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.