Issues in Nursing and Healthcare | Report

Running Head: ISSUES IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE 1
ISSUES IN NURSING AND HEALTH
CARE
Student Name:
Student Number:

ISSUES IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE 2
Article 1:
In the paper by Pamela Treister, the author focuses on the retention of knowledge on
medication administration. This article focused on aspects of nursing leadership on
undergraduate baccalaureate students of nursing at a suburban private university in New
York. Though this paper undertakes a significant contribution of leadership in medication
administration and knowledge retention, it ignores the other dimensions that measure the
effectiveness of knowledge while administering medication to patients. These students were
in their senior semester in nursing school while this project was undertaken. There were
certain alterations in the curriculum that was implemented to assist these students. Apart from
mediation using leadership, a quality improvement project was initiated. This project found
that altering two specific learning strategies during the spring semester of junior year
enhanced retention of knowledge during the fall semester of the senior year. The primary
advantage discussed in this article is the use of technology and its challenges. Several
changes took place during the nursing program with the assistance of nursing leadership.
A. 1. Analyzing this article in terms of reaction paper style, it can be said that nursing
leadership had been used. Though the nursing leadership style had been adopted, it is not an
effective style while transiting an organization towards a change. While the article carefully
recognizes the integral factor in adapting a change, such as a change in curriculum and use of
technology, yet the core focus of this paper which is the role of leadership has not been
adequately explored. A transformational leadership style could have brought about greater
amounts of change in the perspective of medication administration and quality improvisation.
2. The type of medication administration during the senior semester in nursing school has
been undertaken in this study. This type of medication administration is basic though quite
important and relevant for learning in later years in nursing practice. In case knowledge
retention can be enhanced by way of nursing leadership then it can overall improvise
medication administration and overall safety in using medication.
3. The length of stay in the present assignment is ??
B. 1. In the present area of the assignment, some of the most common types of medication
errors are providing patients with the wrong medication altogether. This type of errors mainly
arises due to similar names of medications. Prescribing the wrong dosage of medication is
another error where a nurse might give too little or too much medication. This might result in

ISSUES IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE 3
the patient not receiving treatment from a certain condition or lead to overdose. Ignoring
patient medical histories leading to an allergic reaction in a patient in another type of
medication error. Providing medication that cannot be taken together where a nurse might
provide medication at the wrong time. Improper preparation is where mediation needs to be
prepared in a specific wat and patients are harmed when pharmacists make mistakes in
preparing medications.
2. Organizations implement several policies in terms of medication errors and to avoid
them. These policies are documenting the administration of medication and notification to the
supervisor. Medication errors can be reduced or avoided in case organization-specific policies
are adopted by a recording of all medications that have been administered to all patients. The
mechanics of implementing the policy is to record all medication administered and then
notify the supervisor of the same. The supervisor checks for errors and then takes the
necessary course of action in case of any errors identified.
Article 2:
The article by Chenjuan, Jingjing, and Marjorie identifies the impacts of unit collaboration
and nursing leadership upon nurse quality of care and outcomes. Healthcare in recent times
has undergone a significant transformation, where the contribution from nursing leaders and
care providers remains underscored. This paper focuses on the importance of collaboration
amongst nursing leaders and the workforce but grossly overlooks the style of leadership
applied. This reflects limitations in the quality of care and outcomes. This research collected
data from 9742 nurses across 1228 units from 200 acute care hospitals from across 41 states.
Then the multilevel linear regression method was applied for data analysis. The collaboration
between nurse-nurse and nurse-physician and nursing leadership was measured. The details
regarding such collaborations are not indicated in this study and overlook other factors
present in the delivery of patient care. The study's outcomes were related to job satisfaction,
nurse-reported quality of care and intent to leave. The results from the study indicated that in
cases where nursing leadership was strong, there was lower intention amongst nurses to
leave, with higher job satisfaction with a better quality of care in units. Hence this study
reflected that a caring environment with strong collaboration amongst nursing leaders and the
workforce can finally lead to a high quality of care.

ISSUES IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE 4
A. 1. This article identifies the barriers to effective collaboration between nursing leaders
and the workforce to be many. The barrier identified is a lack of coordination. While
nursing leaders are expected to work with the workforce, yet their job roles are not quite
coordinated. Moreover, this paper fails to identify workload as a major barrier in effective
collaboration and also shifts. While nursing leaders might be present only in some shifts, it
might emerge to be impossible to coordinate with all the varied workforce all the time.
2. The leadership behavior of nurses depicted here is that of the nursing leadership style.
While it is a well-acknowledged style in the current healthcare system, organizations need
to adopt a transformational style of leadership. Transformational leadership behavior in
nurses is effective in this domain of rapidly transformational healthcare organizations.
3. The results of this study depicted that the collaboration of nursing leaders with the
nursing workforce had varied positive outcomes. These outcomes were related to lower
intention of leaving, the better quality of care in the unit and higher job satisfaction.
However, this study did not take into consideration the other factors that might have also
been a factor during this study that could have led to increased job satisfaction with the
lower intention of leaving.
B. 1. In my current area of responsibility, the barriers that might lead to poor
collaboration amongst nurses are lack of training in interprofessional collaboration,
ambiguity in role and leadership, lack of clearly stated, measurable and shared
purpose, health care team being too large or too small. These are some of the visible
barriers that lead to poor collaboration amongst nurses in the organization.
2. A recommendation to improve or reduce barriers in nursing collaboration is to provide
interprofessional training. Focused interprofessional training and routine communication
can assist in the reduction of barriers in nursing collaboration. More definitive roles for
nursing collaboration can bring about effectiveness amongst nursing leaders and the
workforce.

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Article 3:
The article Castillo and James discuss ways in which ward managers can become effective
leaders. Performance is the most integral aspect of clinical leaders and has a direct
association with hospital service. Ward managers comprise the largest management group in
the NHS and contribute sustainable performance. A program was developed for these staff
such that they can emerge as effective leaders. The scope of this article believes that large-
scale development cannot be attained through top-down programs but it needs to arise from
the front line. When staff is developed simultaneously in different disciplines then they can
coordinate with one another in a better manner. Overall the program aimed at the need to
equip frontline leaders such that they can perform in a better manner in the future.
A. 1. Values, attitudes, and behavior of the head nurse were seen to be stringent and not
prepared to take up any changes. Head nurses identified leadership roles with the
management. They were not prepared to take up leadership roles or any additional
responsibilities that might increase the burden of their overall work roles. While this paper
views values, attitudes, and behaviors of ward managers are important for making an overall
contribution to the performance and outcomes.
2. Length of experience as a head nurse????
3. Area of assignment ???
B. Based on experience and observation, some characteristics of good and efficient head
nurse noted is the ability to take up leadership roles. Ability to assume additional roles
and responsibilities in the ward that can effectively contribute to performance. Effective
performance of head nurse is crucial and integral for the ability of performance in any
particular ward. Hence the characteristics identified can enhance the overall efficacy
and effectiveness of the organization.

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Reference
Castillo, C., & James, S. (2013). How to turn ward managers into leaders. Nursing
times, 109(9), 18-19.
Ma, C., Shang, J., & Bott, M. J. (2015). Linking unit collaboration and nursing leadership to
nurse outcomes and quality of care. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 45(9),
435-442. DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000229
Treister, P. (2017). Leadership, Medication Administration, and Knowledge Retention: A
Quality Improvement Project. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 26(1),
89-99.