In this discussion, emphasis is on how well you manage time. As a leader and even a nurse, you have limited time to get a great deal done. Awareness of how you spend your time and finding strategies t
Assign a priority to each of the 13 items with 1 being the most important and 5 being the least important.
Item # 1 -2 (perspective employees)
Item #2 -3 (purchasing-temp covers)
Item # 3- 1 (purchasing-equipment)
Item #4 -2 (employee reviews)
Item #5 -3 (rounding)
Item #6 -1 (open shift)
Item #7 -4 (patient complaint)
Item #8 -3 (x-ray schedule)
Item #9 -5 (supplies)
Item #10 -2 (equipment)
Item # 11 -2 (publicity)
Item #12 -4 (previous employee)
Item #13 -4 (public service)
Decide when you will deal with each item, being careful not to use more time than you have open on your calendar.
Time management is a skill that each nursing leader will need to develop. “Priority setting is perhaps the most critical skill in good time management because all actions we take have some type of relative importance” (Marquis & Huston, 2017, p. 213). The nurse should delegate to staff according to their skills and abilities. Three items that I would delegate include sending out an email about supply shortage, open shifts that need coverage, and the public service time arrangement.
Managerial aspects that the nurse will need to address include rounding, and this can occur during daily rounds with the head nurse. The purchasing issues can arise in the Department Head meeting. Plus, it would be wise to investigate the problems with the x-ray schedule, equipment needs, as well as, the high use of thermometer probes during an open section of the calendar. Lastly, employee reviews and previous employment tasks will need to be directly taken care of by the manager as this information is considered confidential.
3. If the problem is to be handled immediately, explain how you will do this (e.g., delegated, phone call).
In my opinion, the most immediate problem that needs attention is night shift coverage for the next three days as this is an undesirable shift to cover on short notice. This can be delegated to a charge nurse to find appropriate coverage to meet staffing needs. Asking the delegatee to report back by noon with coverage would be a proper request.
4. Explain the rationale for your decisions.
The covering a shift is an immediate need because nursing units must have the appropriate nurse-patient ratio as per state regulations. Making a simple ‘to do’ list before the start of the day can help coordinate daily operations and tasks that need to be complete. “Not all important things are urgent, and not all urgent things are important” (Marquis & Huston, 2017, p. 215).
References:
Marquis, B., & Huston, C. (2017). Time Management. In leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (9th ed., pp. 207-232). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health. doi:https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781496374851/cfi/6/48!/4/228/2@0:33.
