Question

A unit manager of a 25-bed medical/surgical area receives a phone call from a nurse who has called in sick five times in the past month. He tells the manager that he very much wants to come to work when scheduled but must often care for his wife, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. According to Maslow’s need hierarchy theory, what would be the best approach to satisfying the needs of this nurse, other staff, and patients?

A. Line up agency nurses who can be called in to work on short notice.
B. Place the nurse on unpaid leave for the remainder of his wife’s treatment.
C. Sympathize with the nurse’s dilemma and let the charge nurse know that this nurse may be calling in frequently in the future.
D. Work with the nurse, staffing office, and other nurses to arrange his scheduled days off around his wife’s treatments.

Answer 1

The best approach according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs is option D, working with the nurse to schedule days off around his wife's treatments, ensuring stability for all parties involved.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the best approach to satisfying the needs of the nurse, other staff, and patients would be Option D: Work with the nurse, staffing office, and other nurses to arrange his scheduled days off around his wife's treatments. This approach acknowledges the nurse's needs for security and safety concerning his wife's health, which is a lower-level need in Maslow's hierarchy. By taking proactive steps to accommodate the nurse's situation, the unit manager also addresses the stability of the medical/surgical area and ensures that patient care remains uninterrupted, thus also meeting the staff and patients' needs for consistency and reliability.

Providing flexibility and support can positively impact the work environment, as demonstrated by Tyre's experience as a nursing assistant. In Tyre's case, the lack of support, autonomy, and appreciation led to job dissatisfaction and eventually resignation, which highlights the importance of addressing employees' various needs within the workplace for better retention and job satisfaction.