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.