Final answer:
A nurse manager with accountability but not authority is reflected in the scenario where the manager is responsible for evaluating staff performance but cannot make hiring or firing decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer which example reflects a nurse manager with accountability but not authority, let's first clarify these two concepts. When someone has authority, they have the power to make decisions and enforce them. In contrast, accountability means that they are responsible for the outcomes of certain activities, but they may not have the power to make all the related decisions.
Option 2, where 'The manager evaluates the unit staff but cannot promote or terminate staff', is the example that most clearly reflects a nurse manager with accountability but not authority. In this scenario, the nurse manager is responsible for assessing the performance of the staff, which holds them accountable for the staff's performance outcomes. However, without the authority to make HR decisions such as promotions or terminations, their power is limited. They cannot enact or enforce staffing changes based on their evaluations, showing a gap between their accountability and their authority.
An example from real life to illustrate this point could be Tyre, a nursing assistant, who had accountability for patient care outcomes but lacked authority to make decisions on how tasks should be done or take rest breaks without explicit permission. This led to dissatisfaction and a feeling of lack of recognition for the hard work put in.