Managing and Implementing Decisions in Health Care

To deliver care effectively, and to be able to influence health strategy, practice and policy, nurses must be able to access a tool-kit of management skills and knowledge. This book (one of the "Six Steps to Effective Management Series") focuses specifically on the skills involved in decision making and implementation at all levels of practice. In addition to explaining the content and context of decision making, it also explores some of the key challenges for practitioners such as user-participation, practitioner involvement in strategy, and the management of risk and crisis. Providing both a theoretical foundation and extensive practical guidance, it reflects the reality of day-to-day challenges for both individual practitioners and teams. Reflecting the diversity of today's health services, this practical and practice-focused series provides an accessible mix of theory and practice, and a unique emphasis on real life applications. All nurses working in any sector of healthcare, acute and primary, as well as the private and independent sectors will find these handy books an invaluable guide to developing their business management skills in order to deliver a quality, fit-for-purpose service.

Table of Contents:
Preface. Part 1: The context of decision making. The political context of decision making. Application 1.1 Facing the wider issues of recruitment difficulties. Application 1.2 Department of health publications - surfing the web. The influence of professional and statutory bodies on decision making. Application 2.1 Case study- the development of specialist and advanced practice roles. Application 2.2 The role of RCN interest groups on local decisions. Organisational culture and decision making. Application 3.1 Job descriptions from different organisational cultures. Application 3.2 An interview with the manager of a unit for those with behavioural difficulties. Part 2 Decision making in practice. The characteristics of decision making in health care. Application 4.1 A day in the life of ... Application 4.2 Evaluating decisions - a case study from a rural practice. The practitioner as manager. Application 5.1 A case study from a nursing home. Affecting decisions through networks and group processes. Application 6.1 Networking by middle managers - some research findings Application 6.2 Team roles and decision making - a case study. Part 3: User participation in decision making. Patient empowerment and the power of patients. Application 7.1 Empowerment of patients. Application 7.2 Empowerment of users. Application 7.3 Complaints and Complainants. Consumer groups and community voices. Application 8.1 Complaints and Complaining in the Health Service. Application 8.2 Useful addresses and web sites. Patients' rights and responsibilities. Application 9.1 Patients' charters. Application 9.2 Consumerism in Health Care. Part 4: The implementation of strategy at a local level. The practitioner and strategic decision making. Application 10.1 User involvement in strategic information planning in a chemical pathology unit. Application 10.2 Re-engineering - a case study. Autonomy and initiative in implementing strategic decisions. Application 11.1 Managerial perceptions of initiative. Application 11.2 Self assertion & leadership exercises. Using clinical research to underpin decision making in health care - a case study approach. Application 12.1 An exercise. Part 5: Managing risk and crisis. Managing risk and crisis: legal and ethical implications. Application 13.1 Guidelines and protocols-issues of legal liability. Application 13.2 The importance of documentation in assessing risk. Assessing and managing risk. Application 14.1 3 risk assessment exercises. Application 14.2 A child goes missing. Crisis management. Application 15.1 Interview with a clinical nurse manager in A&E. Application 15.2 Using the 4 P's of accountability in a crisis situation.