Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing

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Applies knowledge of organizational practices and complex systems to improve health care delivery

At the very first phases of my clinical rotation, I was given a specific guide describing the basic peculiarities of this units functioning and the way practice is run there. In other words, this set of regulations and limits helped me understand the most important aspects and figure out why specific things are organized in one or another way. For instance, a particular patient had a significant problem with the insurance coverage as his current plan could not afford it. However, having consulted with my preceptor and other specialists who have an enhanced comprehension of the issue, I came to the conclusion that the patient could still hope for some compensation because of the drawbacks in calculations and other aspects of his plan. With our help, the patient was provided with the needed health care and services and managed to recover.

Effects health care change using broad-based skills including negotiating, consensus-building, and partnering

I should say that while being in the clinic, I had an excellent opportunity to master my skills in negotiating and consensus-building. In such a way, it is critical to be able to engage in communication and ensure a patient that particular service or medicine is the best possible option. Effective negotiating, consensus-building, and partnering are possible if healthcare professionals manage to build trust. According to Rørtveit et al. (2015), patients trust nurses when the latter are knowledgeable and empathetic, and when they understand their patients’ needs. It is critical to be aware of various strategies, methods, and procedures, but it is equally important to understand the peculiarities of different groups. For instance, I was able to affect care by ensuring an African-American patient that medicines created for this ethnic group were not racist. I used all my negotiating skills to educate a patient and show him that there are some differences in the way our bodies function and some pills will be more efficient for African Americans (Marquis & Huston, 2017). For this reason, I affected the healthcare and altered the patient’s attitude towards some aspects by engaging in beneficial communication.

Minimizes risk to patients and providers at the individual and systems-level

The minimization of risk is one of the central tasks of any health worker. In such a way, I was also concerned about it. Considering the fact, that the healthcare setting is a dangerous environment, I had an opportunity to work with some risks and eliminate them. It has been acknowledged that medical errors associated with medication prescriptions are often linked to healthcare professionals’ cognitive biases and systemic issues existing at health-related organizations (Saposnik, Redelmeier, Ruff, & Tobler, 2016). Some drugs may be prescribed more often due to their availability or the lack of knowledge about better options. For instance, I know that medication errors are the leading cause of poor outcomes in patients. Therefore, I tried to monitor this aspect and decrease its incidence. I was able to admit to cases of wrong medication prescription and improve the state of patients by providing them with appropriate pills. I believe this situation can be regarded as an illustration of the effective reduction of risks to patients and providers both at the individual and systems levels.

Facilitates the development of health care systems that address the needs of culturally diverse populations, providers, and other stakeholders

No one can deny the fact that today the efficient delivery of the needed care to a patient demands the consideration and integration of the component of culture to ensure that better healthcare outcomes are attained (Green & Reinckens, 2013). We were informed about diverse cultures such as Hispanics, African-Americans, Caucasians, mixed races, refugees, immigrants from other parts of the world, etc. This fact became fundamental in my working in the clinic and my successful cooperation with all patients. I was able to consider the diverse needs of representatives of different nationalities, which is critical for the modern healthcare sector. The cultivation of appropriate relations is essential for a specialist (Marquis & Huston, 2017). I was able to facilitate the development of healthcare systems in this particular medical unit by outlining the current needs of diverse populations and creating the atmosphere that would help meet these requirements and satisfy patients. I believe it is a key component of every hospital as patients should feel that their needs are important for the staff.

Evaluates the impact of health care delivery on patients, providers, other stakeholders, and the environment

Working in the clinic, I also had an opportunity to evaluate the effect care delivery had on patients and other stakeholders. I should say that it is a long-term process that also provides numerous opportunities for quality improvement. Patients’ relatives are important stakeholders who often affect the healing process (Netzer & Siegel, 2015). Hence, it is pivotal to make sure that the communication between healthcare providers and these stakeholders is effective. These people should be informed about the procedures to be undertaken and medications to be received by patients. Nurses should also try to receive the feedback of patients’ relatives as it can help in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment plans. In my current practice, I had an opportunity to work with a patient recovering from an ischemic stroke. I had to evaluate her state every day and also contact her relatives to ensure that she performs all appropriate activities needed to restore her movement and other functions. In such a way, I noted alterations that happened under the impact of pharmacological treatment and physical activity. It also helped me to evaluate the impact healthcare delivery had on patients and other stakeholders.

Analyzes organizational structure, functions, and resources to improve the delivery of care

I consider my practicum site very successful and, moreover, it demonstrated the unique importance of the organizational structure and resources needed to guarantee efficient care delivery and improve it. First of all, no medical unit could exist separately as it is a part of the big healthcare system that provides it with resources needed to help patients and ensure that they will recover. The efficient functioning of the medical unit contributes to the improved functioning of the whole system and vice versa (Black, 2016). Therefore, I also realized the importance of the organizational structure within the unit as it determines relations between departments and the efficiency of care delivery. I observed how particular resources are used and utilized. The organizational culture existing in any healthcare facility often shapes these processes. For example, I noticed that some medications or other resources are available as they are provided by health-related organizations’ representatives. These materials are allocated wisely in our units as they are given to people who have limited access to such resources due to their low socioeconomic status. I am sure that proper organization is critical for patient outcomes.

Collaborates in planning for transitions across the continuum of care

It is a critical element of maintaining efficient care and its provision to patients. That is why, together with my preceptor, we evaluated particular referrals from emergency rooms or surgeries and other units. We tried to negotiate to transfer patients who were in foster homes back to the biological parents as this could be beneficial for their families. We also tried to engage the community to help these families cope and avoid any separation in the future. This process involved collaborative strategies and improved coordination in patient-centered care.

Altogether, these eight weeks were a great journey that provided me with exceptional experiences and knowledge I will never forget. Thank you all so much! I really appreciate it!

References

Black, B. (2016). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges. Chapel Hill, NC: Saunders.

Green, Z. D., & Reinckens, J. (2013). Cultural competency in healthcare: What can nurses do? Maryland Nurse, 14(4), 16. Web.

Marquis, B., & Huston, C. (2017). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application. New York, NY: LWW.

Netzer, G., & Siegel, M. (2015). Guiding the guiders. Recognizing surrogates’ needs and advancing communication in the intensive care unit. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 12(2), 237-238.

Rørtveit, K., Sætre Hansen, B., Leiknes, I., Joa, I., Testad, I., & Severinsson, E. (2015). Patients’ experiences of trust in the patient-nurse relationship – A systematic review of qualitative studies. Open Journal of Nursing, 5(03), 195-209.

Saposnik, G., Redelmeier, D., Ruff, C., & Tobler, P. (2016). Cognitive biases associated with medical decisions: a systematic review. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 16(1), 1-14.

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