Abstract
Nursing is a field where professionals have to take considerations of a wide range to conduct their work on a daily basis. Nursing Managers, especially, have to face the problem of making decisions. In my interview with a working nursing manager, Amber, I have attempted to get answers to some questions that would assist in understanding what factors influence a nurse’s decision-making process, especially external ones. In the process of my interview, I have learned of Amber’s daily routine, the kinds of work she has to perform, and what goes into her considerations. It was revealed that finances play into her decisions, as well as questions of following healthcare policy and abiding by regulations. By examine all of these factors in this paper, I hope to gain a better understanding of a manager nurse’s work and the decision-making problems that professionals can encounter.
Introduction
Nursing professionals have a wide variety of tasks to fulfill in a clinical setting. Tasked with assisting patients, administering medication, performing medical examinations cooperating on different tasks, and assisting doctors in their work, nurses have a large amount of expertise. To best organize the clinical work and ensure that patients are able to receive the highest level of care while the staff is properly organized. For this paper, I have interviewed a nurse manager working in a nearby hospital. She wished to not be named, therefore for the purposes of this work I will be calling her Amber. Nurse Amber has been in her position for over 6 years, having the ability to amass a significant amount of experience coordinating the work of other nurses and managing the daily work of the hospital. She has given me significant insight into the work of a nurse manager, answering some of my questions, and giving me a more thorough understanding of hospital work. The interview with Amber was also indicative of all the factors that can impact the decision-making process of a nurse professional, which is oftentimes complex and has to take into consideration a large amount of information. In this review, I have attempted to summarize my findings on the topic of a nursing manager’s work, as well as to analyze the impact a variety of external factors have on the decision making. First, the general information from the interview will be presented, with a subsequent analysis of the collected data.
Nurse Position and Responsibilities
As a nursing manager, Amber has an array of tasks she tends to each and every day. As a manager, Amber fulfills the role of a leader in her setting, managing the human resources of the clinic, and directing other nurses on what to do. She also has to make sure that all patients are in good condition and are satisfied with the nurse’s actions, ensuring that proper standards of patient care are properly met on a consistent basis. The role Amber fulfills is especially crucial, because such a complex system as a hospital is prone to making mistakes, mistakes that can oftentimes put the lives and wellbeing of people in danger. The collective responsibility shared by the hospital staff is the reason why constant examinations, changes, and evaluations are a necessity. As an experienced nurse, Amber also handles the tasks of hiring and firing personnel, training, and developing more efficient approaches to nursing. In terms of budgeting, Amber also has her work cut out for her. The need to oversee and regulate finances is what drives many of her decisions. Factoring in all the expenses of the unit while making sure that they do not exceed a particular threshold is especially important to maintain the hospital work. Overall, the work Amber has to fulfill from day-to-day varies wildly, with some days being easier than others. She feels that being responsible for the work of other people and the operation of the whole hospital is a big responsibility, and tried to approach it with the required level of care and attention.
Factors Impacting Decision-Making
In regards to the decision-making process, I would say that nurse managers face significant challenges from a number of external factors. Financing decisions are one of the more major considerations, as a nurse has to manage patient satisfaction with the amount of funding the hospital has received. Such issues are staffing costs and pay is all the responsibility of the nurse manager (Goldsby et al., 2020). Making sure that the hospital has a sufficient workforce to handle the influx of patients while not being overstaffed is a constant consideration. The nurse manager has to regulate the number of workers available at each particular moment, as well as to hire temporary workers in the cases where their help is needed. The costs to cover supplies, equipment, and other operating needs also lie on the nurse manager, which further makes their job harder. The tight balance between managing the financial responsibilities of a nurse manager and fulfilling the responsibilities put forward by the job.
In regards to the role authorities play in Amber’s decision-making process, she has admitted to feeling a higher sense of responsibility before organizations that are involved in regulating the process of healthcare delivery. She admits to feeling more secure when acting in accordance with established policy and says that the regulations put in place to protect the public are well-justified and necessary for the organizational effort of the hospital. Taking about the present policies to regulate and outline the standards of care, Amber feels that they exist as a way to define how nurses should influence hospital work and ensure the wellbeing of their clients (Eduardo et al., 2015). In regards to her decision-making process, this aspect of the job is always actively incorporated into her work and is at the forefront of each major decision. As a long-term nurse, Amber has had the ability to both see changes to the recommended procedure and participate in changing the policies herself which lets her exhibit a larger level of control on the position (Sloan). In her eyes, constantly improving the health delivery process to best meet the needs of patients is one of the most integral parts of a nurse’s work, especially one as high as her.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my interview with Amber has provided me with considerable insight into the mind and daily struggles of a nurse manager. By gaining a better understanding of the woman’s day-to-day tasks and all of the tasks she has to manage in her position, I have managed to see what influences a nurse’s decision-making process. First of all, are, of course, the issues of healthcare policy and proper regulation. To keep the standards of care consistently high, and offer the patient the services worth their while, Amber and he colleagues has to constantly evaluate their practices in accordance with the established norm and seek to improve. In an effort to facilitate this process, Amber has to make decisions on the types of practices and approaches best suited for any given situation. Similarly, monetary considerations occupy a significant part of Amber’s work, as she has to be responsible not only for herself but for the budgeting of her whole unit. Her concerns are facilitated by the need to consistently evaluate and adjust spending on the staff to best cut the costs, as well as to keep track of the equipment that requires change.
References
Goldsby, E., Goldsby, M., Neck, C. B., & Neck, C. P. (2020). Under Pressure: Time Management, Self-Leadership, and the Nurse Manager.Administrative Sciences, 10(3), 38. Web.
Sloan, P. Improving Nurse Engagement through Unit Practice Councils. Web.
Eduardo, E. A., Peres, A. M., Almeida, M. D. L. D., Roglio, K. D. D., & Bernardino, E. (2015). Análise de modelo de tomada de decisão de enfermeiros gerentes: uma reflexão coletiva.Revista Brasileira De Enfermagem, 68(4), 668–675. Web.