A nursing manager wants to investigate the best practice research ...

[jwb375]

A nursing manager wants to investigate the best practice research on a specific patient safety issue. The best action by the nursing manager would be to
 
  a. consult with other facilities to see what their related practices are.
  b. convene a work group to develop related policies and procedures.
  c. read recent issues of a nursing management journal for research.
  d. research the literature, paying special attention to synthesis work.

Question 2

A nursing manager is frustrated by a committee that consistently fails to meet goals and generally demonstrates a lack of progress or results. The manager can conclude that
 
  a. established policies and procedures might be inhibiting productivity.
  b. self-serving behaviors outweigh the task behaviors in the group.
  c. the committee's goals are vague and the committee lacks direction.
  d. the leadership within the group is not skilled at group management.

[Hikerman221]

Answer to Question 1

D
The manager should research the relevant literature, using such resources as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). One of the goals of AHRQ is to promote research in everyday practice, and as part of that goal, this agency provides syntheses of current research.
Other facilities may not be using best practice.
It is premature to convene work groups before collecting data. This might be part of an action plan once the research has been done.
Journals of nursing management do carry some research articles and best practice articles but would not be the best location for this information.

Answer to Question 2

B
Groups encounter task behaviors, maintenance behaviors, and self-serving behaviors. Whereas the task behaviors push the group toward goal attainment, self-serving behaviors inhibit group work. The manager can conclude that the members in this group exhibit more self-serving behaviors.
It is possible that established policies and procedures might be inhibiting productivity, but this is too narrow an answer to explain the situation without further information.
Vague goals and lack of direction may be a factor, but without further exploration, this is not the best choice.
The leadership within the group may not be skilled at group management, but this conclusion needs further exploration.