Question

Case study #4

Patricia Clements, RN, has worked in the adult medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of Lakeland Hospital since graduating from nursing school 5 years ago. The hospital is experiencing a nursing shortage, and despite intensive recruitment efforts, RN vacancies are high in almost every unit. Fortunately the unit in which Patricia works has a stable RN staff, and although she is concerned about the inadequate staffing she hears about on other nursing units, she is thankful that her unit is as yet untouched by the nursing shortage. Just as Patricia is counting her blessings for working in a well-staffed unit, the nursing supervisor calls her in to request that she float to the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) beginning tomorrow. The supervisor explains that the PICU is the most seriously understaffed unit in the hospital, and additional RN coverage must be provided to the unit. The supervisor further explains that because the adult ICU is the best staffed unit in the hospital, nurses from this unit will be required to accept assignments in critical need areas. The floating request immediately prompts a storm of mixed emotions from Patricia. She feels fear about inexperience in working with pediatric patients and anger at the nursing shortage in general, but she also believes that as a professional nurse she has an ethical responsibility to help where needed. Patricia asks the supervisor for some time alone before she responds to the request.

Questions

1. If you were the nursing supervisor, what type of plan would you develop to make floating assignments more acceptable to the nurse and to ensure competent, high-quality nursing care? Which of the following apply? (Select all that apply)
   1. cross-training in other units
   2. mandatory floating to improve skills
   3. more orientation and training
   4. mandatory refresher nursing courses

Answer 1

Cross training in other units will help the nurse to ensure competent and high quality nursing care. Cross training means the action or practice of training or being trained in more than one role or skill

Because by cross training to the other units the nurses are exposed to the different types of patients with different disease,health conditions, technologies and workflow. This exposure reinforces and develop upon basic nursing skills.Cross trained nurses are more comfortable and intuitive while caring of patients in any stage of illness or situation. If any sudden exchange of ward duty Also they can perform well with out tension and fear.