Policy = Magic Wand Management?

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

I have to relate this story even though it took place many years ago in a place far, far away.

I was at a Workplace Health and Safety meeting and the item on the agenda was the number of people coming to the hospital in bare feet. This was and is a valid concern in many of our more tropical hospitals where patients and relatives often turn up with no shoes on just bare feet. The concern of course is if they step on any broken ampoules or dropped needles (not that there were many but there is always the chance)

One of the nurse managers piped up with "I will draft a policy for the policy manual stating that people should wear shoes when they come to the hospital."

I confess I have a BIG mouth. While everyone around the table is nodding agreement I am sitting there saying "Hang on... Wouldn't a sign on the door be better?"

The policy got written the sign never appeared.

Has anyone else met this "magic wand" approach to management where there is an inherent belief that writing a policy or running one inservice fixes the problem????

[nurse51rn]

Hmmmm. I wonder, is it more of putting something in writing to show that we are aware of the problem...this is what we are doing to correct it? Then it can be someone else's fault - not administration's - if something happens.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Maybe a better question would be, has anyone ever met management that does NOT use the "magic wand" approach?

[Spaniel gal]

I would like to apply for a magic wand !!

wouldnt life be good!