functional organizational structure
My facility uses a functional organizational structure. A functional organizational structure is a common organizational structure for the healthcare organization as it defines the functions carried out and the management position assigned to these functions. The advantage of the structure is the quick decision-making process because communication between team members is easier. The team can also learn from each other because they have similar interests and skillsets.
Communication generally occurs within each functional department and is transmitted across departments through the department heads. The organizational structure has a strict chain of command and line of reporting, which ensures that communication, assignment, and evaluation of tasks are carried out in a direct command and control environment. As a nurse, I report to a charge nurse who makes decisions in the absence of a nurse manager. Since the facility has student nurses, the nurse manager assigned me to two student nurses who report to me.
My organization uses the hierarchical leadership structure, which employs a top-down structure that trickles down power to a wider base of subordinates. This kind of leadership structure affects the implementation of change because it has so many layers that can drag out communication and decision-making, leading to bottlenecks. Despite this, the leaders ensure the staff’s empowerment to ensure ideas that can benefit the facility and patients are brought forward. As argued by Van Bogaert et al. (2016), most organizational change agents’ names are not found on organizational charts; it is the individuals closest to the work who know what change is needed and what change will work. My facility acknowledges nurses’ role as change agents within the institution and provides the necessary motivation to enhance the development of ideas among nurses.
My facility uses a shared governance model for nursing with the goal of improving safety, quality, and collaboration while increasing work satisfaction. Anthony (2004) defines the shared governance model as a model of nursing practice that focuses on integrating the core values and beliefs that professional practice embraces as a way of achieving quality of care. Besides, Shared governance is designed to integrate nursing’s core value system and belief model into practice, taking nursing from the point of care to the executive level in a unified effort to improve care quality. My facility has an environment that empowers nurses, values their contributions, and supports nursing leadership. Shared governance is a working model of participatory decision that has enabled my facility to acknowledge the critical role of nurses in making decisions about clinical practice standards, quality improvement, staff, and professional development, and research.
When nurses have an idea for changing a process and make a decision as a group, they go to the unit manager. Nurses report to the unit manager, specifically the charge nurse or the nurse manager. The unit manager will then forward the suggestion to the next level of leadership.
As a nurse, understanding organizational and leadership structure helps me to be more effective and efficient in my work life. Without understanding these structures, a nurse may lose sight of the quality improvement efforts and patient care activities that affect day-to-day work at the front line.
Van Bogaert, P., Peremans, L., Diltour, N., Van heusden, D., Dilles, T., Van Rompaey, B., & Havens, D. S. (2016). Staff Nurses’ Perceptions and Experiences about Structural Empowerment: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study. PloS one, 11(4), e0152654. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152654
Anthony, M., (January 31, 2004). “Shared Governance Models: The Theory, Practice, and Evidence”. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 9 No. 1, Manuscript 4. Available: www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Volume92004/No1Jan04/SharedGovernanceModels.aspx