Question

As a nurse manager, you notice that one of your new nurses has provided exceptional care for a patient with especially complex needs. What would be the MOST effective way of recognizing the nurse's performance?

a. At the next performance review, note specifically what the nurse did to make the patient comfortable.
b. To avoid embarrassing the nurse in front of others, find a way to compliment the nurse in private.
c. When the nurse comes out of the room, tell the nurse specifically what you appreciated about the care that was provided.
d. Encourage the patient to note the care on the patient feedback form so that the institution can recognize the nurse's efforts.

Answer 1

The most effective way to recognize a new nurse's exceptional care is to give immediate and specific feedback after they have provided the care, as it is timely, relevant, and reinforces positive behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

When recognizing a new nurse's exceptional care, the most effective method is to provide immediate and specific feedback. Option c, telling the nurse specifically what you appreciated about the care provided right after they come out of the room, is highly effective. This not only reinforces the positive behavior but also ensures that the recognition is timely and relevant. It can boost the nurse's morale and encourage continual excellence in patient care. However, every individual is different, so it's important to consider how the nurse might prefer to receive feedback. In some cases, private recognition (option b) might be more appreciated if the nurse is uncomfortable receiving compliments in public. Performance reviews (option a) and patient feedback forms (option d) are also valuable, but they can lack the immediacy and personal touch of direct feedback.