Nursing Delegating

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1. Learning to delegate scenario:
This is the fourth project that Anna has delegated to Amanda, and she is starting to feel she would be better off doing it herself! While Amanda is willing to take on additional assignments, she just doesn’t seem to be willing to be responsible for the assignment. She won’t do anything without first checking in with Anna. Today alone she walked into Anna’s office four times to ask these questions:
• “How should I do this?”
• “I can’t reach Jack on the phone, and I need to ask him a question. What should I do?”
• “Where can I find the information, I need to complete this task?”
• “I contacted Terry, but she is on vacation for the next week. What do you want me to do?”
How would you handle this situation?
2. Nurse Competency Scenario
You have recently started a position as a department director with five managers reporting to you. Earlier today, one of your managers reports that a client expired on her unit. She suspects that a factor that may have contributed to the client’s demise may be related to the actions of a nurse on her unit. This nurse has several notes in her personnel file that reflect potential client abuse. You and the nurse manager both have concerns that this sentinel event must be investigated.
Later in the day, the Chief Nursing Officer asks you to speak to new nurse managers to share attributes of leadership with the plan of enhancing their leadership skills. You see an opportunity to combine the situation of the client with a bad outcome, due to the alleged influence of one of the nurses, while building information to share this real-life situation with new nurse leaders.
Reflect on what leadership and management attributes and what it takes to investigate this unfortunate situation when answering these questions.
• At least five leadership and/or management attributes for nurse leaders, as well as how they can improve client outcomes.
• Steps you would take to ensure the collection of data regarding this incident.
• Describe how your transformational leadership style may influence the process of investigating this professional nurse colleague that reports to one of your unit managers

Sample Solution

Understanding the Problem:

It seems that Amanda is exhibiting a high level of dependency on Anna, not taking initiative, and seeking constant approval. This can be frustrating for Anna and hinder productivity.

Strategies for Improvement:

  • Clear Expectations: Have a clear conversation with Amanda, outlining your expectations for her role and responsibilities. Be specific about the level of autonomy you expect her to demonstrate.
  • Provide Training: If Amanda lacks the skills or knowledge needed to complete her tasks independently, offer her additional training or resources.
  • Gradual Empowerment: Gradually increase Amanda’s autonomy by giving her more responsibility and challenging tasks. Start with smaller tasks and gradually increase the complexity.
  • Provide Feedback: Regularly provide feedback on Amanda’s performance, highlighting her strengths and areas for improvement. This will help her develop her skills and confidence.
  • Offer Support: Assure Amanda that you are available to provide support and guidance if needed, but encourage her to take initiative and problem-solve independently.

2. Investigating a Sentinel Event and Enhancing Leadership Skills

Leadership and Management Attributes for Nurse Leaders:

  1. Effective Communication: Strong communication skills are essential for nurse leaders to effectively interact with staff, patients, and other stakeholders.
  2. Decision-Making: Nurse leaders must be able to make sound decisions, often under pressure and with limited information.
  3. Problem-Solving: The ability to identify and solve problems is crucial for effective leadership.
  4. Team Building: Building strong teams and fostering a positive work environment is essential for achieving organizational goals.
  5. Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing emotions, both your own and others’, is essential for effective leadership.

Steps to Ensure Data Collection:

  1. Secure the Scene: Preserve the scene of the incident to gather evidence and prevent tampering.
  2. Interview Witnesses: Interview all witnesses, including staff, patients, and visitors, to gather their accounts of the events.
  3. Review Medical Records: Review the patient’s medical records to identify any relevant information related to the incident.
  4. Collect Documentation: Gather any relevant documentation, such as incident reports, medication records, or equipment logs.
  5. Involve Risk Management: Consult with the risk management department to ensure that the incident is reported and investigated according to hospital policies.

Transformational Leadership and Investigation:

A transformational leadership style can be highly effective in investigating a sentinel event. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their teams, create a positive work environment, and foster a culture of accountability. By emphasizing the importance of patient safety and quality care, transformational leaders can encourage their team members to be open and honest about any concerns or issues.

In this situation, a transformational leader could:

  • Create a safe and supportive environment: Foster a culture of openness and transparency where staff feel comfortable reporting concerns without fear of retribution.
  • Empower team members: Delegate responsibility to the nurse manager and other staff members involved in the investigation, empowering them to take ownership of the process.
  • Focus on learning and improvement: Emphasize the importance of learning from the incident and making necessary changes to prevent similar events from happening in the future.
  • Provide support and guidance: Offer support and guidance to the staff members involved in the investigation, ensuring that they have the resources and training they need to complete their tasks effectively.

By adopting a transformational leadership style, the department director can create a positive and supportive environment that fosters accountability, transparency, and a commitment to patient safety.

 

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