Risk Management

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.

This week I learned more about what risk management in healthcare is. Risk management is ultimately how an institution or facility recognizes potential risks and measures taken to prevent or dearest the liklihood or those risks from happening. There are many aspects of risk that exist in healthcare that include legal, financial, operational, or hazards. Risk management is so important because ultimately, every decision made in the healthcare setting affects the patients for better or for worse and one mistake or wrong decision could cost a life. That is why it is crucial that risk management takes place and is being done effectively. When situations happen that have a less than favorable outcome, it should be analyzed and looked at in all perspectives to figure out what when wrong, why it went wrong, and how to prevent it from happening again. 

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

Discussing the specific risk management scenario this week was helpful because my classmates brought up different aspects of the situation I didn't think to consider or look at. It made me realize that risk management is better done with a team of people that can provide adequate insight.

3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

Risk management is something that I can do for myself in my own nursing practice with the decisions I make personally. I can be an active member in helping to reduce risk by identifying when something could have potentially gone wrong or when something does. I can fill out iReports and help my institution implement new regulations or catch potential hazards. 

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

Thought this was a good way to conclude this course. Risk management is a very important aspect of nursing and it is important that we understand what can happen if we are negligent in our practice. 

Motivation and Communication

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.

This week I learned about motivation and how important it is not only in the workplace but in my own life as well. As i went through the PowerPoint, I reflected back on what has motivated me through life and realized that it has mostly been the same...I am motivated by happiness and a sense of accomplishment. Everything I have done up until this point has been because I want to be happy and I want to accomplish something. I have been able to do this so far in my life and hope I can continue. I learned that there are certain things to focus on when trying to motivate employees and if the manger is experiencing burnout, the staff will show it.

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

I really enjoyed the discussion this week and it was interesting to see the perspectives of my classmates and creative ideas they had on how to increase morale on a hospital unit. I realized that the ideas I had were beneficial and learned of new ideas.

3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I can remember how important it is to be motivated always. I plan to move into a charge nurse position fairly soon and find that staying motivated can rub off on others and create a positive environment. There are many things that can be done to help increase motivation and morale on a unit including incentives, rewards, and ensuring proper staffing ratios.

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

 I felt this was a great way to end the semester and have motivation in mind as I move forward in my career and education.

Conflict Resolution

1.   What did you actually learned from the unit.

This week I learned about collective bargaining and what it is exactly. It was really interesting to be able to take a position of a union member and bargain for what I felt would be beneficial for the union. I understood more of what is done behind the scenes and how negotiations take place with this. I also learned that conflict can be difficult to handle and sometimes it isn’t clear on how to solve the issue or why conflict came about in the first place. There are so many different examples of conflict and conflict can exist in all aspects of our lives. It is important to deal with conflict at the lowest level possible and attempt to find a resolution:

1. Look at the situation-why is there a conflict?
2. Try and solve it at the lowest level (between 2 nurses)
3. Involve next highest manger if needed and continue up the chain of command if necessary (charge nurse, nursing manager, CNO, chief of staff, etc.)

Other things to focus on include:
Making sure good relationships are the first priority
Keep people and problems separate
Pay attention to the interests that are being presented
List first; talk second
Set out the “facts”
Explore options
Practice reflection when you communicate
Make your point directly and concretely
Keep your voice tone neutral and remain calm

2.   Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

I really enjoyed discussing the collective bargaining and felt that we were mostly in agreeance with who made the best argument. That person was able to point out things that I did not see and I thought that was beneficial. Our second discussion about conflict helped me realize all the different types of conflict there are and how aggressive and assertive communication differ and how one is more beneficial than the other, especially in the workplace.

3.   How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I can remember what I have learned about conflict and resolution and that it isn’t always easy to solve but if I am willing to swallow my pride, have empathy, and attempt to solve at the lowest level possible, I will most likely have success. I will always try and resolve conflict as soon as it arises with coworkers but also try to not create conflict. While I may not participate in collective bargaining where I work now, negotiation is a skill I will always be able to use. It is important for me to stand up for myself and other coworkers if we feel something is not fair. I will approach my mangers with respect but have a plan in mind.

4.   Your personal feelings about the material covered.

I thought this unit was a good reminder about conflict and resolution processes. This is something we as nurses will face on a daily basis not only with coworkers but with patients and their families. It is important for us to understand the proper steps to take to correctly resolve conflict.

Strategic Planning

1.   What did you actually learned from the unit.

I learned about the benefit of strategic planning and how I as a nurse leader can help implement change and initiate goals and plan for the future. I learned that it is important to have short term and long term goals planned for and that there are many elements that need to be there in order for the plan to function and be successful.

2.   Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

The strategic planning activity was interesting. It was difficult trying to think of what we wanted to do to expand our city because I really have never thought about something like this before. It was fun to discuss with my teammates and it was interesting to see what ideas they came up with. I also enjoyed discussing about what MSN program UVU should offer and why. I imagine this is something the university discusses often. I felt that we had some great ideas and good evidence to back it up.

3.   How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I can remember this week and utilize the knowledge I gained about strategic planning. I will eventually move into management positions and will have to help plan out the future so remembering the aspects of strategic planning and that it need to have short term and long term goals planned for will be valuable.

4.   Your personal feelings about the material covered.

I thought this week was interesting. The team activity was very unclear and somewhat difficult. I think this material this week was good for us to realize what goes into a good strategic plan and how we can make it successful and what elements it should have.

Managing Change

1. What did you actually learn from the unit?

I realized how difficult change can be and how hard I have worked to accept and embrace change in my life. I learned that we can't just sit around and wait for things to happen or things to come back. We have to be willing to seek out opportunities and move on.

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities. Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

 I enjoyed discussing "Who Moved my Cheese" with my classmates. We all seemed to relate to similar characters. I wasn't surprised that nobody related to the mice. We all related to Hem or Haw because change is difficult and the majority of people need a little nudge.

3. How will you utilize the information learned in your nursing practice?

I am part of a constantly changing profession. Learning how to deal with, accept, and embrace change is a art and a skill. I will continue to strive to accept change with a more positive attitude and be willing to challenge myself, learn new things, and set greater goals to achieve all throughout my life. By doing so I can have a more successful and happy career as a nurse as well as improve myself and over all quality of life.

4. Your feelings about the unit.

I thought this week was powerful and the story we read was inspirational. I think everyone should have to read that and really reflect on themselves to better understand how they accept change (or don't).

Budget Interview

This week I interviewed Ray Weber, CFO of First American Title. I learned that budgeting can be very difficult and it was interesting talking with someone not in the healthcare field. I also realized how complex some budgets can be, especially the one we worked with from a unit in the hospital. A title company definitely has different expenses and actually a lot less things to budget for. Going over budget can sometimes mean good things, in this case specifically.

1. In what areas does your department/company overspend when looking at your budget?

Our office specifically usually overspends on office supplies each month.

2. Which expenses do you most often adjust if you are over budget?

We generally don’t cut expenses back. Our profit margin that month is just decreased. We have a budget for a few things and cutting back on client lunches will lose business, cutting back on office supplies generally isn’t an option, and rent and phone bills are set. If we are having to spend more on office supplies, generally it means we are doing more business to in the long run we are making more money.

3. Are there certain months during the year the company overspends? Is there a pattern?     

Spring, Summer, and Fall are our busiest seasons so we try to anticipate the expenses but we can’t always predict the market.

4. If you don’t meet budget a certain amount of times, what kind of consequences are there?

Generally it isn’t a big deal because it is seasonal and we will make up for it. If it gets really bad an employee may be furlowed.

5. Do you have a range for a budget? Or is it a set number that you work with?

Some are set (rent, bills) others we are given a range and try to stay within that.

6. What about a range for certain areas in your budget?

Office supplies ranges from $1,000-$1,500 per month.

7. If you are over budget, what do you do? And how do you decide what gets cut?

Employees may get furlowed, we analyze what areas were over budget and see if we can change that. However, like I mentioned before, if we are over budget, it generally means we are actually having more business.

8. What do you find to be the most difficult thing associated with making/adjusting the budget?

The most difficult thing is deciding what areas to make cuts in and how much to cut. It is difficult to know what effect that will have sometimes. I try to make the necessary cuts so we don’t have to furlow someone; people are more important.

9. Are you generally able to keep within your monthly/yearly proposed budget?

Yes.

10. What process do you need to go through to increase the budget for the department?

All expenses are approved along the way. We generally don’t need approval from anyone else to make some changes to our monthly/yearly budget.

Career Development and Staffing

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.

Staffing a unit can be very difficult. There are multiple ways to staff and schedule employees each having their pros and cons. I think I realized that the best way to staff a unit is one that a obviously meets the needs of the unit but also keep the employees mostly happy and satisfied with their schedule otherwise you might have high turnover and staffing calling in sick more often. I also was reminded about the importance of career development and that it pays of to sit down and ponder what it is I want to do in my nursing career and what that is going to take not only on my part but what education/training I need, how I am going to pay for it, where I need to live, etc.

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

I enjoyed learning about my fellow classmates and how their current nursing positions are scheduled and how their schedules rotate as well as how they word the holidays. Because this is my first nursing position, the schedule we use is really the only one I knew. I realize that I love how my schedule is put together and the expectations we have. I feel that I can plan vacations and events well in advance and know pretty much exactly when I will work. I loved reading about the career plan of my fellow peers as well. It makes me realize how broad the nursing field is and also be comfortable with where I am at and how I feel about continuing on. I feel that we really validated and motivated each others' desires and I think it is great that I can work with these people.

3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I can definitely take this experience I had with trying to staff a unit and understand more of how to do it so I can eventually do this for my own unit wherever I might be. I think it takes a special skill set to be able to organize in that way and that is something I can work on and use to my advantage. I also realize that while I may not be working in the area I want to specialize in, I am gaining valuable experience and am in no rush to hurry and figure it out. I have my entire career ahead of me and want to take full advantage of any learning I can receive wherever I am at.

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

I thought this week was interesting and challenging to try and staff a unit. I felt it was important for me to take the time to focus on my career development as well as discuss with other nurses their future career plans as well as understand how their units are scheduled and staffed.

Leaders as Educators/Future of Nursing

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.

I really enjoyed the lecture about the future of nursing this week. It helped me to realize what a big influence nurses have on the entire population and also the challenges and struggles this profession is facing. I learned that the future of nursing is heading toward a leadership centered, goal driven, and higher education requirements. I learned that these goals are attainable and that there is a plan set out to achieve these. It was interesting to hear statistics regarding the nursing profession around the world and more specifically the United States. I didn't realize there was such a high percentage of nurses who were not practicing to their fullest potential or using the skills and abilities nurses are set out to have. I realized how important it is that I am receiving my bachelor's degree and feel very lucky that I have had this opportunity.

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

The discussion this week helped us all realize where the future of nursing is headed. Each of the team members brought a different but similar perspective regarding the focus of the future of nursing and what the lecture was getting at. My perceptions were not changed but were definitely enhanced from participating in the discussion this week.

3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I can be a huge part in the achievement of the goals for the nursing profession. I can utilize these concepts I have learned and become a better nurse leader. I can continue to obtain higher degrees and receive more education to better myself and my practices which will in turn better my community. The healthcare system is continually changing and the more positive changes we can make and the better practice we use can help influence all people.

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

I thought this week was very interesting and really opened my eyes to this profession I have just entered into. I feel inspired and motivated to make a difference and hope to see these goals attained by 2020.

Managing Healthcare Resources

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.
I learned a lot this week and had a very difficult time with the budget cut assignment. I probably was over thinking it but it made me realize how important a budget is and how costly it can be if a few things are over budget. It was difficult to really decide what could be cut in the budget but with problem solving and critical thinking I was able to find a solution. I learned that developing a budget goes through a process similar to the nursing process (Assess what needs to be included in the budget, develop a plan, implement the plan, and evaluate the plan).

Regarding time management I learned that the three basic steps are: to allow time for planning to establish priorities, complete the highest priority task first and finish a task before starting another one, and reprioritizing based on the remaining tasks and on new information that may be received. It is important to know myself and understand how I waste time or tasks I do not like to do. Things that waste time are the inability to say no and inability to delegate.

Delegation has been a difficult skill for me to develop over this first year of my nursing career. However, I do realize it takes practice and I am getting better and more comfortable with delegation. I learned this week about things to focus on when delegating. It's important to give credit for those who deserve it, make sure it is the right person, right time, and for the right reason.

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

The discussion this week was HARD! It was interesting to see all the different areas we thought could use a budget cut. However, we all focused on the staffing issue and it was interesting to discuss with team members about the different solutions to the staffing problems. We also were able to come up with very interesting interview questions regarding budgeting for next week.

3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

First of all, these skills about budgeting and budget cuts are valuable. I really thought it was great that we were able to look at a budget and try to interpret it. I know that being a manager is something I should strive toward but having to go over this this week made me realize that there are certain things I do not look forward to. Time management is something every nurse has to learn to be good at. As I have had students work with me as well as train new nurses I realize that I have developed some great time management techniques for myself. I have found what works for me. However, there are days I need to give myself more time to plan everything out and prioritize to help the morning med pass run smoother. I also know the things I dislike doing and things that I procrastinate. I am trying to get those things done quicker and sooner so it doesn't effect my mood while at work every shift. I also am going to actively try and be a better delegator to my charge nurse as well as the CNAs I work with.

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

I felt this week was extremely useful in my nursing practice. I really thought the information was valuable and very relevant to my career.

Firing-Discipline Interview

This week I interviewed Jeff. He head of operations for Elite Mentoring Group.

I really enjoyed this interview and found it to be interesting. It is good to know that firing people never gets easy, as I don't feel that it should. I like that he mentioned he realizes that he is causing a huge change in someone's life and that isn't easy. I think this part of any job is one of the most difficult things to do but it's life and that's what happens. I try and make it my goal each day that I will never do anything that would cause termination of my employment with any employer.

1. When it comes to firing someone, do you first follow the process of Verbal Warning, Written Warning, Final Written Warning, and then Termination? Or do you have another set of steps? Verbal, Verbal, Terminate.

2. Do you make the final decision in terminating an employee or do you consult with other people/team first?  Consult with others before terminating. The hope is to find another way the employee way be utilized by the company, but if not, they are terminated.

3. What, if anything, would cause an employee to be immediately terminated? (without verbal warning) dishonesty or mistreatment of another employee

4. What are some reasons/examples of why you’ve fired someone? Embezzling money, excessive absence, not staying focused on the job and Not following company procedure.

5. Is there any specific kind of paperwork you need to fill out prior to firing and afterwards?  “Reason for Termination form” and a police report if needed.

6. How easy is it for you to discipline an employee? Not very easy because they usually feel picked on.

7.  Does the firing process get easier the more you do it? Not really because you know that you have
created a big change in their life that is sometimes unexpected by them. Always difficult.

8. On average how do your employees handle being fired? Usually they feel like their behavior was justified so it is difficult for them to accept.

9. If termination is needed, do you typically do it in person or via telephone?  Always in person unless they have stopped coming to work.

10. Have you ever had any crazy or out of the ordinary things happen during the termination process? Not really. It has always worked out OK

11. Is termination effective immediately or do you give them a few days to finish up their work and pack up? Most of the time its immediate. However there have been times they have been allowed to finish certain things.

Organizational Structure and Power

What did you actually learned from the unit.
 This week was interesting...I guess I learned or was reminded of the different ways of thinking that men and women have. I realized that from the readings and surveys done about leadership qualities and their relationship to men and women, that women seem to possess more leadership specific qualities and they may make a better leader in the workplace. I learned that both men and women have skills and traits of a leader and it really comes down to just that, traits and characteristics not skills alone that make a great leader. I also learned how important it is to use power appropriately and not like a golf club and just swing it at coworkers. Currently I am a staff nurse and have leadership over CNAs. I am always striving to successfully lead them and delegate to them. I hope I never come across as the nurse that says my way or the high way.

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

The discussion this week was interesting. It was difficult for all of us to have a specific answer about whether men or women would be better leaders. I feel that I am sticking to my original post and feel that women would be the better leader. It was interesting to hear from everybody's perspective and I think we were split on our decision. But ultimately, it comes down to preference and environment I think.


3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I can learn to cultivate those leadership traits and qualities that were identified in the survey as being ones that create and effective leader (honesty, integrity, intelligence, hard work, compassion, outgoing, and creativity to name a few). I can utilize power in the correct way and use democratic leadership styles.

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

I felt the discussion this week was difficult and it definitely wasn't my favorite. The videos were interesting and the lecture was helpful in understanding leadership and command in the nursing field. I was able to see what was beyond a charge RN position or house supervisor and the benefits to each of those higher management positions.

Performance Appraisal Interview

This week I interviewed Tamra from First American Title-Branch Manager, Escrow Officer.

1. How often do you do performance appraisals? Are the employees notified in advance or is it a surprise?

 Anually. Yes the employee knows – The employee fills out their own evaluation online first then we review and discuss their performance

2.     Do you use the same set of questions for every employee?

The online questions are the same – the personal review is different based on the employee evaluation comments

3. What scale do you prefer to use for performance appraisals? (unsatisfactory-satisfactory-outstanding, poor-below average-average-above average-excellent)

Needs improvement / Meets expectations / Exceeds Expectations

4. Do you offer pay for performance incentives?

No – raises are given but not necessarily based on the review.

5. How long does each evaluation take? Is there a certain time frame you like to keep it within?

The face to face evaluation is approximately ½ hour.  Can differ based on the individual.

6. Do you use a third party to evaluate performance or does your company do it internally?

The online evaluation is done by a third party company. Face to face review is done in person.

7. In your time doing performance appraisals, have you noticed that incentives tend to yield better results with your employees?

Not necessarily

8. What are your main objectives that you like to achieve when holding performance appraisals?

Acknowledge what the employee is doing well and see where they can make improvements.

To let them know they are appreciated and valued.

9. Do you set goals with employee during interview?

Yes - goals are an important part of the interview.

10. What do you do to create an environment that allows open and honest communication?

Ask for their ideas as to what process and procedures could be changed to make things better.

I really enjoyed conducting this interview and learned that it is important to set goals with employees and help them feel valued and appreciated as well as comfortable. I also like that she asks the employees what they feel could be changed for a better workplace. I think this helps build the relationship. Overall, I would feel very comfortable having a performance interview done at this company and feel they value their employees and it shows.

Ethical Responsibilites of the Nurse Leader

1.   What did you actually learn from the unit.

This week I learned what ethics committees are and how they can be beneficial in certain situations. I also realized that I can call upon an ethics committee if I feel a need for it. I have also been reminded of how difficult ethical dilemmas are, especially in healthcare. We are dealing with life and death situations almost every day making these dilemmas perhaps some of the most difficult that exist. There are so many ways to go about making the “right” decision. A dilemma is actually created when both decisions are good…it becomes good decision vs. good decision sometimes. The views of the patient and family are so important to take into consideration but medical expertise, evidence, and perspectives are also important. I realized that it all comes down to a patient’s quality of life.

2.   Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

The discussions this week provided some new insight for me. I learned of some methods and steps to follow when trying to make a decision about an ethical dilemma and all the aspects that should be considered. It was interesting and kind of fun actually to attempt to act as the ethics committee and make a decision regarding dialysis for a patient. I think discussing other ethical dilemmas and seeing others’ points of view has helped me have a better, more well-rounded perspective and understanding of ethics and all things that should be taken into consideration.

3.   How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I can utilize the ethics committee if I am ever in a situation where I feel it to be necessary. I realize how difficult these situations are and don’t take them lightly. I need to always remember to validate the family’s and the patient’s feelings and wishes but also educate from a medical perspective to provide understanding. Documentation is also very, very important and I want to continue to be thorough with documentation so if an ethical dilemma arises, there won’t be any questions as to why we made a decision or not.

4.   Your personal feelings about the material covered.

Ethics are so hard and ethical dilemmas are even more difficult. I don’t want to be faced with decisions like we have discussed this week but the fact is, I am going to be because of my profession. I feel this week has really helped me to see proper steps to take and things to consider to make an appropriate decision. I felt this week was very helpful and had deep meaning.

Performance Appraisals and Problem Employees

1. What I learned from the unit.

This week I learned about and came to understand more of what a performance appraisal actually is. It was interesting to hear about what goes into creating a scale that has to be used for every employee. I learned how important goal setting is for each employee to do and how beneficial those goals can be with a manager or boss that is invested in each employee and their success. I learned about disciplining employees and the process to use, beginning with a verbal warning and ending with termination. It was a good reminder and something I will always remember is that you should never terminate or discipline an employee alone. I think this is great advice and I would always want someone else there to be the witness and also be there for backup if necessary. You never know how people are going to take that news....
The article I read this week was regarding the Zika virus and how prevalent it is becoming and what it is costing the world. This is a scary time to live in but I feel that we have the resources to help solve these world wide issues and I hope Zika doesn't get too far out of hand.


2. My feelings/experiences from the team activities. Did it change your opinion of the subject?

The discussions this week were great. Discussing who the greatest leader of all time was actually really fun and interesting. I loved hearing what others had to say and who they thought was/is the best. It made me reflect on how many wonderful people we have to look up to with fantastic leadership qualities. There is no reason I can't be a great leader because I have so many others to follow after and qualities to I can develop. Discussing the problem employee scenario was also interesting and it helped to see others' perspectives on discipline. I feel that main thing for me to remember is to always talk with the employee and give them a chance to explain why they may not be compliant or what might be going on in their personal life that is affecting work. I never want to lose that human side or the humble and understanding characteristics. The evaluation criteria discussion was also helpful and it made me realize all the different aspects of an employee there are to look at and consider.

3. How I will utilize the information learned in my nursing practice.

I can apply so many things I learned this week to my nursing practice. I will be able to look up to so many great leaders and develop the qualities that many of these leaders have. I can become a great leader to my coworkers and i don't have to be the charge nurse or nursing manager to do that. I can be a leader right now. When I am in a managerial role, it will have been beneficial for me to have thought about evaluation criteria and how to effectively discipline employees. These are skills that I will need to have. I am going to have to do things that may seem difficult now but its part of life and working.

4. My personal feelings about the material covered.
I thought this week was full of many beneficial insights to my nursing career. It was really helpful to develop criteria with my teammates as well as discuss how to go about disciplining an employee who has been very loyal and who has some personal problems.

Team Building and Organization

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.

This week I learned a lot about some different things. First, I conducted an interview with a manager from a grouser bar (construction material) company. I learned so much from his answers to the questions my team and I created. I realized what things to look for when choosing candidates to hire. I learned that social media could be an important deciding factor on whether or not you hire a person. It is important to help the client feel comfortable and themselves during the interview. Preparation before the interview is also important because not only does it help you be and look professional but the interview will go more smoothly and you can be in more control if you have planned out things you want to know and you have looked over their resume.

          The article I read this week helped me to really realize how important it is that I am continuing school to receive my BSN. I know this has been important but it was interesting to read it from a perspective other than the ones I have already seen/heard from my employer and current school. I feel that this education is so valuable and am really happy that I am expanding my knowledge and skills to become a better nurse.

I learned how difficult it can be for team to work together virtually/online. I learned that there are so many different activities out there that can really help a team get to know each other and build trust with each other so that they can work together more effectively.

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

The team activity this week was focused on writing our team building activities paper. We worked really well as a team this week to fulfill all the requirements from the paper. While it was difficult to find some activities at times, I think we pulled together really well. I thought this was helpful because as a team we were able to provide many different perspectives and ideas of virtual/online team building activities. This is helpful to me because there could definitely be a time in my career that I am working or managing employees through virtual or online means. I think it is helpful to think about different ways other than face-to-face interaction that team members can build each other up and show leadership.

3.   How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

Like I have previously stated, I will continue to take my education seriously and try by best to learn as much as I can through this bachelor’s program because I have realized how important it is that I am receiving this education. As I advance to management positions in my career, I can look back and remember things I have learned about interviewing and how to have a successful interview and choose the best candidate. This information has also been helpful because I can use this for when I am looking for and interviewing for other positions. I understand more of what goes on behind the scenes and can hopefully utilize that to my advantage for the better.

4.   Your personal feelings about the material covered.

I felt that this week had some beneficial information. I really enjoyed the interview and felt that was probably the more beneficial thing to learn from this week. I love hearing from other people and seeing their perspectives on things. I use that information and can expand my own skills and knowledge. 

Hiring Interview

This week I interviewed Brad who is the Managing Director at Dura-Tuff Wear Products.

1.Do you have any specific qualities, traits, or accomplishments that you require of the people you interview?

I look for personality over specific accomplishments.  I figure most people can be trained to do the job, but it’s hard to change attitude.  I look for those with an optimistic outlook on life in general and someone I feel will fit in with our team.  I also want a self-starter.  The workplace nowadays allows someone to waste a lot of time if they really want to.  I look for someone who likes to stay busy and is willing to take on projects and not afraid to make mistakes.

2. How do you advertise a position that is available within your company?

We always try to find some by word of mouth first.  It usually produces better candidates.  If we don’t find someone through this method, we will advertise on ksl or craigslist.

3. Do you value experience or education more when looking at applicants?

I guess it depends on the position.  Certain positions require certain skill sets.  I value both experience and education, but I would have to say experience.  Because I look at experience as not only work, but life experience.  Sometimes, the best hire in the world might be someone who has stayed at home and raised a family.  The experience that someone like that has might supersede having a certain degree.  Experience creates wisdom you just can’t get from education alone.

With that said, I have a ton of respect for education.  Someone who has a degree(s) has demonstrated perseverance and dedication.  That means a lot to me and says a lot about a candidate.

4. Do you have a set of questions that you ask every candidate or do you ask every candidate different things based on their background?

I’ve never worked for a large company that had to worry about sticking to a strict interview protocol with each candidate.  As a candidate myself, I loathe interviews that are very structured.  My style is to make the candidate feel at ease so they can be themselves.  Interviews are stressful enough and it’s hard to judge someone’s abilities when they are nervous.  The key is helping the person feel comfortable enough and get them talking.  They will reveal quite a bit to an interviewer if they feel like they can really talk and share their experience.

5. What are things you do to prepare before interviewing applicants?

I make sure to go over their resume so I am not spending too much time reading it during the interview.  I try to pick up on any patterns in their work history as well as anything they might be inflating and ask them questions about that.

6. What is the benefit of conducting group interviews versus one on one interviews?

Group interviews are good because they tell you a lot about how a person interacts with others.  Do they listen to others or are they just anxious to tell you what’s in their head?  

 7. How long should an interview be held?  

30 minutes

8. What is a reasonable time frame to notify candidates whether they got the position or not?

Within a week of the interview.  Sometimes I welcome the candidates to follow up with me if they haven’t heard back within a certain time frame.  I have actually hired people because they followed up relentlessly and didn’t give up.  That tells me a lot about them and is a trait I really respect.

9. Do you check social media sites of the applicants? Does this have influence on whether they get an interview?

I always look the person up on social media.  It tells you a lot.  It definitely has an influence on whether they get an interview.

10. When looking through applicants, does the school they graduated from or the degree they earned have influence?

Yes, but it’s not a deal breaker.

11. When looking through applicants does their GPA have a factor in them getting hired?

Not really

12. When conducting a group interview what makes a candidate stand out more versus another?

I like to see someone be assertive but not dominate in a brown nosing kind of way.  If they don’t speak up or participate I’m not likely to remember them, but if they seem to be hogging the attention in order to get noticed, that really annoys me.

13. How do you decide who even gets an interview?

Someone who doesn’t have errors on their resume (grammar, spacing, etc.) makes the cut.  I tend to give more interviews to someone who send their resume and then follows up with a phone call to make sure I received it and to ask for an interview.  Too many people assume that every resume is looked at.  No.  The squeaky wheel gets the oil.  Rarely will someone give you a job without you trying hard for it.

Doing this interview was such a great learning experience for me. I thought his responses to these questions were really informational and he seems to understand how to interview candidates. There were a few of his responses that I especially liked. The qualities that he really looks for are those who are positive, optimistic, and self-motivated. He realizes that those with a lazy mindset won't be a good addition to the team. He likes those who are willing to try new things and make mistakes. I also like his preparations before the interview. I think this is valuable information. It is important to look over their resume, look at work history patter, and look on their social media because this can tell you a lot about a person. He also stated that those who will follow up and show interest in the job are usually those that will get the interview. I think this information is helpful not only for me as someone who will be applying for jobs but as I move into a management position I can reflect back on what others have done and use this to find the best candidates and conduct beneficial interviews. 

Hiring

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.

This unit taught me a lot of different aspects about hiring that I haven't considered. This past year I have been so focused on how I interview for a job and how I can make myself more presentable. Now that I have a job, it is beneficial to see the other side of it and learn how I can conduct interviews and hire employees. From the discussion this week it was beneficial to see others' points of view about who to hire. We all agreed that the first candidate was the better option for the specific position but both candidates looked really great on paper. I think this helped me to realize how hard it is to make a hiring decision and all the different aspects to look at. It all comes down to how they are in person as well.

I also learned about all the different steps that go into preparing for an interview and how to conduct one effectively. Things like identifying the job, briefly describing the position, having an interview outline/format, and thinking ahead of time what you want to know about the candidate and what questions you want to ask. It is important to have this outline so the time spent interviewing is effective and beneficial. 

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why? 

The discussion this week helped to expand my thoughts about what to consider and look at when choosing a candidate to hire. My team members brought up some interesting aspects of the candidate we all so quickly chose that really made us all think and make sure we were making the right decision. It was also very helpful to, as a team, come up with interview questions. I thought it was helpful because I realized I had some of the same thoughts as my team members but they also brought many other creative questions that will be beneficial for me later. 

3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

Learning about hiring and all the steps and aspects to consider is going to be so beneficial for me.This is helping to prepare me for one day when I am a nurse manager and am conducting interviews. It is also helpful to know because I want to be that "perfect" candidate. As I explore my career of nursing I will be able to (hopefully) interview more effectively because I understand what goes on "behind the scenes." 

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

This week was great! At first I wasn't sure what/why we were covering certain things but I realize now how beneficial this is for my leadership abilities. 

Successful Leadership

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.

This week provided new insight about leadership and management. I had never heard about the three types of leadership. I understand what autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire leadership is. I learned that there isn't just one of these types that is always the right one to use. Through the DISC personality test I learned what personality type I am most compatible with and which one I resemble the most. I realized that it is important to understand who you are and what traits you have that make you a leader and how you can improve. 

How do leadership and management theories impact the nursing leadership role?

Through my research, there are many different leadership theories but there were four that I found to be most helpful. Trait theories, behavioral theories, contingency theories, and power and influence theories. Trait theories say the effective leaders share some common personality traits. In nursing, a good charge Rn or nurse manager share similar qualities. Behavioral traits include autocrative, democratic, and laissez-faire types. In nursing, each of these is good in different situations. Running a code requires a more autocratic style, democratic is useful when making changes to how things are done on the unit and what the employees would prefer. Laissez-faire is useful when discussing schedules or things that may not need to be so strict.  The contingency theory is related to the behavioral traits. Good leaders know when to use each style and the situation determines how to lead. Power and influence theories use power and influence to get things done. In nursing this happens everyday. Nurses have an influence over their patients and coworkers and through that influence and authority things get done. 

I spoke to one of the program managers on my unit regarding her thoughts and expectations about assuming a leadership role. She said she was definitely nervous but knew there would be help all around her. She said she expected it to be difficult, she expected to have more answers and more knowledge, and she expected others to be respectful toward her as a program manager. She said she felt that most of her expectations were met but it was harder than she had imagined at first. She learned that being a leader isn't always easy, you won't know all the answers but it is how you handle situations and how you can help others that come to you that really matter and show true leadership qualities. 

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

I felt the discussion this week was beneficial. When I first read through the list of people I wasn't sure if I would classify each of them as a leader. As I thought about it, I realized that each of them had leadership qualities. As our discussion continued, I realized most of us had similar perspectives about leaders. Leaders don't have to influence and entire country or lead thousands of people. Leaders also may not have a positive influence and they may be leading a destructive path but they are still leaders. Discussing with my peers was helpful and I think we all realized all the different ways to define the word "leader." 

3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I want to actively be thinking about ways that I am being a leader or ways I can improve to become or be a better leader each day I am at work. I want to always look to my superiors and other nurses I work with and try to decide what type of leadership they are using (autocratic, democratic, or laissez-faire). Recognizing that I can be a good leader and I always have that potential is something I want to remember. 

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

I thought this first week was a great way to start off the course. I am excited to learn more about leadership qualities and how I can be a better leader as a nurse. 

Characteristics Of Leaders

1.       Leadership requires personal mastery – Nurses demonstrate leadership when they show competence and mastery in the tasks they perform. Nurses are deemed competent by means of a license to practice nursing (NLN 2010).

2.       Leadership is about values –Nurses have their own values and understand the values of their patients and try to honor those values in their every day care.

3.       Leadership is about service – Nurses provide service to their patients as well as coworkers. Nurses also accept service from other coworkers when the workload is too much.

4.       Leadership is about people and relationships – Nurses work with people everyday in an intimate way. Nurses develop lasting relationships not only with coworkers but with patients as well.

5.       Leadership is contextual – Nurses show leadership in their ability to adapt to the always evolving environment of healthcare and a hospital setting.

6.       Leadership is about the management of meaning - Nurses show leadership my managing meaning. They strive to create an environment where the perceptions and interpretations are shared with all team members so they work toward a common goal. Nurses can justify their actions and changes they introduce to team members or to a doctor regarding a patient's care. Nurses are also able to motivate other team members to support their actions.

7.       Leadership is about balance – Nurses must have a balance and know when to use each leadership style. Nurses find the balance between autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire leadership.

8.       Leadership is about continuous learning and improvement – Nurses are constantly focusing on learning and expanding their knowledge. Nurses show leadership by being willing to simply state they don't know the answer but will ask someone or do some research rather than thinking they already know everything. Constrictive criticism is also something nurses give and receive.

9.       Leadership is about effective decision making – Nurses show leadership by making decisions, especially in life or death situations. Nurses many times involve other nurses or members of the interdisciplinary team as well as family members when making decisions about a patient's plan of care.

10.   Leadership is a political process – Nurses show leadership when using qualities found in the politics and our government: power, authority, and influence. Nurses strive to use these qualities for the positive and when combined with other aspects of leadership, a successful team is formed.

11.   Leadership is about modeling – Nurses show leadership by being the model others can strive to emulate. They create an image for new nurses to seek after.

12.   Leadership is about integrity - Nurses show integrity by charting what really happens and being honest with everything.

DISC Personality Test

A. The Results: After taking the DISC Personality test, my results stated that I was S (Steady).

B. Was this a revelation/ new knowledge about yourself? Yes and no. I felt I have always been a "steady" individual and I felt that things included in the description were actually very accurate. I definitely like to do the work behind the scenes sometimes and can be very supportive to a more dominant person. I feel that I have always been a good organizer and can be a very essential team player. While I do like to work in support roles and feel that I work well, as a nurse I want to move into managerial roles eventually as I become more comfortable in the hospital setting and with my knowledge and capabilities as a nurse.

  C. How will this effect your leadership style? I realize that I work well as a supportive role but like I previously stated, I know I am capable of becoming and and being a leader. I feel that I may tend to be the more democratic leader right now but this helped me to realize that I need to work on having those autocratic capabilities as well, especially as I move into a charge RN role and have to be in situations such as running a code that really does require autocratic leadership not a supporting role or democratic leadership.

     d. What will you do with the knowledge this test gives you? I think this is a very positive test and I have gained more understanding and realized things about myself. I will apply this to my everyday nursing practice and realize what strengths I do have and always strive to improve those. I am a very level headed person, calm, and provide support to others on my team. This test says it the best. I'm steady.

S (Steady)
Most Singaporeans, or Asians fall into this category of personalities. Steady individuals generally thrive supporting a D(dominant) leader and doing the work behind the scenes.

These people are loyal, have good self-control, often good listeners and tend to want to avoid disagreements and conflicts.

They are good in an organization because you need people who can be supportive and loyal in your organization. Not everyone can be the one to receive the honour, not everyone can be the head of a team or an organization, but the S(steady) individuals are usually happy where they are. That’s why S(steady) people are absolutely essential for any team to work.

S(steady) personalities generally work well in support roles like managerial roles or as assistants to heads of departments.