Subtitle Shawna, a new staff member, has been working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a
ID: 124381 • Letter: S
Question
Subtitle Shawna, a new staff member, has been working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on an infectious disease floor since obtaining her RN license 4 months ago. Most of the staff members with whom she works with have been there since the unit opened 5 years ago. On a typical day, the staffing consists of a nurse manager, two RNs, an LPN, and one technician for approximately 40 patients. Most patients are HIv- positive with multisystem failure. Many are severely debilitated and need help with their activities of daily living. Although the staff members encourage family members and loved ones to help, most of them are unavailable because they work during the day. Several days a week, the nursing students from Shawna's community college program are assigned to the floor. Tina, the nurse manager, does not participate in any direct patient care, saying that she is "too busy at the desk." Laverne, the other RN, says the unit depresses her and that she has requested a transfer to pediatrics. Lynn, the LPN, wants to "give meds" because she is "sick of the patients' constant whining," and Sheila, the technician, is "just plain exhausted." Lately, Shawna has noticed that the other staff members seem to avoid the nursing students and reply to their questions with annoyed, short answers. Shawna is feeling alone and overwhelmed and goes home at night worrying about the patients, who need more care and attention. She is afraid to ask Tina for more help because she does not want to be considered incompetent or a complainer. When she confided in Lynn about her concerns, Lynn replied, "Get real-no one here cares about the patients or us, All they care about is the bottom linel Why did a smart girl like you choose nursing in the first place 1. What is happening on this unit in leadership terms? 2. Identify the major problems and the factors that contributed to these problems. 3. What factors might have contributed to the behaviors exhibited by Tina, Lynn, and Sheila? 4. How would you feel if you were Shawna? 5. Is there anything Shawna can do for herself, for the patients, and for the staff members? s What do you think Tina. the nurse manager, should do?Explanation / Answer
1) Tina, the Nurse Manager rather than holding a superior position, is not a good and effective team leader. She does not possess the neither the qualities of leadership. The team on the floor is totally unsuccessful.
2) Problems & Factors
-Unsuccessful team leader and team- Unpassionate and undedicated
-Overflowing of patients
- Insufficient Staff and Supplies
-Unguided Nursing students
3) Poor Management and Leadership- Boss is the barrier
-Employee dissatisfaction
-Stress
-Personal Problems
-Negative Attitudes towards work
-Heavy workloads
-Inadequate Resources
-Poor pairing of team members- Lack of co-operation between one-another
4) If I were in place of Shawna, I would feel depressed and frustrated and would also feel dissatisfied when I think of my patients. This would lead to low self-esteem, reduced job and life satisfaction, absenteeism and lower levels of organizational commitment.
5) Shawna can seek help from the top level management by following the line Authority.
- She can guide the nursing students and can perform functional team work.
- She should motivate herself and the other team members
6) She should understand her responsibilities towards her job. She can get help from her senior manager to get adequate staff and other resources. She can divide the work among the team members to achieve the goal. She can also participate in direct patient care, maintain good interpersonal relationship with team as well patients. She can educate, guide and direct the students in care. She could get feedback and also act as a mentor for other staffs.
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