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.
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