Greetings
to Nurse-Recruiter.com readers. If you are concerned
about legal liability then remember to do these things
to enhance your management of risk for yourself and/or
your current or future employer:
Improve
Agency Wide Communication
- Be sure your team knows what is being communicated
in all directions.
Increase
Staff Inservice Education
- Staff quality is important for the supervisor and
the supervised.
Document
Effectively
- It is really true, if you didn't chart it, it will
be hard to prove you did it.
Be
Sure You Have Adequately Known and Understood Policies
and Procedures
- Policies and procedures give you guidance. You must
be cognizant of them. You should know them and follow
them. It is a good idea to review them frequently.
Be
Open to Constructive and Positive Change
- Change can be good. Demonstrate your team playing
by supporting planned change.
Improve
Performance Evaluation
- Don't be fair/average in your work. It will come back
to haunt you.
Set
and Follow High Standards
of Operation - Be a great role model. Walk your talk.
Do what you promised at all times.
Be
Sure You Have A High
Quality and Adequate Staff
- Warm bodies don't cut it... so if you supervise hire
the best. If you are the one hired - shine.
Monitor
Your Operations Constantly
- Set goals at whatever levels you function. Know where
you are trying to go so you won't end up someplace else.
Encourage
Peer Review
- Challenge yourself and your peers to be the best everyday
and every hour.
Assure
Adequate and Well Operating Equipment
- It is too late to turn in a repair request when the
equipment has caused an injury. Do all you can do to
have effective and efficient equipment.
Keep
All Needed
Supplies/Resources Available
- You don't want a patient to be able to testify that
you did not have or utilize items needed for his care.
Remove
Impaired, Careless Workers
- Think about the people who provide care or supervise
in your facility. Would you want them to provide care
to your mother? If not speak up -- before someone gets
hurt and you get sued.
Encourage
High Staff Morale
- A team is only as good as its spirit. To avoid legal
liabilities do your part to boost team spirit. Encourage
together time. Fun time and good morale.
Aid
Staff in Staying Goal and Standards Focused
- Where is your team headed? Are you safe from accusations
of misconduct? Does everyone know your mission? Is the
unit safe? Are good systems in place? If not, you could
be headed for legal liability.
MORE
ABOUT THIS AUTHOR
Dr.
Gloria "Jo" Floyd, a recognized author, speaker,
consultant and survival strategist has produced and/or
presented over 1,000 workshops and seminars attended by
thousands nationwide. For over 31 years, Jo has been the
heartbeat for program participants leading them in common
sense survival approaches to a variety of challenges.
Since she founded NCEHS in 1978, she has prided herself
on customizing her programs to assure participant empowerment
and realistic survival. Dr. Floyd earned the Doctor of
Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Texas Woman's University in Denton,
Texas. She has been a consultant to over 250 agencies,
schools, businesses, associations, universities, hospitals,
home care agencies and related facilities throughout the
U.S. Never idle for long, Jo is published in numerous
professional journals and is the author of Survival Strategies
for Managing Life, Stress, Obstacles, Challenge and Change.
She is also featured in/on over 60 other nationally distributed
audio-visuals and educational materials including: On
Leaders and Leadership, Communicating Effectively, Improved
Productivity through Stress Management, Documenting Patient
Care Legally and Effectively, Legalities of Documentation,
Recording Clinical Actions, and On Being The Effective
Teacher/Educator/Presenter. Jo is constantly reading,
analyzing, networking and researching to continue to bring
up to the minute options to her clients nationwide via
educational materials, workshops, seminars, keynote addresses
and consultation. Dr. Floyd is, also, nationally recognized
as a medical-legal expert in the area of legal and documentation
issues. She assists in review and analysis of simple to
complex medical and legal cases. Jo has received numerous
awards, citations and recognitions from a variety of groups.
She has held positions as Administrator, Director of Nursing,
Education, Surgery and Central Services, Inservice Education
Coordinator, Professor, Television and Radio Host, Health
Writer, and Staff Nurse. Dr. Floyd has, also owned four
businesses. She has been successfully married for over
35 years to Elliott and is the mother of 5 children. Dr.
Floyd is an inductee into the Leadership Texas Hall of
Fame and the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame. Dr.
Floyd has taught numerous school nursing courses throughout
the United States. She is also a licensed child and school
health care administrator.