Subtitle Shawna, a new staff member, has been working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a

Question

Subtitle Shawna, a new staff member, has been working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on an infectious disease floor since obtaining her RN license 4 months ago. Most of the staff members with whom she works with have been there since the unit opened 5 years ago. On a typical day, the staffing consists of a nurse manager, two RNs, an LPN, and one technician for approximately 40 patients. Most patients are HIv positive with multisystem failure. Many are severely debilitated and need help with their activities of daily living. Although the staff members encourage family members and loved ones to help, most of them are unavailable because they work during the day. Several days a week, the nursing students from Shawna's community college program are assigned to the floor. Tina, the nurse manager, does not participate in any direct patient care, saying that she is "too busy at the desk." Laverne, the other RN, says the unit depresses her and that she has requested a transfer to pediatrics. Lynn, the LPN, wants to "give meds" because she is "sick of the patients' constant whining," and Sheila, the technician, is "just plain exhausted." Lately, Shawna has noticed that the other staff members seem to avoid the nursing students and reply to their questions with annoyed, short answers. Shawna is feeling alone and overwhelmed and goes home at night worrying about the patients, who need more care and attention. She is afraid to ask Tina for more help because she does not want to be considered incompetent or a complainer. When she confided in Lynn about her concerns, Lynn replied, "Get real-no one here cares about the patients or us, All they care about is the bottom linel Why did a smart girl like you choose nursing in the first place 1. What is happening on this unit in leadership terms? 2. Identify the major problems and the factors that contributed to these problems. 3. What factors might have contributed to the behaviors exhibited by Tina, Lynn, and Sheila? 4. How would you feel if you were Shawna? 5. Is there anything Shawna can do for herself, for the patients, and for the staff members? s what do vou think Tina. the nurse manager, should do?

Explanation / Answer

1) No one is ready to lead any situation in the unit because everyone is fed up with some or other factors that make them hate their jobs and not taking care of the patients and since the leadership is lacking, that would result in poor patient care.

2) Major problem is that they are not satisfied with their profession as no one is doing their job properly. Everyone who are engaged in the patient related task, they want to shift to some other work. Factors can be the how people treat the nurses is not good, doctors also treat nurses as if they are slave and they no nothing.

3) Factors contributed to the behavior of Tina, Lynn and Sheila are the lack of patience and adaptability. They don't want to be appreciated for how they treat the patient. Some likes desk job and other like giving meds but not helping the patients by taking care of them.

4)

If I were Shawna I would feel. Very bad for the patients because they are HIV patients who are already fighting for their life and the care they are getting is not from the heart, it is forceful. So, the management of the nurse and how they are treated should be changed, so that their attitude can be changed.

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