Lesson 7: Managing Healthcare Resources

I find that I use my time much more effectively when I am busy than when I have all day to do a project. You waste a lot less time procrastinating. I think it is very easy to fall under the traps of whatever hits first, the path of least resistance, squeaky wheel, managing by default, and waiting for inspiration instead of actually prioritizing what you need to do. Sometimes a task seems so overwhelming, but when broken down into small manageable tasks it becomes much more "doable." Often we think we are wasting our precious time by writing down a list of what needs to happen and prioritizing that list. However, in the end it will save you time, and it will help you to accomplish truly what is most important first. Prioritizing has to happen all the time. Maybe what was most important 2 hours ago, is not currently the most important thing if something else comes up, so you have to be flexible. The manager I follow, usually starts the day by trying to clear off her desk of papers that people have left for her. This helps her see what things she didn't know about need to be done. One of the most challenging things for prioritizing in management is that you are constantly interrupted.  If you feel you do not have enough time to do everything you need to do, then looking at your internal time wasters will help you know how to reevaluate how to properly spend your time.

One thing that I do not understand is that Medicare and Medicaid are the largest purchasers of managed care in the U.S, but they do not pay 100% of the bill. Why are they allowed to choose what they will reimburse? Legally you can't deny care, so the hospitals have no choice but to charge everyone else more. In reality we already are mostly socialistic when it comes to payment. A little needs to happen here...

I can't wait to ask my manager more about the budget. From reading the book it looks complicated and tricky. The three major types of budgets are personnel, operating and capital. The two most common budgeting methods are incremental and zero-based. I can't wait to see how this works in reality by following my manager more! I can see how budgeting would be stressful, for you have to do so much usually with so little!

I know I am guilty of often under-delegating. I feel bad to ask someone to do something that I am perfectly able to do myself. However, my aid cannot do everything I can do, so I do have to prioritize and delegate when needed. I have gotten better at it, compared to when I first starting being the RN, but there is always room for improvement. Delegation must follow the "5 rights" (task, circumstance, direction & communication, supervision & evaluation, person, )! Delegation for the manager is a necessity. My manager has an assistant manager and a clinical educator to help her. Often she delegates appropriate tasks to them. They also are very useful in covering for her when she is on vacation. My manager often states she is so grateful for the nursing team she gets to work with, for she couldn't do her job without them! Good management often leads the way to good teamwork.