Read Kovner Short Case 20 (attached) .
Answer the following questions:
1) What are the most important things that Betsy Cline can do to “take care of her nurses” who work in the PCICU?
2) What are the priorities for Jill Paxton?
3) How can nurses in the PCICU judge whether the unit is doing an adequate job of supporting families?
4) What advice would you give to the hospital administrator to “take better care of your nurses”?
Your answers should be in the form of a two to three page typewritten paper – double spaced; reasonable font.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The following paper provides answers to the questions based on the short case of Kovner. The case is about the Personal Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) where Betsy Cline works as a nurse manager, and Jill Paxton is the charge nurse. The case highlights the challenges faced by nurses working in the PCICU in supporting families and improving patients’ outcomes. The paper provides insights into the most critical things that Betsy Cline can do to take care of her nurses, the priorities for Jill Paxton, and how nurses can judge whether the unit is doing an adequate job of supporting families.
1) What are the most important things that Betsy Cline can do to “take care of her nurses” who work in the PCICU?
Betsy Cline can take several steps to take care of her nurses working in the PCICU. The first and foremost thing is to understand the challenges and concerns faced by the nurses while working in the unit. Betsy should interact with the nurses regularly to identify their concerns and address them proactively. It is essential to provide a safe and healthy work environment for the nurses. Betsy can ensure this by implementing measures to reduce nurse fatigue, proper staffing, providing necessary resources, and training to the nurses.
Another important thing that Betsy can do to take care of her nurses is to recognize their efforts and achievements. She can design a reward system that recognizes the hard work of nurses and motivates them to perform better. Betsy should also encourage a culture of open communication, where nurses can share their thoughts and concerns with the management freely. Finally, Betsy can provide opportunities for professional development and growth to her nurses, such as training programs, conferences, and workshops.
2) What are the priorities for Jill Paxton?
As a charge nurse, Jill Paxton has several priorities related to patient care and family support. Her primary responsibility is to ensure that patient care is provided efficiently and effectively. Jill should ensure that patients receive optimal care by monitoring patient’s progress, ensuring medication administration, and adherence to physician’s orders.
Another essential priority for Jill is to provide support to family members of the patients. Jill should keep family members updated about the patients’ condition and ensure that they are comfortable during the entire stay in the PCICU. She should also provide emotional support to the families, as the experience of having a loved one admitted to an ICU can be overwhelming for many.
Additionally, Jill should act as a bridge between the nursing staff and the nurse manager. She can identify the challenges faced by the nursing staff and communicate them with the nurse manager so that appropriate action can be taken to address them.
3) How can nurses in the PCICU judge whether the unit is doing an adequate job of supporting families?
Nurses in the PCICU can judge whether the unit is doing an adequate job of supporting families by observing the level of engagement and satisfaction of family members during their stay in the unit. The following are some steps that nurses can take to judge whether the unit is doing an adequate job of supporting families:
– Nurses can assess whether the family members are comfortable, safe, and treated with respect. They can also identify potential stressors for the families and take preventive measures to address them.
– Nurses can ensure that family members are updated regularly on the patient’s condition, treatment progress, and care plan. They should also encourage family participation in decision making related to patients’ care.
– Nurses can evaluate whether there are effective communication systems in place that support family members’ engagement and participation in their care.
– Nurses can also monitor the patient’s satisfaction and outcome, as family support can have a positive impact on patient recovery.
4) What advice would you give to the hospital administrator to “take better care of your nurses”?
The following are some pieces of advice that can be provided to the hospital administrator to “take better care of your nurses”:
– Ensure adequate staffing levels to prevent burnout and fatigue among nurses.
– Provide opportunities for professional development and growth, such as training, continuing education, and support for specialty certification.
– Implement a reward system that recognizes the hard work and achievements of nurses.
– Provide supportive resources, such as peer support, employee assistance programs, and a workplace culture that supports open communication and teamwork.
– Involve nurses in decision-making related to patient care and strategic planning.
– Provide necessary resources and technology to improve the quality of patient care and support nursing practice.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the paper provides insights into the most critical things that Betsy Cline can do to take care of her nurses, the priorities for Jill Paxton, and how nurses can judge whether the unit is doing an adequate job of supporting families. The paper also provides some pieces of advice that can be provided to the hospital administrator to take better care of nurses. By implementing these measures, organizations can create a healthy work environment for nurses that can improve patient outcomes, increase staff satisfaction, and decrease staff turnover.
