Decision making and grp communication Flashcards
What is decision making?
A process that chooses a preferred option or a course of actions from among a set of alternatives on the basis of given criteria or strategies
The cognitive process leading to the selection of a course of action among alternatives
Steps in the decision making process: 5
- define problem or opportunity
- diagnose
- planning
- implement
- evaluate
Problem solving
A comprehensive, sequential, cognitive process used to solve a problem by reducing the difference between current and desired conditions
Closing the gap between “what is” & “what should be”
A process that purposefully & constantly re-evaluates
Problem solving process: 7
- define the prob
- gather data
- analyze data
- develop solutions
- select solutions
- implement solutions
- evaluate result
Critical thinking-
A mode of thinking about any subject, content, or problem in which the thinker improves the quality of their thinking”
A contextual process of thinking ahead, thinking in action, & thinking back
Necessary to make decisions or solve problems
Allows for thinking outside the box
critical thinking/ decision making/ problem solving:
Resolving a problem and making decisions requires critical thinking
Problem solving is a process (ex. Nsg process)
Decision making requires you to make a choice between alternatives.
Put it all together chart:
you need:
intuitive, creative and ethical decision making.
you use critical thinking, scientific method and the nursing process, problem solving process and decision making process.
Clinical judgment:
An interpretation or conclusion about a patient’s needs, concerns, or health problems
It is the clinical application of decision making!
A series of decisions
Often a result of a problem but not always
Assists us to anticipate or prevent problems
Nature of Decision Making:
DM encourages competence, self-confidence and it empowers nurses
Decisions in nursing are made in relation to;
Context of nurse-patient relationship
Context & system of care delivery
Professional development & career context
Maintenance versus Greatness
Factors influencing decision making:
Intrinsic–5
Extrinsic–3
Intrinsic Factors;
- Personal Perception & Preference
- Knowledge & Experience
- Competence
- Self-Confidence
- Stress
Extrinsic Factors;
- Organizational Climate & Culture
- Patient Autonomy
- Legislation & Regulation
Conditions that influence decision making: 4
- Responsibility for the decision
- Comfort level in making decisions
- Adequate info or degree of information which followers have access to or are entitled to have
- Commitment value/acceptance priority
Pitfalls to effective decision making: 6
- Making decision on first available information
- Not wanting to ‘rock the boat’
- Justification for previous decisions
- Ignoring evidence that differs from opinion
- Presenting with a bias or leading question
- Inaccurately determining probabilities to solutions
Problem Solving in Nursing Practice: 7
- Identify the problem
- Gather data
- Analyze data
- Develop Solutions (Dec. Making)
- Select Solutions (Dec. Making)
- Implement the Solution
- Evaluate the result
Team vs. group decision: 3
- Not all groups become a team
- Groups are individuals who have an interdependent relationship
- Team members share ownership of purpose
Lines of Communication in Group Settings
Formal: 4.
Informal: 1 + 5 points
Formal
- Downward – top down
- Upward
- Horizontal/Lateral
- Diagonal
Informal
- Grapevine
a) Ingrained
b) Co-exists with formal lines
c) Info distorted 75%
d) Affects morale
e) Rapid & influential
Advantages of Participatory/Group DM: 4
- Improves quality of decision by having group involvement.
- More ideas generated by a group than individual.
- Decisions are more accepted & committed to by participants.
- Implementation is easier if individuals are involved in the process.
Disadvantages of Participatory/Group DM: 5
- Requires more time.
- Unequal power among group members.
- Dominant personalities may influence unduly.
- Focus is on the group versus the task.
- Socializing & camaraderie can slow down the process.
4 types of group decision making strategies:
- Nominal Group Activity
(Time consuming) - Delphi- Differs from nominal - involves questionnaire responses not in person
- Consensus Building
“an opinion or position reached by a group as a whole” - Groupthink
Differs from Consensus because the goal of groupthink is to have opinions and decisions valued by 100% of the group
4 types of group decision making strategies:
- Nominal group activity:
- Delphi:
NGA: 1. everyone writes out idea 2. presentation of ideas on flip charts 3. discussion and clarification of ideas 4. private vote solution is the highest ranked idea by greatest number of votes
Delphi:
1. collecting opinions via questionnaire
2. responses tabulated, analyzed and summarized
3. disseminated back to group until consensus is reached
can be effective with large grp and generates many ideas
4 types of group decision making strategies:
- Consensus Buliding:
- Not a stepped procedure
- Coming to a solution that is acceptable
- Not a decision with total agreement by all members however all members need to accept/commit to the decision
- Advantage – all members participate
- Disadvantage – time consuming
Reserve this DM strategy for important decisions that participants will have to live/work with. Need ‘buy in’
4 types of group decision making strategies:
- Groupthink:
differs from consensus because need 100% vote
1. Group questioning or ideas are discouraged
- Requires a strong leader to encourage all members to think independently
- Opinions are collected by the leader.
- Time allocated to allow members to gather data and reflect
- Disadvantage – hinders creativity
Phases of Group Development: 5
- Forming – group awareness
- Storming – tension/conflict arises
- Norming –cohesiveness established
- Performing – progress being made
- Adjourning – reflection/evaluation/closure
Group Leadership
How do you become a leader in your group?
Imposed Leadership-
Emergent leadership-
- Imposed Leadership
- -A leader is formally designated or appointed by a person, group or organization - Emergent Leadership
- -A leader is informally chosen
- -The group recognizes an individual’s ability or level of influence & selects him or her
Personalities within a Group: 5
- Criticizer – Finds fault
- Passive – Will not take a stand
- Detailer – Focused on facts/narrow focus
- Controller – Monopolize the discussion
- Pleaser – Will not oppose/very agreeable
Teams and Committees:
Teams: 3
Committees: 2
Team = Two or more individuals working together for a common purpose
- Requires a leader
- Composition varies in backgrounds/experience
- Variety of skills & abilities
Committee = a group focused on a specific task
- May be temporary or long standing
- Short term goals or a structured support network
Team Leader & Communication: 6
- Leadership is the act or an instance of leading
- Needs to demonstrate facilitative leadership
- Communication is a tool/skill utilized in & essential for effective leadership
- Effective communication and transparency in leadership builds trust within a group
- A leader is necessary in a group to assist movement towards a goal (a cheerleader)
- Leadership involves a person, a group, & goals
Team Leader Responsibilities: 8
- Guide team/goals
- Environment
- Reinforce the
importance of pt focus - Ensure standards/rules are established
- Remove barriers to collaboration
- Challenge the team while recognizing contributions
- Conflict management
- Accept feedback from members
Team Structure:
- Intradisciplinary/Intraprofessional:
- Interdisciplinary/Interprofessional:
- Organizational:
- Intradisciplinary/Intraprofessional = Networking, support, & collaboration within a discipline (ex. Nursing – PCC, RN, LPN)
- Interdisciplinary/Interprofessional = Networking, support, & collaboration across disciplines (ex. Nursing, Physio, SW, Physician)
- Organizational – Established communication within & outside an organization
