Competing needs arise within any organization as employees seek to meet their targets and leaders seek to meet company goals. As a leader, successful management of these goals requires establishing priorities and allocating resources accordingly. Within a healthcare setting, the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients are often in conflict. Mandatory overtime, implementation of…

1. Introduction Patient Profile: Age: 92 years old. Ethnicity: African American. Presenting Complaint: Slurred speech. Brought by: Daughter to Emergency Department. Vital Signs: Blood pressure 210/100 mmHg. Clinical Significance: Slurred speech + severe hypertension suggests possible neurological emergency (stroke, transient ischemic attack). Advanced age and ethnicity increase risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. 2. Initial Assessment…

When seeking to identify a patient’s health condition, advanced practice nurses can use a diverse selection of diagnostic tests and assessment tools to help in understanding a patient’s condition. In turn, beginning with a differential diagnosis supports the process of further applying information to narrow the possibilities of what the condition may be and working…

A walk through the Business section of any bookstore or a quick Internet search on the topic will reveal a seemingly endless supply of writings on leadership. Formal research literature is also teeming with volumes on the subject. However, your own observation and experiences may suggest these theories are not always so easily found in…

Do you believe you have the traits to be an effective leader? Perhaps you are already in a supervisory role, but as has been discussed previously, appointment does not guarantee leadership skills. How can you evaluate your own leadership skills and behaviors? You can start by analyzing your performance in specific areas of leadership. In…

1. Introduction The StrengthsFinder assessment, now known as CliftonStrengths, was developed by Donald Clifton and Gallup. Purpose: Identify an individual’s natural talents and strengths to maximize performance and satisfaction. Based on positive psychology, focusing on what people do best rather than weaknesses. Widely used in leadership development, team building, career counseling, and education. 2. Theoretical…

Your quest to purchase a new car begins with an identification of the factors important to you. As you conduct a search of cars that rate high on those factors, you collect evidence and try to understand the extent of that evidence. A report that suggests a certain make and model of automobile has high…

Realtors rely on detailed property appraisals—conducted using appraisal tools—to assign market values to houses and other properties. These values are then presented to buyers and sellers to set prices and initiate offers. Research appraisal is not that different. The critical appraisal process utilizes formal appraisal tools to assess the results of research to determine value…

As your EBP skills grow, you may be called upon to share your expertise with others. While EBP practice is often conducted with unique outcomes in mind, EBP practitioners who share their results can both add to the general body of knowledge and serve as an advocate for the application of EBP. In this Discussion,…

The collection of evidence is an activity that occurs with an endgame in mind. For example, law enforcement professionals collect evidence to support a decision to charge those accused of criminal activity. Similarly, evidence-based healthcare practitioners collect evidence to support decisions in pursuit of specific healthcare outcomes. In this Assignment, you will identify an issue…