Nurse Managers at the unit level wield significant influence on the work environment of the nurses at the bedside, and therefore, on performance across measures of quality, patient experience, safety, as well as markers of nurse engagement (for example, job satisfaction and retention) (Hughes, 2008). In ways both direct and indirect, unit nurse leaders play a crucial role in determining patient and nurse outcomes. Creation of a supportive and conducive work environment is for an example an effective strategy to approaching staff management by a nurse leader within a hospital facility.
Research has revealed that the quality of the work environment within a health care facility impacts patient and nurse outcomes (Kieft, de Brouwer, Francke & Delnoij, 2014). Therefore, through creation of a supportive practice environment that promotes delivery of safe, patient-centered, high quality care, and that fosters strong workforce engagement, nurse managers are in an inimitable position to advance care across the organizations they man. Nurse Manager Leadership is also associated with several workplace mediators. These mediators are responsible for improved nurse and patient outcomes and include autonomy and professional development, and autonomy, appropriate staffing, and staffing respectively.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Examples of best practices (effective behavior) involved in creation of a supportive and favorable work environment and as supported a by nurse leader include good staffing practices for example, elimination of rotating shifts, good interpersonal relationships (support nurses as full members of multidisciplinary teams), quality improvement by promotion of a workplace culture that in just and nonpunitive, connect and relate with staff in a caring manner, use of registered-nurse shared governance, involving nurses in making decisions affecting the workplace, promotion of bedside reporting, hourly rounding, whiteboards, and communication (Kieft, de Brouwer, Francke & Delnoij, 2014). Nurse leaders who observe the above listed best practices demonstrate effective characteristics of caring since they are successful in keeping their staff motivated and inspired towards the realization of a common goal. Focusing on upholding a supportive nurse work environment is therefore quintessential to ensuring sustained care quality and ensuring patient safety. As a nurse leader, one should therefore be focused to creating work environments that inspire and motivate care providers to invest their best of efforts towards improving patient safety and experience, and health outcomes and also be in the habit of considering the complaints voiced by nurses.
References
Hughes, R.G. (2008). Nurses at the “sharp end” of patient care. In Patient safety and quality: An evidence-based handbook for nurses. Rockville: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Kieft, R.A., de Brouwer, B.B., Francke, A.L., & Delnoij, D.M. (2014). How nurses and their work environment affect patient experiences of the quality of care: a qualitative study. BMC Health Service Research, 14 (249). doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-249
