Politics and Leadership
Main ideal presented in the article: This article focuses on the evidence related to poor governance by healthcare leaders and professionals resulting in poor quality of care for patients. Furthermore, nurse leaders have the ability to influence attitudes that affect the quality of care that is delivered.
Summary of the material presented in the article: Poor quality of care provides a scenario that is completely unacceptable in the healthcare field. Several things can influence this quality of care, one of which being the overall attitude and moral of the staff providing care. Nursing leaders are often responsible for ensuring that there is an increased moral among staff. Far too often nurse leaders are viewed as uncaring, and too involved of the politics in the hospital as opposed to the care that our patients are receiving. There must be a “cultural change” in order to ensure that all nurse leaders provide the leadership needed for proving quality nursing care.
Synthesis of the material presented in the article: Patient may not remember names or what was said, but they remember how staff made them feel. This includes nurses. As a staff nurse it is our responsibility to ensure that patients are treated with dignity, respect, and a smile. Nursing leaders can play a large role in the mood and overall attitude of staff nurses. When one feels unsupported or like they do not matter in the grand scheme of things, it decreases moral and can negatively affect attitude. Even with this being so, the individual is responsible to ensure that the best and most positive care is provided to the patient.
Application of material in the article: This material would be a great resource for nurse leaders across the board. By being more involved in the patient care side of nursing, as opposed to the political side, more effective governance and better patient outcomes may occur.
Which thoughts are most interesting and why? The article focuses not only on what nurse leaders could do better, but what staff nurses should ask themselves about the care they are providing in order in improve the quality. The article also discusses the theory of self-control in order to increase overall patient care, which is not discussed too often.
What is the author’s purpose in terms of policy or nurses’ role in leadership in healthcare policy? The author does not directly address these issues, but it is safe to say that the author believes the nurse leader should focus more on the care provided to patients as opposed to the political aspect.
What kind of assumptions does the author make? The author assumes that when leadership is weak that the poor performance of the staff will not be addressed, and therefore the cycle will continue. This is one of the more accurate assumptions that I have seen in the articles I have reviewed.
Describe how this article helps you understand concepts (identify the concept) associated with your role in healthcare policy leadership and participation: The concept of self-control is discussed here, in reference to the staff nurse having self-control over his or her attitude. The nurse is the “final line of defense” when ensuring that the patient is treated with a positive attitude. This is just a reminder that we are ultimately in control of our actions, and should hold ourselves accountable.
What implications do you see for your future as an advocate and participant in healthcare policy? As a nurse practitioner I hope to participate in a leadership role at some point. While in this role I will strive to continue to provide care from the bedside aspect of nursing and not to become intertwined in the political aspect of leadership.
One question that was raised related to the article: Why do staff nurses not hold themselves fully accountable for the quality of care that is delivered at the bedside? Although several variables influence attitude and moral, the staff nurse is ultimately responsible for the final product.
Reference
Bassett, S., & Westmore, K. (2012). How nurse leaders can foster a climate of good governance. Nursing Management - UK, 19(5), 22-24.
Main ideal presented in the article: This article focuses on the evidence related to poor governance by healthcare leaders and professionals resulting in poor quality of care for patients. Furthermore, nurse leaders have the ability to influence attitudes that affect the quality of care that is delivered.
Summary of the material presented in the article: Poor quality of care provides a scenario that is completely unacceptable in the healthcare field. Several things can influence this quality of care, one of which being the overall attitude and moral of the staff providing care. Nursing leaders are often responsible for ensuring that there is an increased moral among staff. Far too often nurse leaders are viewed as uncaring, and too involved of the politics in the hospital as opposed to the care that our patients are receiving. There must be a “cultural change” in order to ensure that all nurse leaders provide the leadership needed for proving quality nursing care.
Synthesis of the material presented in the article: Patient may not remember names or what was said, but they remember how staff made them feel. This includes nurses. As a staff nurse it is our responsibility to ensure that patients are treated with dignity, respect, and a smile. Nursing leaders can play a large role in the mood and overall attitude of staff nurses. When one feels unsupported or like they do not matter in the grand scheme of things, it decreases moral and can negatively affect attitude. Even with this being so, the individual is responsible to ensure that the best and most positive care is provided to the patient.
Application of material in the article: This material would be a great resource for nurse leaders across the board. By being more involved in the patient care side of nursing, as opposed to the political side, more effective governance and better patient outcomes may occur.
Which thoughts are most interesting and why? The article focuses not only on what nurse leaders could do better, but what staff nurses should ask themselves about the care they are providing in order in improve the quality. The article also discusses the theory of self-control in order to increase overall patient care, which is not discussed too often.
What is the author’s purpose in terms of policy or nurses’ role in leadership in healthcare policy? The author does not directly address these issues, but it is safe to say that the author believes the nurse leader should focus more on the care provided to patients as opposed to the political aspect.
What kind of assumptions does the author make? The author assumes that when leadership is weak that the poor performance of the staff will not be addressed, and therefore the cycle will continue. This is one of the more accurate assumptions that I have seen in the articles I have reviewed.
Describe how this article helps you understand concepts (identify the concept) associated with your role in healthcare policy leadership and participation: The concept of self-control is discussed here, in reference to the staff nurse having self-control over his or her attitude. The nurse is the “final line of defense” when ensuring that the patient is treated with a positive attitude. This is just a reminder that we are ultimately in control of our actions, and should hold ourselves accountable.
What implications do you see for your future as an advocate and participant in healthcare policy? As a nurse practitioner I hope to participate in a leadership role at some point. While in this role I will strive to continue to provide care from the bedside aspect of nursing and not to become intertwined in the political aspect of leadership.
One question that was raised related to the article: Why do staff nurses not hold themselves fully accountable for the quality of care that is delivered at the bedside? Although several variables influence attitude and moral, the staff nurse is ultimately responsible for the final product.
Reference
Bassett, S., & Westmore, K. (2012). How nurse leaders can foster a climate of good governance. Nursing Management - UK, 19(5), 22-24.