Week 6

The staff nurse holds many hats within the healthcare system. The nurse is responsible for providing quality care to patients and for being a vital part of the healthcare team. This implies that the nurse also has a responsibility to his or her co-worker in the collaboration of care. Nurses contribute to quality patient care by establishing trust, promoting education, and providing comfort and safety (Spath, 2018). The current facility that I work at has adopted a “culture of safety,” which mandates that employees put patient safety as the utmost priority. The organizational style that is most congruent with my current facility is the “Just Culture Leadership Style,’” which suggests errors happen with or without unfavorable consequences (Bashaw & Lounsbury, 2012).

As discussed in my practicum assignment, the operating room in my current facility has had a rising occurrence with sharp and needlestick injuries. Our senior leadership came together to solve this issue and decided to purchase special scalpels with safety protectors. In respecting our facility's culture of safety, leadership determined budgeting was not an issue with the conversion of our scalpels due to these injuries being a high safety risk. Our CEO and CNO practice an adaptive leadership style through close collaboration.

There are a variety of different ways a nurse can contribute to a high-performing health care organization. One of the most understated aspects in the dynamics of healthcare is direct, open intercommunication between professionals. This can range from the way nurses communicate with one another, leadership, physicians, and professionals in other departments. Collaborative care is crucial to quality patient experiences. When professionals do not employ clear and direct communication, errors can and do occur. Another way nurses can contribute to high-performing health care is by prioritizing his or her own self-care. Patients deserve healthy professionals who are taking the necessary steps outside of the workplace to nurture their craft. This means getting enough rest, utilizing healthy coping mechanisms, and living a balanced life. Despite high demands and nursing shortages, it is our responsibility to our patients to take care of ourselves first so that we can take care of patients to the best of our abilities.

Spath, P. (2018). Introduction to healthcare quality management (3rd ed.). Health Administration Press.

Bashaw, E. S., & Lounsbury, K. (2012). Forging a new culture: Blending Magnet principles with just culture. Nursing Management, 43(10), 49-53. http://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000419492.49675.25