Running head: MANAGER ANALYSIS 1

Analysis of a Leader or Manager Role

Derek Sibley
Ferris State University














MANAGER ANALYSIS 2

Analysis of a Leader or Manager Role
With reference to healthcare, manager and supervisor roles have a significant effect on
patient quality care and the organization as a whole. Managerial roles are responsible for
organizing, supervising, and evaluating vital functions of practice within their assigned unit.
Among the managerial role comes a multitude of responsibilities that have to be fulfilled. This
requires dutiful effort in ensuring that all responsibilities are met. This paper analyzes an
individual in a management position, evaluating their effectiveness of their leadership skills.
An interview was conducted with Char Wernette, LPN, Unit Manager of the Long Term
Care Unit at Metron of Big Rapids, on May 2, 2014. Char studied at Montcalm Community
College, and began her career at Metron Integrated Health Systems as a nurse extern. After
obtaining her license, she worked in the long-term care unit, and became unit manager
approximately 3 years ago.
Job Description and Duties
Unit managers are responsible for organizing, supervising, and evaluating patient care,
performing quality improvement activities for the unit, participating in nursing management
activities and committees, promoting working relationships between healthcare disciplines and
promoting favorable public relations. Char states her main duty as unit manager is the role of
infection control coordinator, including monitoring sources of infection, changing protocols as
necessary to maintain safety, as well as reviewing aseptic technique and sterilization tactics(C.
Wernette, personal communication, May 2
nd
, 2014). She also oversees daily care of patients,
develops patient care plans, and carries out care when necessary. As a unit manager, charge
nurses report to her, and she has to answer to the director of nursing(C. Wernette, personal
communication, May 2
nd
, 2014).
MANAGER ANALYSIS 3

Collaboration
In order to ensure patient care, Char must collaborate with many different disciplines.
She says that every weekday morning, a meeting takes place to discuss the events of the previous
day. Included in this meeting are staff members from maintenance, therapy, dietary, life
enrichment, Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinators, as well as herself, the director of nursing,
and the administrator (C. Wernette, personal communication, May 2
nd
, 2014). In order to respect
privacy laws, maintenance staff is dismissed before patient information is discussed.
Other collaborative measures include calling or paging the doctor in an emergent
situation, or emailing if the matter is less time sensitive. Multiple communication methods allow
for quick interaction between staff members, and timely patient care between disciplines.
Legal and Ethical Issues
As a unit manager, she deals with legal and ethical matters when they arise in order to
prevent exacerbation of the situation. If not dealt with properly, patient safety may be
compromised, and legal or other disciplinary action may be unavoidable. When interviewed,
Char said that the most recent issue she dealt with involved alleged abuse of a patient by a staff
member. The abuse could not be proven, but she stated that this staff member was dishonest
during questioning, and the decision was made by herself and the director of nursing to terminate
the staff members employment (C. Wernette, personal communication, May 2
nd
, 2014). Honesty
and ethical behavior are substantial parts of a nurses character, and those characteristics are
sought after in staff members. The public ranks nurses first in ethical and honesty standards
(Gallup poll, 2014). Char works to uphold this public standard by employing staff members
demonstrating ethical qualities, and providing required disciplinary actions when necessary to
maintain ethical behavior in the workplace.
MANAGER ANALYSIS 4

Ethical issues affect patients as well as the organization in a negative manner. Patient
abuse, neglect, and other immoral behaviors affect safety and care quality of clients on the floor.
Cases of abuse are serious, and have serious consequences to the patients health. The public
looks at the organization negatively, and legal action may follow if the issue is serious or
handled incorrectly. Char understands the importance of her role in dealing with situations
quickly and properly so it does not get worse. By maintaining an ethical work environment, Char
improves patient care and quality of life in the long-term care setting.
Power and Influence
Char demonstrates her influence around the facility to positively impact. I observed her
interacting with patients and answering phones at the nurses station, assisting the smooth
functioning of the unit. She states that her presence on the floor is important, and she strives to
make as much time as possible for this purpose. She educates staff members on protocols and
observes safety tactics on the floor, making her high expectations known (C. Wernette, personal
communication, May 2
nd
, 2014). She is well respected, and staff members work diligently to
provide quality, equitable care to all patients. Her influence improves the facility, as well the
attitude of staff members by maintaining her expectations for delivery of care and other
motivation to uphold quality through observation and education.
Achieving these improved patient outcomes and positive working environment define
power (Yoder-Wise, 2011). Individuals in leadership roles that promote quality are on track to
overcome barriers to effective healthcare administration (Kumar, 2013). Char exhibits these
characteristics, and effectively promotes quality care on her unit by using her education skills to
teach staff members and promote safe patient care.

MANAGER ANALYSIS 5

Decision Making and Problem Solving
Decision-making and critical thinking skills are necessary to be an effective manager.
Sound decision-making includes accuracy, timeliness, and validity (Yoder-Wise, 2011). Char
ensures her decisions are accurate and valid by first assessing the situation, diagnosing the true
problem, thinking critically on possible interventions, initiating interventions, and uses data
collection methods appropriate for the circumstance to evaluate effectiveness of the intervention.
Char states that she values the input of other staff members, and has an open-door policy for
staff members to voice concerns, frustrations, or other problems (C. Wernette, personal
communication, May 2
nd
, 2014). By using this policy, Char can delve deeper into problems and
assess its cause.
Decision making competence further supports the goal of providing safe and effective
care (Scott, 2011). Char shows good problem solving skills by using the ADPIE method of
problem solving, which is proven to effective in healthcare as well as other career fields.
Conflict Management and Resolution
As a unit manager, Char needs excellent conflict resolution skills. Conflicts arise often in
the healthcare setting, and she handles each situation individually in order to use the best
intervention. Staff f members with conflicts are encouraged to have a meeting to verbalize
problems or expectations. She says that after these meetings, everyone shows improved
teamwork and these group counseling sessions often dissolve the problem before it becomes
more serious (C. Wernette, personal communication, May 2
nd
, 2014). Better communication and
clear expectations are needed to reverse the negative atmosphere (Pavlakis, 2011). In these
meetings, char remains a neutral party, mediating the resolution of conflict. Expectations and
MANAGER ANALYSIS 6

problems are verbalized, and staff members know how each other feel, promoting conflict
resolution.
Conflict affects patients immensely, even if they are not involved. Char says that many
patients in long-term care truly need staff members, and can feel the tension on the unit when
there is a problem between employees 85(C. Wernette, personal communication, May 2
nd
, 2014).
Her resolution of conflict promotes teamwork and communication, and patients receive higher
quality of care as a result. The organization is affected through employee turnover, loss of
patient respect, and decreased work ethic. Providing good conflict resolution skills creates a
positive atmosphere in the organization. Employees whom are content with their job perform
better and remain at the facility longer, improving staff-patient relationships while providing
quality care.
Reflection
Char displays adequate leadership skills and positive use of influence as a unit manager.
She is an effective problem solver, makes timely and accurate decisions for the wellbeing of
patients, staff members, and the organization as a whole. Results of her management techniques
lead to improved patient outcomes, increased teamwork, lowered staff turnover, and a
community-respected organization that provides quality compassionate healthcare to promote
patient well-being.


MANAGER ANALYSIS 7

References
Nurses again ranked No. 1 in honesty, ethics by Gallup Poll. (2014). Massachusetts Nurse
Advocate, 85(1), 2.
Pavlakis, A. A., Kaitelidou, D. D., Theodorou, M. M., Galanis, P. P., Sourtzi, P. P., & Siskou, O.
O. (2011). Conflict management in public hospitals: the Cyprus case.International
Nursing Review, 58(2), 242-248. doi:10.1111/j.1466-7657.2011.00880.x
Scott, C., & Gerardi, D. (2011). A strategic approach for managing conflict in hospitals:
Responding to the joint commission leadership standard, part 1. The Joint Commission
Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 37 (2), 59-69.
Yoder-Wise, P. S. (2011). Leading and Managing in Nursing (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby
Elsevier.