Goal Setting for Nurse Managers and Healthcare Professionals

Goal setting improves employee performance by narrowing focus/attention and motivating employees.  According to Module 4 Lecture 8, goals provide direction, provoke persistence, energize, and cause people to seek task relevant knowledge (Montag, 2013).  Goal setting is a function of management and is completed during the planning process.

Goal setting is a function of healthcare professionals.  Whether a staff nurse is setting goals for a patient or a manager is setting goals for a unit, the outcome of a successful healthcare professional is measured by the achievement of goals.  According to Roussel (2013), an effective manager sets goals during the planning process and allows for input from all levels of an organization.  By involving all levels of the organization in the goal setting process, the manager ensures that goals are SMART goals and increases buy in from staff (p.482).

Specific (Are the goals set specific for the area of nursing for which they will be applied with distinct desired outcomes?)

Measurable (Are the goal outcomes measureable in the healthcare setting?)

Attainable (Is the staff/healthcare organization able to attain the goals set?)

Relevant (Are the goals relevant to the mission, vision, and value of the healthcare organization and unit?)

Time-Bound (Do the goals have a definite start and end point for the healthcare professionals?)

A nurse manager can use the nursing process to include staff at all levels in the goal setting process.  By using the nursing process and including staff, staff will feel a stronger commitment to the achievement of the set goals.  The nursing process can be used for goal setting as follows:

1.      ASSESSMENT:  the nurse manager and staff recognize the problem or opportunity for improvement.

2.      NURSING DIAGNOSIS:  analysis of pertinent data by management and staff leads to improved understanding of the problem and causes

3.      PLANNING:  the manager and staff can develop goals and strategies to attain them

4.      IMPLEMENTATION:  the manager and staff design a plan for execution

5.      EVALUATION:  the manager allows feedback from the staff on outcomes and realization of return on investment is recognized (Roussel, 2013, p.483).

      Effective goal setting by a nurse manager includes the frontline nursing staff.  By including all levels of staff, all levels of the organization feel a commitment to the achievement of the goals due to their involvement in goal setting.  Effective nurse managers/leaders recognize the important role staff plays in achieving attainable goals.  By setting SMART goals and including staff in the planning process, the healthcare organization increases the probability of successful goal achievement. 

Montag, T. (2013). Goal-Setting Theory. Module 4 Lecture 8. 

Roussel L 2013 Management and leadership for nurse administratorsRoussel, L. (Ed.). (2013). Management and leadership for nurse administrators (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.  20130914130953335672974