Roll Call 4580 Leadership, Starting 3/25/13

Nursing Students Ohio University

Published

Next on the list is Leadership in Nursing, who's in?

For those struggling with the FTE assignment, here is an article that may help explain FTE's, productive FTEs, nonproductive FTEs, and how to determine staffing needs MUCH better than our book does. The chapter starts on pg 215.

Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management - Patricia Kelly - Google Books

Thanks for that link.

FYI: Also, some TA's are TELLING students to confer with other students. I don't even think the TA's know how to discern this stuff because when they are asked they tell us to ask other students. People are giving guidance on Facebook on the official Ohio University RN to BSN group site. So, I don't think it is considered academic dishonesty. They are asking us to write this as a paper. Not answer it as a quiz.

I am just happy this is my last class with OU.

Thanks for that link.

FYI: Also, some TA's are TELLING students to confer with other students. I don't even think the TA's know how to discern this stuff because when they are asked they tell us to ask other students. People are giving guidance on Facebook on the official Ohio University RN to BSN group site. So, I don't think it is considered academic dishonesty. They are asking us to write this as a paper. Not answer it as a quiz.

I am just happy this is my last class with OU.

I wasn't trying to be a snot mentioning academic dishonesty. Look up what qualifies on the OU website and collaboration on an individual project stands out. I was hoping to save people who have worked very hard thus far from getting in trouble. Again, I don't really care what is posted since I'm done with this class but I watched the last Leadership thread crumble quickly and totally disappear for this exact reason. Whether people choose to put answers on Facebook with their REAL name is up to them. TAs telling students to ask other students for help on a graded project is just strange.

You only have a little over a week to go then you are outta here! Hang in there.

Yes...I observed the other thread in 'real time' crumble and be completely deleted. I think that allnurses.com were protecting their website.

I do not post on Facebook OU group. I think it is a risky endeavor for people to do so on many levels. Social networks can come back to haunt people in more ways than one.

I'm confused because I can't find in the book how to calculate the paid hours per FTE for the variable equation. To the left of the box it has the description for calculating the staffing pattern and the first step is "Determine the number of paid hours per FTE". Am I completely missing the part where it explains how to do that?

ETA: After googling I think that number in the equation box might be a constant... So I guess I'll just use that number.

I've found how to find the FTEs using the equation, but I am still unable to figure out staffing patterns using the provided FTEs. The equations in the book show you how much staff you need based on care hours or average daily census but this is not mean you will be able to afford it with the provided FTEs. Could someone please explain how the provided FTEs work into the equation?

Specializes in Psych/med surg.

I say just do it the best you can. If the TAs' don't know how to do it then I doubt they will ding us for not being able to figure it out. We are almost done with this class so hang in there. I received an evaluation for this class today in my email. I am going to mention this annoying assignment.

I say just do it the best you can. If the TAs' don't know how to do it then I doubt they will ding us for not being able to figure it out. We are almost done with this class so hang in there. I received an evaluation for this class today in my email. I am going to mention this annoying assignment.

But there should be only one correct answer for each calculation. Even if the TAs don't know how to do it, they have the answers. I am afraid we will still be dinged for the wrong answer(s). It's very sad. I just feel that it's very unfair for us to do this kind of assignment without being given adequate instruction. If this was an in-classroom program, we would have been received more information.

Specializes in Operating Room.
But there should be only one correct answer for each calculation. Even if the TAs don't know how to do it, they have the answers. I am afraid we will still be dinged for the wrong answer(s). It's very sad. I just feel that it's very unfair for us to do this kind of assignment without being given adequate instruction. If this was an in-classroom program, we would have been received more information.

With regard to making us do an assignment like this online is a disservice to the student. There was not even any information within blackboard on how to complete the assignment. I discussed this assignment with three nurses who have their Masters' Degree, and none of them had to do anything like this let alone know what an FTE is.

I agree with you. I spent so much time trying to understand the meanings of the concept and what the questions are really asking for. After a few days of struggling, I think now I get it. I assume I did the assignment right. I hope I won't flunk this time. God bless us all!

Specializes in Psych/med surg.

I think I figured out the FTE numbers, I am just wondering how to do the schedule.

I think I've found a formula to help convert FTEs into person shifts. Page 16 shows how to calculate total direct FTE hours into shifts per day. I don't think it accounts for nonproductive time. It has a lot of useful information beyond the FTE calculations.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDkQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oahhs.org%2Fquality%2Fnurse-staffing-file-library%2Fmaking-the-numbers-work.pdf&ei=P2hxUYTvHJLs9AT044DABg&usg=AFQjCNH0IpI-VoaHJOmt-8POWeEYwNcHcQ&bvm=bv.45373924,d.eWU

Specializes in ICU-CVICU, MICU, CCU, ER.

I don't understand how we are supposed to calculate how many staff members per day if we don't know the nurse/pt ratio. I mean this isn't one to one care we are talking about. I am totally confused

I just did the best I could...like another student says. My TA has been extremely fair in this class. Thank heavens. She seems to understand we are up against something bordering on ridiculous for this class. I could feel her professional frustration over the rubric fiasco in week 2 and 3. Her grading has been very fair.

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