nURSING ASSIGNMENT

Running head: TIME MANAGEMENT 1

TIME MANAGEMENT 7

Time management self-assessment

Time management is critical and helps one to keep their work under control and keep the stress to a minimum. (Acello & Hegner, 2015). For a nurse to be successful in the daily nursing work, successful time management is necessary. Good time management helps reduce burnout, which may range from mild fatigue to emotional turmoil.

I undertook a time management assessment test on the link provided for the assignment. I had a score of 21 points, which means that am like most people whose time management skills are good but will still need improvement. Some of my time management skills include taking advantage of my learning strategies and using them, taking a few minutes to organize myself if I have too many things to do, placing my contacts at the same location, and using sticky notes to remind me of the things I need to do. Other skills include seeking information from others, scheduling the tasks I do not like between those that I like, getting enough sleep and making regular reviews of my future goals and obligations.

I have learned several skills and things I need to do to improve time management. Time management will include using several strategies and tools to ensure that can achieve my nursing goals. The kind of care that nurses given to patients depends on the time management and orientation of nurses and therefore for a nurse, time management is more important than an individual’s time orientation. (Klainberg & Dirschel, 2010). As a nurse, I must be a high achiever to give the best patient care possible.

The skills I will use to improve my time management include considering appropriate delegation of work and working with teams, prioritizing my roles, being flexible in case of changing environments, being organized, keeping calm in situations of chaos and emergency, and balancing work with life. Other management skills will include avoiding procrastination, doing it right the first time, arriving early at work to plan the day activities, list activities to do, estimating the time needed for each activity, being conscious of time spent on different activities, and having time to undertake unscheduled activities and correct errors.

The leadership theory that suits my leadership style is the theory of normative power. A normative power is a diversion from the situational leadership because situational leadership showed signs of yielding unpredictable leader behavior. The manager chooses the decision procedure to apply, and the process ranges from autocratic to group-based and depends on the decision acceptance. In normative leadership, the leader has many alternatives to selecting the procedure, and the administration does not confine to a particular style.

One of the procedures is the autocratic decision procedure where the leader decides alone and does not share the problem with the subordinates. This method is applicable when the subordinates do not have useful information that the leader has or when the workers have useful information, which the leader asks but later makes the decision alone. (Jones and Barlett Publishers, 2011).

The second procedure that available to the normative leader is the consultative decision process. In this case, the leader shares the organization problem with the subordinates either individually or as a group and listen to their ideas and opinions. However, the manager later makes decisions alone. This procedure is not efficient because the leader may not incorporate the worker’s ideas in the decision-making.

The last option is a group-based procedure where the leader calls a group discussion and shares he organization problem with them. The leader may then decide alone or seek a consensus. This method is effective when the decision requires the input of all people, or the leader does not have the information needed to make the decision.

I prefer this theory of leadership because it suits my leadership style of transformational leadership. The transformational leader aims at empowering others to engage in pursuing a collective purpose by working towards a common goal. (Kelly & Tazbir, 2013). This style of leadership influences both the leader and the subordinates to high levels of conduct and achievement. This leadership style inspires and empowers every subordinate towards having a sense of commitment to achieving the organization goals. However, the manager must be in a position to make decisions in situations of emergency or chaos.

Comparison between leadership and management

Management aims at building and maintaining and organization structure. Managers focus more on the building the organization and establishing the organization. Leadership aims at setting up and maintaining the organizational culture. A leader sets how to do things in the organization practices and decision-making in the organization and leads others to keep and follow them.

Management focuses on having control of power and decision-making in the organization and maintaining this authority in the current times. Leadership focuses on developing and maintaining trust, teamwork and motivating the workers to achieve the desired future state.

Managers have very little or no level of emotional involvement in their daily responsibilities. The manager makes little or no contact with workers but only require the leaders to undertake their policies. Leaders connect with the subordinates and concern with the well-being of other employees, and events in their lives.

Manager’s responsibilities include designing and carrying out plans for the organization, implementation of the plans and working effectively with people. Leader’s responsibilities include establishing the mission of the organization and giving the direction the organization should follow to achieve the purpose.

In management, communication is usually top down where managers make decisions and pass the message downwards to workers to implement them. In leadership, communication is mutual, is two-way, and is from bottom to the top. Leaders engage with their employees and communicate with them incorporating the worker’s ideas in their decisions. (Kale, 2014).

In a work environment, I will apply the learned skills in improving my time management skills to help me be an effective nurse and give excellent care to patients. I will also develop my leadership skills to be an effective nurse manager.

References Acello, B., & Hegner, B. (2015). Nursing Assistant: A Nursing Process Approach. Cengage Learning. Jones and Barlett Publishers. (2011). Theories of Leadership and Management. 42. Kale, V. (2014). Inverting the Paradox of Excellence: How Companies Use Variations for Business Excellence and How Enterprise Variations Are Enabled by SAP. CRC Press. Kelly, P., & Tazbir, J. (2013). Essentials of Nursing Leadership & Management. Cengage Learning. Klainberg, M., & Dirschel, K. M. (2010). Today's Nursing Leader: Managing, Succeeding, Excelling. Jones & Bartlett Learning.