Introduction: Problems Needing a Solution
The Monica’s case is an example of violence in childbirth. Pitocin is used to induce labor and increase uterine contractions; however, it has serious side effects (Alan et al., 2020). Dr. White should not have insisted on the use of Pitocin, it was unnecessary to improve the condition of Monica and her child. The main problem that needs to be addressed is the elimination of cases of violence in childbirth. Another problem of the department is miscommunication, which led to medical error. The problem of insufficient autonomy of nurses must be addressed.
Achievable Intervention Outcomes
Any intervention without the consent of the patient is a crime. Monica was unaware of the possible consequences of taking Pitocin. Ethically, the act of Dr. White and Kim can be considered a betrayal of the main goal of medicine. Firstly, it is necessary to eliminate miscommunication and prevent neglect, disrespectful attitude of the professionals to each other. The second goal is to inform staff about the inadmissibility of making decisions without the active consent of the patient. Finally, it is planned to increase the independence of nurses, pointing out their indispensable role in the team.
Action Plan
The first step towards the implementation of the plan will be the dismissal of Dr. White, who acted unethically towards his subordinates, and violated the law towards his patient. The next step is to educate the team and emphasize that the patient’s health should not be compromised by personal motives. To raise the level of communication, it is planned to conduct educational lectures for staff. To increase nurses’ autonomy encouraging individualized solutions and educating about the importance of continuous growth and development is important.
Expectations from the Professionals
For the plan to be successful, all stakeholders must be included. Nurses are expected to be motivated to increase self-reliance: they should be willing to learn new skills and stand up for their right to be heard. Obstetrician-gynecologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists and intensive care physicians must recognize the importance of teamwork to protect mothers and newborns. All participants will be required to attend lectures aimed at protecting the rights of patients. All staff must understand that violence in childbirth is unacceptable.
Leadership Roles and Management Functions
The unit manager should become the coach of the team, providing support to the medical staff as the leader of changes. Nurses should act as communicator leaders who will bring useful ideas to the team, increasing acceptance of change (Hopkinson et al., 2019). Senior medical staff should become delegate leaders to assign tasks and allocate responsibilities. The attending physician should perform as a delegator of tasks for nurses and other colleagues, concentrating on providing the highest level of medical services.
Leadership Theory
Transactional or managerial theory of leadership is effective for the implementation of the plan. Management leadership theory implies a system of rewards and punishments while maintaining a hierarchy (Saeed & Mughal, 2019). This type of leadership is inevitable in a medical organization where all team members must clearly understand their roles and responsibilities. The managerial leader represented by the unit manager will oblige colleagues to attend educational events and convey the need to comply with ethical and legal principles.
Efficiency Evaluation
The measure to evaluate the effectiveness of the change plan will be the experience of patients in the maternity ward. In a few months after implementation, it will be possible to understand how the plan meets its goals. A decreased number of negative experiences of patients will indicate the achievement of the goals. The reduction or elimination of medical errors will be an essential identifier for the success of innovations.
Conclusion
Monica’s experience in the Labor and Delivery unit is an example of childbirth abuse. To eradicate this phenomenon, it is proposed to strengthen communication in medical teams, increase the independence of nurses and inform staff about the inadmissibility of violating the law and moral standards. It is planned to achieve the goals with the help of educational activities. Efficacy will be evaluated based on patient experience and the number of medical errors.
References
Alan, S., Akça, E., Şenoğlu, A., Gozuyesil, E., & Surucu, S. G. (2020). The Use of Oxytocin by Healthcare Professionals During Labor. Yonago acta medica, 63(3), 214-222.
Hopkinson, S. G., Oblea, P., Napier, C., Lasiowski, J., & Trego, L. L. (2019). Identifying the constructs of empowering nurse leader communication through an instrument development process. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(4), 722-731.
Saeed, M., & Mughal, Y. H. (2019). Role of transactional leadership style upon performance: Mediating role of culture. Journal of Managerial Sciences, 13(1), 47-57. Web.