6 Principles and Practice of NURSING Management Leadership for BSc Nursing 3rd Edi Jogindra Vati — Subpart A (pp 26-339 of 1017) p. 183-185

E6 Nursing_Management_and_leadership_Johny_Kutty_JosephCbs_Publishers (pp 16-364 of 374) p. 201-203

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