Kot1 Task 1 Analysis

KOT1 TASK 1 by Marion Avery

One way for a nurse to show leadership is one I use quite a bit when faced with being on a team when someone else is leading. It is usually a positive move to back your leader. When they present an idea or a plan, if you back them and show others you support them, others will look up to you, especially if you are one that people look to for advice or support. One day a week I am the charge nurse for my unit. On the other days I’m not charging I still get questions from other nurses who want reinforcement for what they are doing. I am glad they come to me but if it is something that should be decided by whoever is charging that day or our manager I always redirect them to that person. I don’t mind giving
I found that showing respect to everyone helps make me be a better leader. One thing that always makes my day is when someone will see that I’m the lead nurse for the day and they will say, “Marion, I’m so glad you are in charge today. Our day will be great!” I believe part of the reason they feel that way is that I respect my co-workers and their opinions. I also respect my doctors and when they feel that trust they seem to feel better that their patient is on our unit. And then there is the patient. Often I have to go in and talk to a patient because of a problem. First of all, I sit down next to them to talk instead of leaning over their bed or standing there with my arms crossed. I listen and engage them in why they are unhappy and also try to bring out the good and positive things about their stay
When I was a young nurse it seemed like problems I saw were continually put on a back burner or not treated fairly. It’s important to be accountable for mistakes. I have worked on a surgical floor for 16 years. On occasion we will be pulled to another unit if they are really short. I was pulled to an oncology floor when I had been an RN for about 3 years. I was not familiar with the chemo drugs and their schedules. But my med sheet had times listed when to hang certain things so I didn’t ask the charge nurse but went about hanging my drugs. Later in the day the oncologist saw what happened and threw a huge fit. I wasn’t told specifically what I’d done wrong but just that I was incompetant and he didn’t want me ever taking care of his patients again. That was hard to hear because most of the time I was told I was great to be around and a great asset to my unit. I asked the charge nurse what I done wrong. She said certain things weren’t compatible and that I had put the patient at risk but she also told me not to worry, she wouldn’t “report” me. She just kept poo pooing me and told me she would take care of things. It literally seemed like everything was just swept under a rug. Later after my shift was over I went back down to my floor and talked with my clinical educator about what happened. She used to work oncology so I knew she would understand that units procedures. She was upset that I was assigned a chemo patient to