Critical Thinking Exercise - Assignment Example

Problems In 36-Step Down Unit List of problems which have emerged in the Step-Down Unit.1. Increased number of in-patients. There have been five new cases admitted and reported crises of decompensating by the patients in the Unit. Decompensating can be attributed to poor services in the unit. The management should be patient- centered and prioritize their needs.2. Food quality is another issue in Step-Down Unit. There have been recorded complaints from patient relatives about food served. The quality of the food should be improved to avoid outbreak of food poisoning cases. T3. Poor sanitation in the Unit.

The cleanliness of the rooms or wards in the Unit was not up to the standard. This was observed by the patients’ relatives who have visited the Unit.4. Poor coordination among the staff. The evening shift staff failed to report to work without prior preparation. However a decision was made to have one Reserve Nurse and two assistants from a different unit.5. Lack of proper training among the staff. The reserve nurse sought to cover the shift was inexperienced in the area. The problem was also complicated by the hatred that exists between her staff and floats.

Who owns each problem?Increased number of in-patients can be attributed to the failure of management and the Nurse in charge.Food quality and sanitation was also attributed to the failure of the Nurse in Charge, Nurse Nau.Poor coordination is due to the failure of staff and the Nurse in Charge.Lack of proper training is failure of the reserve nurse to ensure specialty in the areaWhat should be done in the situation?The nurse in charge, Nurse Nau, should stay and attend to the sick calls. This is because the reserve nurse has no experience in the specialty area.

Leadership and management styles;Nurse in Charge, Nurse Nau, should develop Proper coordination and communication in the UnitDelegation issuesThe delegation issue was assignment of the two aides from another unit to cover the shift. Legal liability issue operatingThey include; negligence, Nurse Nau failure to delegate duties, and proper coordination of staff in the unit.How Nurse Nau should handle the strong RN?The Nurse in charge, Nurse Nau, should however ensure that the shift is covered by the strongest Reserve Nurse regardless of her demands.

ReferencesPeerbolte, S. L., & Collins, M. (2013). Disaster management and the critical thinking skills of local emergency managers: correlations with age, gender, education, and years in occupation. Disasters, 37(1), 48-60. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7717.2012.01291.x