Challenges of Nursing Management and Leadership

Case Study:

As a recent graduate nurse, you accepted a position in an intermediate care unit. At your first unit meeting, Cathy Jones, unit manager, informs the nurses that the patient satisfaction rating fell two points from the previous month. She asks everyone to reflect over the past month and submit their top three concerns to their charge nurses by the next unit meeting. Cathy state, "This is unacceptable. It is your problem, and it concerns me. We will increase our rating at least three points by the next quarter. I want reasons for this problem and expect each of you to submit your ideas to your charge nurses promptly." Three charge nurses, one from each shift, were asked by Cathy to make sure that the nurses addressed the issue.

Sherrie, the day shift charge nurse, decided to ask each nurse individually over the next month for their ideas on the problem. To encourage a higher response rate, Sherrie has pizzas brought in on the day she presented the findings. She compiled the responses and reviewed them with the day shift nurses with a consensus on the top three responses. Sherrie was able to obtain 100% response rate by including all individuals in the decision.

Linda, the evening shift charge nurse, make a list of possible reasons and selected the top three. She then told the evening shift nurses what the three reasons were and that she would submit the list to Cathy for them. She spoke only to the nurses working on a particular evening and, when questioned by staff not working that particular shift, said they could speak to Cathy individually. She added, ""Like she said, it's your problem. Do what you want, but I'm not responsible for whatever happens to Cathy."

As the midnight shift charge nurse,Tracylet the nurses decide on reasons and submit the responses independently. She thought that the nurses had the right to accept or refuse participation and to be accountable as individuals. Tracy stated, "The responses might be personal. I believe we have the right to stand up for our own conclusions and I will stand behind each one of you." Tracy also achieved 100% participation by the nurses.

Question #1: What Management Style did each of the three charge nurses display

Sherrie

Linda

Tracy

What specific behaviors/actions support your choice?

Question #2: By looking at the outcomes from each shift, how effective is each charge nurse based on their management and leadership style?

Question #3 which is considered the most effective leadership style that increases good work environment and good patient outcome

Resources:

Zerwekh Garneau, A. (2021) Nursing today: transitions and trends (10th Ed.) St. Louis: Evolve-Elsevier,Chapter 10: Challenges of Nursing Management and Leadership