By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN In talking with nurse managers today, they all want to spend more time with their staff and on their units. But finding that time can be challenging. In focus groups we recently conducted for my AONL plenary, we learned that attending meetings ranked first in how nurse manager spend their time. Interestingly, of all of the items on … [Read more...]
Nurse Manager Span of Control and Role Scope
By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN A troubling trend is emerging from my discussions with nurse managers. Not only have the managers' spans of control continued to grow, but so has their role scope. With shortages across all disciplines and departments, nursing is the default for tasks needing reassignment, and the responsibility for the task is shifted to the … [Read more...]
Planning a Graceful Exit
By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN To economize, many health systems are eliminating nursing leadership roles, impacting numerous loyal, hard-working nurse leaders. How do you leave a difficult job situation without conveying anger? I recently talked with a leader who found herself in this situation. She understood that the decision was not personal but could not … [Read more...]
Relational Leadership in a Transactional World
By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC There is significant research evidence that a relationship leadership style (authentic, servant, and human-centered leadership) is linked to more effective recruitment and retention and quality patient outcomes. However, nurse leaders increasingly tell me staying relational is more complicated in a transactional healthcare environment. … [Read more...]
Who Owns the Patient Experience?
By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Nurse managers increasingly report dissatisfaction with how accountability for the patient experience is viewed in their health systems. Consider the following story an Emergency Department Manager recently reported in a manager focus group: “ We have had a triage tent in front of my ED for almost two years – that’s how busy we … [Read more...]