Gaye W. Poteet

Identifying the components of a nursing service philosophy.

A framework for writing a nursing service philosophy provides the nurse manager with a quick and easy reference to identify essential organizers for the philosophy. The framework described here pinpoints three areas of importance, nursing/nursing practice, the patient/client, and the nurse, and describes specific subject matter to be addressed with each area. By organizing the subject matter into three practical areas of concern, the nurse manager can explore each area and develop a realistic and operational philosophy for the Nursing Service Department.

Stress, mental health & job satisfaction among nurse managers.

This study investigated sources of stress and their effects on mental health and job satisfaction among nurse managers in the United States. One hundred and forty-four nurse managers completed questionnaires containing information concerning three kinds of variables: the degree of stress experienced at work, the personality of the individual, and characteristics of life situations away from work. It was found that in general the nurse managers were satisfied with their jobs, although they reported high stress on the job. They reported better mental health than normative groups. Using multivariate analysis, it was found that all three types of variables were necessary for prediction of mental health and job satisfaction. This finding supports the person-environment fit theory of occupational stress.

The employment interview. Avoiding discriminatory questioning.

The potential for legal action against health care institutions for unlawful preemployment interviews has never been greater. This article shows how to avoid discriminatory questions when interviewing job applicants in the health care setting. The author presents guidelines for helping nursing administrators obtain necessary information without violating the basic rights of the potential employee.

Financial responsibility and budget decision making.

The nursing budget constitutes one of the largest department budgets in most hospitals and in many cases involves managing millions of dollars. The degree to which the nurse executive has freedom to control financial resources has a major impact on the hospitals ability to compete in a rapidly changing marketplace characterized by a severe nursing shortage. Findings indicate a continuing problem with authority in matters germane to resource allocation.

Delegation strategies. A must for the nurse executive.

Effective delegation skills are an absolute necessity for todays nurse executives. Your success as a manager depends on your ability to use the skills and energy of subordinates to get work accomplished. The author of this article shows why nursing administrators often have trouble delegating tasks to others. She suggests ways to overcome this hesitation and includes a brief questionnaire that tests the managers attitude toward delegation. The self-assessment questionnaire can pinpoint problem areas and help nurse executives improve their delegation skills.

Artificial insemination by donor: problems and issues.

The practice of artificial insemination is surrounded by complex practice and legal concerns. This article addresses the issues and problems associated with donor selection, screening and record keeping along with discussing the implications of the familys decision to withhold or disclose information about parentage via artificial insemination.