PM FPX 4010 Assessment 2 Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification

Student Name

Capella University

PM-FPX4010 Process Groups and Knowledge Areas in Project Management

Prof. Name:

Date

Interview Summary

Shelley, a nursing supervisor at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Huntington, kindly agreed to participate in this interview. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Huntington is an acute care rehabilitation facility specializing in neurological, orthopedic, stroke, and spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Shelley, a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, has been employed at Encompass for five years, serving as a nursing supervisor for the past three years. In her role, Shelley directs staff, supports challenging situations, and implements urgent rules and procedures. She also monitors patients, collaborates with physicians, educates the nursing staff, and provides floor support.

During the interview, Shelley highlighted several issues at Encompass Health. The increased nursing turnover rate and staff absences have led to higher nurse-to-patient ratios, adversely affecting patient care. Shelley noted that a few years ago, the nurse-to-patient ratio was seven patients per nurse. However, management has since increased this ratio to reduce expenses. According to Shelley, this rise in the nurse-to-patient ratio has made it difficult to retain nursing staff, thus increasing turnover rates. She has communicated to the chief nursing officer that reducing the nurse-to-patient ratio would help lower the turnover rate.

Issue Identification

Shelley identified persistent issues regarding nurse-to-patient ratios and insufficient support from ancillary workers and management. At Encompass, nurses generally manage a patient load of eight to nine, sometimes ten. About nine months ago, management adjusted the nurse-to-patient ratio to a maximum of eight patients per nurse, which initially improved morale and retained several nurses. However, this improvement was short-lived as management gradually increased the ratio to nine patients due to rising absences and staff departures.

The high staff turnover rate places additional strain on remaining employees and diminishes patient care quality. Furthermore, the lack of staff cooperation and communication has led to increased patient complaints and errors in treatment (Asirifi et al., 2022). Research indicates that higher staffing levels are associated with lower rates of mortality, prescription errors, ulcers, restraint use, infections, and pneumonia (Driscoll et al., 2018).

To address the high turnover rate and its impact on patient care, an interdisciplinary team could develop a strategy. This team could also devise plans to improve teamwork and communication among staff. By employing an interdisciplinary approach, the team could create comprehensive plans that address the root causes of the issues and are tailored to the specific needs of the medical-surgical unit.

Change Theories That Could Lead to an Interdisciplinary Solution

The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and nearly two-thirds of change initiatives fail due to factors such as poor planning, lack of motivation, ineffective communication, or extensive changes. This is a significant challenge in healthcare. All healthcare professionals, from the boardroom to the bedside, are involved in facilitating successful change. Utilizing best practices from change theories can increase the likelihood of successful outcomes and improvements in practice (Barrow et al., 2022).

The high staff turnover rate affects the quality of patient care, placing pressure on staff to deliver high-quality care despite a shortage of nurses. To address this issue, an interdisciplinary team could collaborate to develop a plan. The team could also create strategies to enhance staff collaboration and communication. By using an interdisciplinary approach, the team could devise comprehensive strategies that address the underlying issues and cater to the specific needs of the facility.

Although each change theory has its distinct features, their similarities can provide best practices for effective change management. For addressing nursing turnover, Lippitt’s change theory may be particularly suitable. Building on Lewin’s original theory, Lippitt’s Phases of Change Theory involves increasing awareness of the need for change, establishing a relationship between the system and the change agent, defining the problem, setting goals and action plans, implementing the change, gaining staff acceptance, stabilizing, and redefining the change agent’s relationship with the system (Barrow et al., 2022).

Change occurs gradually, and while applying change theories cannot guarantee success, they can identify best practices for change leadership and implementation. Change processes are influenced by various internal and external factors. The likelihood of success can be enhanced by employing force field analyses, engaging change champions across all shifts, and promoting regular communication (Barrow et al., 2022).

Leadership Strategies That Could Lead to an Interdisciplinary Solution

To reduce the nursing turnover rate, Encompass Health should adopt transformational leadership. This management approach encourages nurses to take responsibility for their roles and exceed expectations. Transformational leadership inspires staff by appealing to their desire to perform with higher moral standards and integrity. It promotes a focus on the collective benefit of the organization and its members, rather than individual goals.

Transformational leadership fosters a culture of increased job satisfaction. Organizations that have implemented this leadership style have seen improvements in staff satisfaction and their perception of their roles. Higher retention rates and improved employee morale are benefits of transformational leadership. When nurses are satisfied and engaged, their work quality improves (How to Apply Transformational Leadership in Nursing?, n.d.).

Collaboration Approaches for Interdisciplinary Teams

Interdisciplinary teamwork involves staff members collaborating to combine their skills, knowledge, and expertise to enhance patient care. Encompass has recently adopted interdisciplinary teamwork practices. Effective interdisciplinary teams set aside personal achievements, setbacks, experience levels, and educational backgrounds to work together toward a common goal. Unique perspectives within the team help members understand each other better and devise the best strategies for patient care (Nancarrow et al., 2019). Collaborative efforts, open communication, and joint decision-making lead to outcomes beneficial to staff, the organization, and patients.

References

Asirifi, M., Ogilvie, L., Barton, S., Aniteye, P., Stobart, K., Bilash, O., Eliason, C., Achempim-Ansong, G., Kwashie, A., & Aziato, L. (2019). Reconceptualising preceptorship in clinical nursing education in Ghana. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 10, 159-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2019.04.004

Barrow, J. M., Annamaraju, P., & Toney-Butler, T. J. (2022, September 18). Change Management – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. Change Management – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459380/

Driscoll, A., Grant, M. J., Carroll, D., Dalton, S., Deaton, C., Jones, I., Lehwaldt, D., McKee, G., Munyombwe, T., & Astin, F. (2018). The effect of nurse-to-patient ratios on nurse-sensitive patient outcomes in acute specialist units: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 17(1), 6–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474515117721561