Subtitle Shawna, a new staff member, has been working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a

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 vou think Tina. the nurse manager, should do?

Explanation / Answer

1. In leardership term the nurse manager is not taking her responsibility seriously and she is showing unprofessional behaviour by giving an excuse of official work. She should have leaded the nursing team and assigned job responsibility of each staff based on their working hours.

2. The major problem is related to not taking responsibility by nursing staff of their clients. They must understand that their patients are their priority when they are part of healthcare team. Other factors related to this issue is shortage of staff in nursing team.

3. As the patients were most HIV positive due to the taboo associated with these patients we can suspect of showing such casualness behaviour.

4.I would have felt very bad since as a nursing staff you are suppose to help your clients. The job responsibility of nursing is to provide quality service and care for their patient as much they can help. Their job is to counsel patient and help them in getting better.

5. Yes shawna can try to speak with her nursing team members and make them understand why they should take their responsibility seriously as these are the patients who are already suffering because of their continuously falling of immunity and care for them is required much at this stage.

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