Challenges of Nursing Management and Leadership Case Study 1
As a recent graduate nurse, you accepted a position on an intermediate care unit. At your first unit meeting, Cathy Jones, unit manager, informs the nurses that the patient satisfaction rating fell two points from the previous month. She asks everyone to reflect over the past month and submit their top three concerns to their charge nurses by the next unit meeting. Cathy states, "This is unacceptable. It is your problem, and it concerns me. We will increase our rating at least three points by the next quarter. I want reasons for this problem and expect each of you to submit your ideas to your charge nurses promptly." Three charge nurses, one from each shift, were asked by Cathy to make sure that the nurses addressed the issue.
Sherrie, the day shift charge nurse, decided to ask each nurse individually over the next month for her ideas on the problem. To encourage a higher response rate, Sherrie had pizzas brought in on the day she presented the findings. She compiled the responses and reviewed them with the day shift nurses with a consensus on the top three responses. Sherrie was able to obtain a 100% response rate by including all individuals in the decision.
Linda, the evening shift charge nurse, made a list of possible reasons and selected the top three. She then told the evening shift nurses what the three reasons were and that she would submit the list to Cathy for them. She spoke only to the nurses working on a particular evening and, when questioned by the absent staff, Linda told them that they could speak to Cathy individually. She added, "Like she said, it's your problem. Do what you want, but I'm not responsible for whatever happens with Cathy."
As the midnight shift charge nurse, Tracy let the nurses decide on reasons and submit the responses independently. She thought that the nurses had the right to accept or refuse participation and to be accountable as individuals. Tracy stated, "The responses might be personal. I believe we have the right to stand up for our own conclusions and I will stand behind each of you." Tracy also achieved 100% participation by the nurses.
What management style did each of the three charge nurses (Sherrie, Linda, and Tracy) display? Give a rationale for your choices.