In week threeàepisode of Saving Sara, we learn that Sara deals with two different situations in which one with Dr. Acharya that shows how she stays late to help her patient and one with Paula that shows her going above and beyond to help motivate her coworker to learn and become successful with the new EHR system. After watching the video provided on the situational approach, I am able to clearly understand that depending on the situation, leadership qualities will differ. The situational approach consists of both a directive and supportive way depending on the specific problem. Directive behaviors have time lines, goals, and specific ways while supportive behaviors are inspiring and helpful with coaching. With the scenario that involves Dr. Acharya, Saras shows a direct approach to achieve a task that has a time-line. In order for Sara to seek the best outcome, she needed to be straightforward with what the needs were and get it done. It is unfortunate that sometimes duties fall at the last minute or staff members get behind on their work, but it is important as a leader to overcome those situations by persisting through tasks with a direct approach. 

After watching the path goal theory video, I have discovered that as a charge nurse or a person in a leadership role, it is important to complete tasks to stay on a correct path that leads to excellent outcomes. Followers, or in this case, the other staff nurses should be motivated and offered support by the leader to move along the correct path to accomplish the goals necessary for success. In a way, the charge nurse decides the behaviors of the other nurses by guiding them in a specific way due to wanted outcomes. For example, since Sara offered supportive help that inspired Paula to learn and become better at the online technology system, Saraàteam is now stronger and Paula has developed a sense of relief and trust within the new system. If Sara chose the other route by ignoring Paula to let her figure it out on her own, the behaviors of Paula would lead towards a less successful route involving high stress and a poor trusting relationship between them. After a goal is set, leaders often do not have control over their subordinates!nd staff members have to plan and organize the process on their own by being able to self-regulate at work. Paula needs to complete the learning of the system in order to continue being a successful nurse on her own (Steinmann, 2018). 

References: 

Steinmann, B., Klug, H. J. P., & Maier, G. W. (2018). The Path Is the Goal: How Transformational Leaders Enhance Followers’ Job Attitudes and Proactive Behavior. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 2338. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02338Links to an externalThe first scenario displays the interaction between Dr. Acharya and Sara. One option displayed Sara and how she handled low emotional intelligence in this situation by letting her emotions get the best of her and losing her temper. The interaction with Dr. Acharya and Sara is the situational approach which is to be adaptive. According to Western Governors University, “this leadership style requires that leaders adjust their management style to ensure they are leading in the most appropriate and successful way” (WGU, 2022). According to the textbook, “delegation decisions are based on individual client needs, facility policies and descriptions” (Assessment Technologies Institute et al., 2019). Dr. Acharya delegated to RN Sara, and therefore Sara must uphold that task for the benefit of the client. Dr. Acharya does not offer Sara any additional information or feedback to deal with the problem because she is a manager, and she should know how to deal with situations and offer solutions or work towards solutions. The approach that is used between Dr. Acharya and Sara are different because Sara is a leader, and she should be able to figure out how to approach her goals and achieve them. The correct approach would be when Sara displayed strong emotional intelligence in this situation by listening to Dr. Archarya’s concerns, taking action around the goal that needed to be accomplished, and providing feedback to the social worker. Leaders should be able to adapt to their environments so to achieve the goal at hand. 

With the second scenario, Sara is faced with the challenge in helping Paula with the adjustment of the new EMR. When Sara chooses to ignore the situation at hand, Paula’s struggle with the ERS becomes unbearable and her perception of her own abilities diminish. Sara shows investment in Paula by helping to define the goal, clarifying the path, and most important, providing support. Sara uses both approaches; path-goal theory and situational approach. Paula needs both approaches because she needs the motivation to overcome the EMR obstacles. So, Sara sees that she needs to give feedback and do a direct approach and give additional support to Paula. It is important that Sara uses a different approach with Paula because Sara and Paula have a difference, where Sara is Paulaàleader. And it is important for leaders to have both traits of the path-goal and situational approach so to execute the teachings, learning, and goal. According to Pennsylvania State University, “path-goal theory is about /w leaders motivate their followers to accomplish goals(Penn State University World Campus [PSU WC], 2016, L. 6, p. 11). 

References:

Anderson, P. (2016, June 29). What is Path-Goal Theory? https://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2016/06/29/what-is-path-goal-theoryLinks to an external site.

Assessment Technologies Institute, Assessment Technologies Institute, Belden, C., & Hoffman, J. L. (2019). Nursing Leadership and Management Edition 8. 0. Ascend Learning.

Western Governors University. (2020, October 22). What Is Situational Leadership? https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-situational-leadership2010.html

site.

Yoder-Wise, P. (2019).  Leading, managing and following.  In Elsevier (Eds), Leading and managing in nursing (pp. 1-19).   Elsevier.

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