Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)
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Nurs Manag (Harrow) · Nov 2020
Using huddles to improve communication and teamwork in an instrument-processing department.
Instrument-processing staff work in a fast-paced, high-risk environment and errors in any of their processes can have a significant effect on patient safety. Effective communication is essential to the maintenance of complex processes such as the cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of surgical instruments. This article details a service improvement project that aimed to evaluate staff members' perceptions of teamwork and communication before and after the implementation of team huddles in an instrument-processing department. ⋯ The huddles included the use of a huddle board to standardise their content. While the survey did not identify any significant differences in staff perceptions before and after the implementation of the huddles, the department leaders noted significant improvements in the attitudes and engagement of staff members. The service improvement project demonstrated that structured team huddles can improve morale and efficiencies within departments through enhanced collaboration and communication.
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Nurs Manag (Harrow) · Sep 2020
Effect of nurse managers' leadership styles on predicted nurse turnover.
Predicting nurse turnover is important to prevent expensive and avoidable staff loss. One factor that may influence nurse turnover is nurse managers' leadership styles. Three main leadership styles have been identified: transactional, in which leaders give contingent rewards; transformational, in which leaders inspire and motivate; and passive-avoidant, in which leaders are absent. ⋯ Understanding the effect of nurse managers' leadership styles on predicted nurse turnover may improve retention. Therefore, nurse managers should undertake training programmes on effective leadership to improve nurses' job satisfaction and reduce turnover.
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The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has meant that nurse leaders need to respond rapidly and decisively to the demands and challenges of a pandemic in a context of increased staff shortages and limited resources. This article suggests essential leadership skills and characteristics that nurses can use to underpin effective leadership in a crisis, emphasising the importance of decision-making and emotional intelligence. It also addresses two important questions: 'what do leaders in a crisis need to do that differs from any other time?' and 'what does effective leadership look like in a crisis?'
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Nurs Manag (Harrow) · Jun 2020
What the COVID-19 pandemic tells us about the need to develop resilience in the nursing workforce.
Most research on resilience in healthcare systems such as the NHS is based on organisational crises, such as nurse shortages, an ageing workforce and financial restrictions. However, nursing can learn lessons from the past to consider how to become more resilient, particularly considering the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. This article briefly looks at previous pandemics and disasters that have affected healthcare systems, as well as the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and considers how nurse leaders can support staff and show organisational resilience during such emergencies. The article also discusses how nurse leaders can develop their own resilience.
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Nurs Manag (Harrow) · Jun 2017
Ambulation of patients who are mechanically ventilated: nurses' views.
Aims Equipment and skills in intensive care have advanced dramatically, and early rehabilitation and ambulation for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are part of their journey to recovery. The aim of this study is to understand better nurses' perspectives on ambulating mechanically ventilated patients, and to determine why this is not a routine part of ICU patient care. Method Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to extract data from semi-structured interviews. ⋯ The study also found that education and training programmes could increase staff confidence and consequently result in routine ambulation of mechanically ventilated patients. Conclusion The study identified that nursing staff are aware of the benefits of ambulation for patients in ICUs, but the personal satisfaction gained from undertaking this activity does not outweigh the anxiety it causes. This is compounded by the organisational culture of ICUs; for example, the hierarchical pyramid of leadership, which dictates that consultants decide when patients are ready to ambulate.