You are the chief nursing officer of a 300-bed hospital in the Northeastern United States. You have a group of relatively inexperienced nurse managers reporting to you. They need management training. How will you educate them about the principles of decision-making for a health care facility? Which of the six common approaches will you recommend to them, and why?
Sample Solution
I would recommend a combination of the six common approaches to management training for my nurse managers. I would focus on problem-based learning, which allows them to explore real-world scenarios and identify solutions; experiential learning, so they can gain hands-on experience in practical situations; interactive lectures that allow for two-way dialogue between the trainer and trainees; simulations to give them a greater understanding of how decisions are made in health care facilities; case studies to help them better understand how other successful organizations make decisions; and role-play exercises, which will help them practice making decisions with different stakeholders.
Each approach has its own strengths. Problem-Based Learning is effective at developing critical thinking skills related to decision making. Experiential Learning helps my managers develop an in depth knowledge about their organization’s operations as well as about decision making processes. Interactive Lectures allow for more dialogue between trainer and trainee, which facilitates discussion around complex topics such as decision making from a variety of perspectives. Simulations also provide opportunities for managers to see how decisions affect outcomes in healthcare contexts without actually having to implement those strategies themselves. Case Studies offer insight into best practices used by other organizations when it comes time for decision making while Role Play Exercises build confidence because they provide practice with stakeholder involvement before any real world applications take place. Ultimately, each approach offers different educational benefits that can be combined together into an overall comprehensive program aimed at helping my nurse managers learn the principles of decision making within a health care facility environment.