Leadership and Management Case Study Number 5

Leadership and Management Case Study Number 5

Read the case information below:

Tom Johnson is the manager in charge of a 12-bed step-down unit in the Bay Area Community Hospital. Bay Area’s hospital administration is down-sizing and the stepdown unit is moving to a telemetry floor that has 39 beds. In six months, this full transition is to be completed. Tom has been informed that the nurse manager of the telemetry floor will remain the administrative leader. Tom’s position will no longer exist. The staff, who have been very supportive and loyal to Tom, are angry about the change and many have requested transfers to other floors. For several years, the 39 bed telemetry unit has had high staff turnover and high use of agency nurses. The administration believes that this down-sizing plan and transition of nursing staff to the 39 bed unit would lead to a more stable nurse staffing for the larger unit. The morale on Tom’s unit continues to deteriorate, and Tom is worried that patient care will be affected and family members may hear the negative discussions that have increased in recent weeks. As a nurse leader at this hospital, Tom wants to leave this position and close the 12 bed unit on a positive note.

1. Discuss the leadership style and strengths that the nurse manager of the 39 bed unit will require to make a positive work environment for the patients, families and staff.

2. How can the attitude of Tom related to this big change affect the success of the move? Explain

3. Discuss two different leadership styles and how that style would approach this change situation?

4. What leadership strategies do you think would be positive in this situation? Explain.

5. Which leadership strategies do you think would not be successful in this change situation.

6. Discuss change theory and the steps to implement a significant change. How do you motivate staff to change as a leader?