Assignment

Nursing and Healthcare

The healthcare sector is significant to any country as it affects the lives of all people (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010). One of the elements that ensure that the healthcare industry fulfills the expectations of the patients is nursing. The author will highlight the position of nursing in healthcare and the functions performed by a nurse manager. This interview was conducted over the phone because the interviewee was out of town on vacation. It will also evaluate the role that nurse managers play in accountability as well as cost containment.

The Role of Nursing in the Healthcare Delivery System

The healthcare system is incomplete without nursing as nursing enhances the prevention and management of ailments. For instance, the nursing practitioners are directly involved in giving patients the necessary instructions about the management of their diseases and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. According to Bateman (2012), nursing is also essential in carrying out health care research to advance the delivery of quality medical services. Medical research is a critical aspect of healthcare and nursing contributes to the body of the investigation. The nursing research enhances patient outcomes through scientific, clinical practice.

The nurse manager also mentioned that nursing promotes patient safety in the delivery of medical care. Since the nursing workforce spends more time with the patients than other medical staff, they are in a position to identify inefficiencies such as medication errors, or secondary infections. As such, the field of nursing develops recommendations to eliminate the medical inefficiencies and ensure patient safety.

Other physicians may treat some patients in a way that results in the worsening of their diseases. Moreover, a few medical practitioners are known to abuse the patients under their care verbally or sexually. As a result, nursing takes part in patient advocacy to protect the patient’s rights although it may lead to other issues.

The Responsibilities of a Nurse Manager

The first responsibility of a nurse manager is to supervise the nurses in a healthcare facility. Nurses work according to strict schedules, so the nurse manager allocates the assignments according to their experience, qualifications, the number of patients, and personal strengths. Therefore, the unit will run smoothly and align to the hospital’s expectations. The interview also revealed that nurse managers deal with issues affecting the patients. The patients concern reported to the nurse manager include treatment plans, abuse by the nurses among other matters. The nurse managers listen to the patients and their families then takes the necessary measures to rectify the situation. Thus, the patients will feel that their concerns are taken seriously by the hospital Bateman (2012).

Nurses need coaching, so the nurse manager is there to mentor new nurses as well as the veterans. As a nurse supervisor, the nurse manager oversees the work of all the nurses. For that reason, the nurse manager will identify mistakes made by the nurses or jobs well done. It is the duty of the nurse manager to praise the nurses or even offer basic advice. Furthermore, the nurse manager solves difficult patient cases. Finally, the nurse managers lead the nursing team as well as manage conflicts. He or she highlights the guidelines the nurses should follow in delivering healthcare. Whenever conflicts arise between the patients and the nurses or among the medical staff, the nurse manager adopts techniques to eliminate such conflicts (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010).

The Accountability Associated a Nurse Manager’s Role

If a nurse manager is to perform his or her work effectively, he or she must be accountable for everything that occurs in the department. Firstly, the nurse manager is accountable for the performance of the nurses in the healthcare facility. Since the nurse managers act as the leaders and supervisors, they are solely responsible for the performance of the nurses. Besides, the nurse manager approves the finances allocated to the unit. Consequently, the position of the nurse manager involves being accountable for the funds. The nurse manager must ensure that costs allocations are done depending on the requirements of the department in such a way that it will improve delivery of care. Accountability also involves adhering to the ethical standards regulating the nursing profession (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010). The position of the nurse manager is to follow the moral standards and also ensure that even the nurses manage ethical issues when interacting with the patients.

The Nurse Manager's Thoughts on Cost Containment

According to the nurse manager, cost control is necessary as the patients expect affordable medical services. Accordingly, nurse managers and other individuals involved in the management of a hospital must take the necessary steps to reduce medical costs. For example, a nurse manager participates in hospital budgeting and evaluating financial variances. Additionally, it is of the essence for hospitals to embrace advanced technology since it lowers the costs of offering health care (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010). The healthcare industry has created technology that not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces costs significantly. There are also other nurse-led innovations that cut down costs. For instance, the nurse -managed clinic as well as the home visits to try and minimize the costs that patients incur.

The interview shows that nursing prevents ailments, contributes to medical research, patient advocacy, and patient safety. The nurse manager supervises and coach nurses, provides leadership and conflict management and maintains patient’s relations. In performing their duties, nurse managers are accountable for the finances and ethical standards in the unit and the performance of the nurses. Cost containment is also vital, and hospitals can embrace advanced technology, and other nurse-led innovations to minimize costs.

References

Bateman, N. (2012). The business of nurse management: A toolkit for success. New York: Springer.

Brunner, L. S., & Smeltzer, S. C. O. C. (2010). Brunner & Suddarth's textbook of medical-surgical nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.