Please respond to a minimum of two peers. Consider the following when replying: Using the ideas presented by your peers for staff empowerment, comment on ways to incorporate those ideas in your workpl
Katreace,
Principles of Empowerment
As a nurse leader, I would empower my staff through the use of an assess and treat system, shared governance, and transformational leadership. Assess and treat systems empower nurses to assess a patient’s condition and place orders based on provider-approved protocols (Metcalf, Habermann, Fry, et al., 2018). This system provides a faster response to changing patient conditions, reduces costs, and improves patient outcomes (Metcalf, Habermann, Fry, et al., 2018).
Performance Appraisals to Empower Staff
Performance appraisals can be used to empower staff by allowing their participation in the process. Listening to employee feedback and allowing participation in performance reviews increases job satisfaction and improves performance (Sepahvand, Mohammadipour, Parvizy, et al., 2020). When nurses participate in performance appraisals, they are more committed to improving their weaknesses and achieving organizational goals (Sepahvand, Mohammadipour, Parvizy, et al., 2020).
Empowering Decision-making
The staff’s decision-making ability can be empowered through shared governance. Shared governance empowers decision-making by encouraging different and creative input from team members (Mahfouz, Ebraheem, & Mahdy, 2019). It allows nursing staff to have input on decisions that affect how they do their jobs (Mahfouz, Ebraheem, & Mahdy, 2019). There is a significant positive correlation between shared governance and nurse empowerment (Mahfouz, Ebraheem, & Mahdy, 2019).
Other Ideas to Help Staff Reach Full Potential
Nursing leaders can help staff reach their full potential by offering additional training opportunities, delegating or sharing decision-making authority when appropriate, and utilizing a transformational leadership style (Mahfouz, Ebraheem, & Mahdy, 2019). Transformational leadership utilizes inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individual consideration, and idealized influence to develop the potential of all team members (Garcia-Sierra & Fernandez-Castro, 2018). This leadership model transforms organizations to create atmospheres that allow professionals to fully develop their knowledge and advance their skills (Garcia-Sierra & Fernandez-Castro, 2018). Thus, transformational leadership empowers nurses and boosts employee engagement (Garcia-Sierra & Fernandez-Castro, 2018).
Elise,
Apply principles of empowerment and give specific examples of how you would empower your staff.
Principles of empowerment are important to have as a nurse leader to help employees be more engaged at work, improve work culture, and enhance patient outcomes. Empowering staff means also placing trust in them and allowing them to make decisions. According to (Lee, 2020), the leader can delegate authority, share information, and delegate decision-making to staff, which will help promote and/or influence employee creativity and positive behavior. Also, (N. Kumar et al., 2022) argue that when employees feel empowered, also means that they feel supported by the leader and/or the organization . Part of employee empowerment is appreciating and recognizing employees for their efforts. Employees feel appreciated when their hard work is recognized by the leaders. This shows that their efforts are valued and not taken for granted. As a leader, I would exercise this with the staff. This is important in the nursing field. Nurses have many responsibilities, and it is important that their efforts are recognized by the leaders and that they should always be reminded that their hard work is valued. Another way to empower staff is to ask them for their opinions on how to make the clinic flow better. When staff suggestions are put into practice, it shows that their opinions matter, are valued, and trusted. Another example is that staff members should be invited to and involved in meetings pertaining to the improvement of patient care quality.
What ideas do you have about using performance appraisals to empower staff?
Performance appraisals are a great way to empower staff. Using appraisals is a way for the leader and the organization to formally recognize employees for their work. Exercising performance appraisals will also encourage and motivate other employees to do their best work. In my opinion, performance appraisals are the best way to empower employees to perform better. During the appraisal, the employee’s strengths, weaknesses, and growth can be addressed. It is also important for a leader to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each employee to provide them with the right motivation to become the best workers possible.
How might you empower their decision-making?
As a leader, I will make sure that the employees understand they have support. The leader must provide the employee access to resources that can help the employee make successful decisions. It is important that leaders must often encourage and show support to the employees. According to (Gottlieb et al., 2021) the leader should be there to help guide the employees to ensure that they continue to be on the right path. It is equally important that employees feel supported by their decision. Job satisfaction is present in work environments where empowerment exists.
What other ideas do you have that would help staff reach their full potential?
It should be encouraged to build a strong team. Diversity in team members can expand knowledge. Diversity can bring different perspectives which can lead to better decisions. Diversity can also make team members feel more comfortable with giving opinions. Further, leaders should provide proper training for employees to help strengthen their skills.
