Managerial Skills of a Nurse in Running Health Facility

The effort of nurses in keeping up the health facility isn't given all considerations. Nurses play vital role as managers in management of any health facility. In the health facility nurses are the best managers. Specialties Management Article

  1. Nurses possess high managerial skills than other professionals in managing health facility

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      Strongly agree
    • 2
      Agree
    • 0
      Strongly Disagree
    • 2
      Disagree
    • 2
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Managerial Skills of a Nurse in Running Health Facility

Management skills are as important as leadership skills in addressing some of the failings identified in the Francis report. A management framework is required to provide a consistent approach to management development for all staff in healthcare, irrespective of discipline, role, function or seniority ( Joanna Kerridge). Nurses are the heart of any health care facility. They keep up the facility through divine and uniqueness of nursing skills, practices, and techniques. The profound knowledge acquired in training promotes systematic development of the health facility.

The number of nurses in any health facility overrun other professionals, this is because nurses run a 24-hours job, staying by the patient's bedside providing nursing care. Nurses have more frequent contacts with patients for curative, preventive, promotive and rehabilitative nursing care. It's highly essential for nurses to have a ground knowledge of managing both human and materials resources in any health facility. A ward is often is headed by a nurse (nurse manager), who oversees everything happening in the ward ranging from staffing such as nurses, doctors, ward maids, specialist therapists, dietitians, etc, equipment, bedding and accessories, instrument, electronic e.g. computer, files for reporting etc. The head nurse communicates with every professionals related to the ward, in turn uses resourceful managerial skills as leader of the ward.

Highlighted below are the four managerial skills of a nurse

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

A nurse should be versatile and endowed with quality leadership skill. This will create mutual understanding and enhance productivity. Leadership by example will increase access among the professionals working as a team. Everybody shall play scheduled duties in discharging their responsibilities. As the leader of the ward, the nurse shall provide instruments or equipment needed in the ward by communicating with the hospital authority, thus will promote unity among the staff of the ward. Then its effect will translate to the hospital at large. The leadership skill include the following four main principles:

  1. Organising - The ward leader organised the ward compartments with hierarchical step. Every member shall be adequately inform of their duties and be discharged professionally and diligently. This organization shall enhance the smooth - running of the ward. Beside, essential materials needed shall be provided by the ward leader through appropriate quarter.
  2. Scheduling - Every member of the ward shall be assigned a definite responsibility to be carried out. There shall be no conflict in discharging duties. Duty roaster is provided by taking into consideration the interest of everybody without preference nor favour to anyone. Equality plays a significant role.
  3. Planning - This is the centre of any successful management of a health facility. The ward leader is to plan adequately for the day-to-day activities weekly, monthly, and yearly for the smooth running of the ward. Such as in-house training, medications, Doctor ward round, Nurse ward round, visiting hour, etc. Without planning there is likelihood of failure which will translate into poor health care.
  4. Prioritising - As part of the quality skills of a nurse leader, is to prioritised every actions lined up to deliver adequate care. Most important and critical matters are attended to before any other one. This skills prevent conflict of interest thereby right member of the team is found at the right place at the right time.

TIMING SKILLS

For any good manager, time is money, in fact time is more valuable than money because adequate timing produce wealth. The nurse manager shouldn't Condon perplexity in time management in every procedures and cares in the ward must be time - bound and discharged professionally. Resumption time should sacrosanct thus shouldn't entertain lateness. Just a second lateness can jeopardize the life of a patient. The best practice is for the staff to be in the ward 10minutes ahead of official resumption (handing & taking over) as this will reduce any unforeseen error due to the stress of movement from home to work place. The nurse manager should also be vigilant of the visiting time of the doctor. Some doctors are fond of coming whenever interested even during emergency. The attitude of boss has clouded their judgements, the nurse manager shouldn't accept such act as it violates ethical principle of the profession and health facility policy. When work is diligently administered at appropriate time, the end result is enchanting.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Communication is the art of processing information and transfer to end user (receiver). Communication is one of the most powerful tool in management style and an essential skill of a good manager. The nurse manager should at all time disseminate accurate information to every concerned staff member. It bridges the gap in the statutory hierarchy. Poor communication styles promote frequent disagreements.

FLEXIBILITY SKILLS

A ward manager shouldn't too kin or rigid in every official affairs as this can lead to anarchy. Every member's affairs and concerns should play in every activities to be carried out. The moment the subordinate are subjected to rigid policy without flexibility, the outcome becomes kin without espri de corp.

OMOLOLA ADAMS OLATAYO

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omoladams

About omoladams, BSN, RN

A Public Health Strategist and Expert. Social Health advocate. Decades of experience in clinical nursing and academic nursing.

3 Articles   8 Posts

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Actually I am not undecided. I think some nurses have good management skills and some don't.

And some nurses have some good management skills but fall short in another aspect of management.

Good article.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
Actually I am not undecided. I think some nurses have good management skills and some don't.

And some nurses have some good management skills but fall short in another aspect of management.

Good article.

I like what Kooky Korky writes. That is why I chose Agree as in I do not think that nurses necessarily have the skill set or others necessarily have the skill set. I think it depends on the manger and it depends on the role. For example, I have had a few nurse managers that are awful at communication and financial. TWO very important skill sets. Fortunately, my new manager is great at both and more!

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

what is listed in the article as Leadership skills are actually more management oriented.

Though often used interchangeably, leadership and management are two entirely different skill sets.

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Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

You are correct. Thanks for the observation.

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