Decision Making Process
Decision making refers to a process leading to choosing of a particular action and leaving many other options (Guo, 2008). Any decision-making process leads to an ultimate choice that requires or does not require quick action. Decision-making is an integral part of management. It influences the course of action to be taken and hence determines the results (Anderson et al., 2011). Decision making is a process and is important in the overall performance of any organization.
As the Nurse in the Medical Surgical General Unit, I will require to apply the steps process of decision making in determining my course of action with regards to whether it is worth expanding the medical surgical general unit to take step down patients from ICU or not. The first step of the process is to identify the problem. This could be the need to reduce the expenses by ICU patients in ICU or to create space for other patients who need intensive care. The second step of the process is to collect information. As a Nurse I should separate what is important from what is not. This will allow me to know what I should do before the course of action is undertaken. It will also help me get ample information from all stakeholders needed at the various stages of the change process and how they influence the action to be taken. The inputs by these key players are essential in identifying the viability of the project to be undertaken (Schermerhorn, 2009, p.78).
The third step of the process is to identify whether there are other options for the course to be taken (Liebler & McConnell, 2004, p. 144). This will entail looking for and interpreting any data the problem. Important data may include statistics on how many patients miss beds in ICU and the number of patients that are overstaying in ICU due to lack of beds in the medical surgical unit. Other important data would be information on what extra facilities and equipment are needed to make the general unit more suitable to take step down patients from the ICU. The fourth step of the process is to draft the available options. This requires one to be accurate and positive. Questions of what if are asked and also ask how you want the situation to be. The options could be to add machines and surgical to the general ward or to build brand new section to cater for the step down patients.
The fifth step is to analyze options (Anderson et al., 2011). These options should be congruent with the acceptable and desirable outcomes. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the various options are examined in an in-depth, open, concerted, and unbiased manner. The sixth step of the process is to choose the best option among all the available options. This is the option with least negative consequences in terms of problems and risks. The option should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound. The final step of the decision making process is to act on the decision made. This involves designing and implementing a plan of action for achieving the desired goal.
In summary, this paper has examined the decision making process that would be followed in making a decision on whether to expand a medical-surgical unit to take on step down patients from the ICU. It has delved into details on the steps of this decision making process.
References
Anderson, D., Sweeney, D., Williams, T., Camm, J., & Martin, R. (2011). An introduction to management science: Quantitative approaches to decision making, revised. New York, NY: Jones and Barlett Learning.
Guo, K. L. (2008). DECIDE: A decision-making model for more effective decision making by health care managers. The Health Care Manager, 27(2), 118-127.
Liebler, J. G. & McConnell, C. R. (2004). Management principles for health professionals. New York, NY: Jones and Barlett Learning.
Schermerhorn, J. R. (2009). Exploring management. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons.
