"Ask yourself if what you're doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow"-unknown

Motivation
Getting individuals to come to work and do their job can be a difficult task.  According to Huber (2006) "to effectively motivate, leaders need to discover in their followers some internal and external need or trigger that arouses a desire, energizes the will, and serves as a basis for action or thought."

• In order to do this the leader needs to know what motivates themselves!

This Ted talk was done by Dan pink. He is an author of 5 best selling books about changing the world of work.  Dan Pink believes the carrot and the stick approach no longer works with 21st century tasks. Reward and punishment often doesn't work and does harm within a company. He believes the incentives approach works for tasks of narrow focus.  This speech was very informative and eye opening.  He gives great ideas on how to create growth and productivity within an organization.

Dan Pink addresses three key elements that need to be seen by employees in order to motivate them:

 1.) Autonomy- urge to direct our own lives. This can be done by giving up control and allowing for more autonomy. This approach has created some amazing outcomes. Giving up control can be hard for some leaders. 

Would this be hard for you to do as a leader?

 2.) Mastery- desire to get better and better at something that matters. This comes with practice, experience, and constructive feedback.  Nurses can work on mastery throughout their profession.  It can change from time to time and it can be a continual process.

3.) Purpose- the yearning to do what we do for the service of something larger than ourselves. Dan Pink approaches this by having employees write down the purpose of their work for the company.  Discussing this at a meeting can determine how and what the employees are feeling about their particular job. 

With all the effort put in to motivate employees, there will still be some that are "unmotivated."  Creating an environment that is conducive to motivation and encouragement will enhance productivity, creativity, and longevity.

We have recently started a program at work that allows us to recognize a coworker for a job well done.  This is something a lot of us are looking forward to.  It is nice to be recognized for going above and beyond your job description.  Even doing you job tasks day in and day out without encouragement or acknowledgement can be frustrating.  I think this approach will motivate the staff to do their jobs and help others. Every now and then it is motivating to hear "great job" or "thank you."  When I get told these it motivates me to do more and strive for better! 

What will you do to motivate others around you?

Huber, D. (2006). Leadership and nursing care management (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier

Potential Issue Affecting Productivity

National Nursing Shortage....What can we do?

According to Huber (2006) the national nursing shortage is predicted to be around 800,000 nurses short by the year 2020.   This is a major issue related to productivity.  I don't know about you, but this is a scary thought for us as nurses and as potential patients. 

WHY are we running SHORT:

• The increase in demand and the increasing rate of nurses leaving the workforce as a result of aging.
• School enrollment is not growing fast enough to meet the demands of the health care system
• Though American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported a 5.1% enrollment increase in entry-level baccalaureate programs in nursing in 2011, this increase is not sufficient to meet the projected demand for nursing services. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, more than 32 million Americans will soon gain access to health care services, including those provided by RNs and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).  To read more click HERE
• Inability for colleges to get clinical sites for nursing students
• Increased level of stress on nurses-causing them to leave the profession
• High nurse burnout
• High nurse turnover rates-leaving vacancies.

One must ask, so how will this affecting patient safety? 

• Patient safety will be severely compromised if this potential problem is not solved soon. 
• Nurses will have more demands on them then ever before
• Longer hours
• Increased stress-which can lead to errors
• Increased hospital stay for the patient
• Decrease in productivity

Research has shown that higher nurse staffing levels were associated with fewer deaths, lower failure-to-rescue incidents, lower rates of infection, and shorter hospital stays.
 
Help make a CHANGE.

• Increase the use of technology, support change
• Encourage the need to maximize productivity
• Support employers in allowing colleges for clinical sites
• Recruit future nurses
• Educate others about nursing

From my experience in the hospital, nursing shortage can be detrimental to the health care system.  It decreases productivity and increases cost.  Although there are some plans being proposed to help reduce the potential nursing shortage, I think there is still A LOT that needs to be done to ensure patient  and nurse safety.  My current employer had to bring in traveling nurses to adequately staff for nurses.  This is great to have the needed help, but on the flip side it is costing a tremendous amount of money.  BUT........providing safe, consistent, competent, and quality health care must be priority!!

Huber, D. (2006). Leadership and nursing care management (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier

Are you ready for CHANGE?

Public Health Nursing

“Nurses have key skills for population-based health and illness care coordination” (Huber, 2006, p.200). Since it is projected that health care delivery is moving out of the acute care hospitals, it is now vital that we begin to understand public health and the long term benefits it has to offer.  Due to this change in health care delivery, the role and functions of the nurse will also need to be approached differently.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

This  video "Healthiest Nation is One Generation" summarizes the complexity of public health.  It shows how helping one individual can have a lifetime of positive outcomes that will carry into future generations.  It also illustrates the impact public health can have on our nation.

Some may wonder what does that mean for me as a new nurse?

I believe it means we have a unique opportunity to be involved in the change of the health care delivery system.  We can help create it, enforce it, and be a part of the CHANGE!  I don't know about you, but that sounds like an opportunity of a lifetime.

I choose this topic because I did a clinical in public health in the pediatric setting.  It was an amazing experience.  It opened my eyes to a world I was unaware existed.  I never know how complex patients could be and still be at home receiving surrounded by their loved ones. I also was provided an opportunity to go and observe an education session on antibiotic therapy at home.  This experience was so different then what I have seen in the hospital settings.  It was laid back and not rushed, which allowed time for ample amounts of questions and demonstrations.  There is also a lot of follow up and resources 24hours a day in some places of public health.  Since nursing is forever changing, it is necessary for us to stay on top of the changes and be involved.

What will you do to be involved in the change?

Huber, D. (2006). Leadership and nursing care management (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier

The Fundamental Aspect of Every NURES'S job

DELEGATION........

A topic from my Leadership and Management course is on delegation. Due to the high acuity of patients and increase work load on nurses it is impossible for the nurse to complete all tasks by oneself. This is where delegation comes in. According to Huber (2010), "meeting the public’s demand for quality care that is accessible and affordable has created a high demand and maximized the stress on every health care worker, which has resulted in the need to differentiate between tasks that a nurse must complete, ones that can be delegated, and to whom they can be delegated to."
 

Some concerns around delegation are that the RN is accountable for the tasks completion and accuracy, lack of motivation to delegate, and lack of trust.  I believe these concerns can be overcome with proper communication, openness to questions, and respect for each other. If expectations are set up front, I think delegation can be completed safely and effectively.

So who is helping decide what is appropriate to delegate and to whom?

 

In 2005, The American Nurse Association (ANA) and the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) created a joint statement on delegation. The message that was sent was:

· Delegation is an essential nursing skill.

· Intended to support the practicing nurse in using delegation safely and effectively.

The five rights of Delegation:

1. The right task

2. Under the right circumstances

3. To the right person

4. With the right directions and communication; and

5. Under the right supervision and evaluation.

 

To read the complete statement from the ANA and NCSBN click HERE

 

This joint statement gives us detailed information about delegation, policies, principals, and how and who to delegate to.  I believe this is extremely helpful for new nurses since delegation can be a hard task to undertake.  As new nurses we want to prove we can do it and that we are not lazy, but in all actuality it is not seen as laziness.  It is seen as utilizing all members of the health care team, increasing the quality of care as well as patient safety, and lowering health care costs.   

I believe communication is the key to safe and effective delegation.  Since I have started working at a hospital, I see delegation all the time.  I see effective and ineffective delegation as well.  To ensure proper delegation I always ask clarifying questions if I have them and report back to the nurse when the task is completed.  If I am unsure or if the patient or family has a question, I go back to inform the nurse before completing the task if appropriate. If I am unable to complete a task I also inform the nurse that is was not completed and why.

I plan to master the skills of delegation with continued education and experience.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Huber, D. (2006). Leadership and nursing care management (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier  

TED TALKS: Drew Dudley: "Everyday Leadership"

 

 

 This Ted Talk was done by Drew Dudley.  Drew Dudley was a Leadership Development Coordinator at a University in Toronto, which is when his interest in developing people's leadership began. In 2010, he founded Nuance Leadership Development Services, which is a company that creates leadership curricula for communities, organizations, and individuals. Drew Dudley believes leadership is not a characteristic reserved for the extraordinary.  This speech is very inspiring and powerful.  Drew tells the story of a young girl who was on her first day of college but was certain she wasn’t ready for college and decided to quit. She turned to leave and she ran into Drew. He was handing out lollipops to the students.  He made her laugh and handed the young man next her a lollipop to give to her. This was the changing point in the girl’s life as she decided to stay in college.  Four years later she told him how important that moment was to her life. He was unaware of the significance he had on this girl four years prior.
This had inspired Drew so much that he travels around the world telling this about his

  “lollipop moment.”

"Leadership" can sound like a very powerful word. I believe leadership is knowing that we can impact the lives of everyone around us.  Knowing that the little things do matter and can have a huge impact on others around us.  Drew never knew that handing out lollipops would change the course of this young girls life forever.  It is moments like these that can make the difference in the lives of others and our own.  I also believe leadership can occur at all levels regardless of job or age.  This video was powerful to me since one of the numerous reasons I went into nursing was to make a difference in the lives of the patient and their family.  Just because I am not told I made a difference does not mean I haven't.  Knowing this will help me continue to be a leader in the lives of others no    matter how small or large!
 
So I challenge you to think about who has created a "lollipop moment" for you and would you be able to tell them how they impacted your life?


Mission Statement

To be a compassionate nurse advocate empowering children and families through respect, education, and collaboration.