Two new associate-degree graduate nurses were hired for the pediatric unit. Both worked three 12-hour shifts a week, Jan on the day-to-evening shift and Ronnie at night. Whenever their shifts overlapped, they would compare notes on their experience. Jan felt she was learning rapidly, gaining clinical skills, and beginning to feel at ease with her colleagues.

Ronnie, however, still felt unsure of herself and often isolated. “Th ere have been times,”

she told Jan, “that I am the only registered nurse on the unit all night. Th e aides and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are really experienced, but that ’ s not enough. I wish I could work with an experienced nurse as you are doing.”

“Ronnie, you are not even fi nished with your 3-month orientation program,” said Jan. “You should never be left alone with all these sick children. Neither of us is ready for that kind of responsibility. And how will you get the experience you need with no experienced nurses to help you? You must speak to our nurse manager about this.”

“I know I should, but she ’ s so hard to reach. I ’ ve called several times, and she ’ s never available.

She leaves all the shift assignments to her assistant. I ’ m not sure she even reviews the schedule before it ’ s posted.”

“You will have to try harder to reach her. Maybe you could stay past the end of your shift one morning and meet with her,” suggested Jan. “If something happens when you are the only nurse on the unit, you will be held responsible.”

1. In your own words, summarize the problem that Jan and Ronnie are discussing. To what extent is this problem because of a failure to lead? Who has failed to act?

2. What style of leadership was displayed by Jan, Ronnie, and the nurse manager? How eff ective was their leadership? Did Jan ’ s leadership diff er from that of Ronnie and the nurse manager? In what way?

3. In what ways has Ronnie been an eff ective follower? In what ways has Ronnie not been so eff ective as a follower?
4. If an emergency occurred and was not handled well while Ronnie was the only nurse on the unit, who would be responsible? Explain why this person or persons would be responsible.
5. If you found yourself in Ronnie ’ s situation, what steps would you take to resolve the problem?
Show how the leader characteristics and behaviors found in this chapter support your solution to the problem.