Team Leadership

Primary Members of the Capstone Project Team

The capstone project team comprises key individuals critical to the successful execution of the standardized narcotic waste process. These include J.T., the nurse in charge of medication supervision and professional records’ work on the day shift, and S.M. Who is responsible for supervision during the night shift practical operations. L.R. the charge nurse also coordinates the division members’ efforts, gives them input into their performance, and resolves some particular problems: Team Leadership.

In addition, K.P., the pharmacy director makes sure the project is in compliance with the legal frameworks and promotes cooperation between pharmacy and nursing staff. Such a confluence of skills and experience within this team provides a good basis for addressing the challenges of the project.

Team Stage of Functioning

The team is currently in the storming stage, as defined by Heagney (2022). This stage is evident in the disagreements among nurses of the day and night shifts concerning training times and work tasks. In the storming stage, the group has experienced some tension, but this can be addressed as there is no intensity which can hamper the work. For example, in team members, there is a greater threshold of facilities set up which has increased conflict due to unequal training standards.

Strategies to Achieve the Performing Stage

For a team to get to the performing stage, some strategies must be put in place that will resolve issues of conflict and unify everyone into the objective of the team. First, open communication is fundamental. Determining the purpose of the meeting and the type of discussion can help overcome confusion and ensure two-sided decisions among the participants. Second, if each team member is aware of what and how they are to deliver their contribution, uncertainty is lessened. J.T. will supervise training in the day shift whereas S.M. will take charge of night training.

Setting clear goals is another important aspect. For instance, reiterating conclusions that need to be met such as two-person verification having 90 percent effectiveness, would make the sole aim clear to everyone. Finally, providing oneself with lessons concerning conflict resolution strategies may enable one to deal with disputes constructively and cooperatively, as stated by Yoder-Wise (2019).

Conflict and Stress Management During the Project

Conflict Description

A significant conflict arose during a recent team meeting regarding training schedules. Day-shift nurses argued that the classes interfered with their workflow while the night-shift nurses voiced their worries of not getting equal chances for training. Since there was no resolution to the ongoing issues, the meeting was futile signaling the need for appropriate solutions to resolving the conflicts.

Evaluation of Conflict Management

The initial handling of the conflict was suboptimal, as the meeting was cut short prematurely and ended without answering any of the concerns raised. This caused more delay in problem-solving and further segregation of the team. In order to not face a situation such as this in the future or improve the mediation procedures, it would be important to use a different resolution model that is more constructive.

Appropriate Conflict Management Approach

Heagney’s (2022) integration approach is the most suitable to address the conflict in this case. This method stresses the cooperative problem-solving and self-fulfillment mechanisms. Adopting this method includes understanding the problems from both shifts, offering alternatives such as changing the training times, and encouraging communication. For instance, both-shift training inadequacies can be minimized by using video recordings of prior sessions for both shifts to watch.

Encouraging an environment where all team members feel appreciated helps in teamwork and the project’s completion. Yoder-Wise (2019) states that effective leaders do not only expect team members to solve problems, but they also demonstrate how to do it. Besides, the standards described by Preuss, Kalava, and King (2023) address the issues of accountability and proper record-keeping in the storage and use of controlled medications and explain the relevance of the study.

Conflict Resolution as a Leadership Skill

The ability to resolve conflict satisfactorily is a vital leadership quality that combines compassion, decisiveness, and intellect, all at the same time. By being forward-looking about issues and opting for communication as a preferred strategy, leaders can turn challenges around positively.

References

Heagney, J. (2022). Fundamentals of project management (6th ed.). AMACOM.

Preuss, C. V., Kalava, A., & King, K. C. (2023). Prescription of controlled substances: Benefits and risks. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537318/

Yoder-Wise, P. S. (2019). Leading and managing in nursing (7th ed.). Elsevier.

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Getting Started

As a professional nurse leading a planned change process, you will likely experience conflict and stress as you encounter barriers. The change leader’s response is critically important to the productive resolution of the stressful issue. Leaders must be cognizant of maintaining a comprehensive vision of the project and a sense of life balance as they assess effective strategies to manage conflict and stress.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

• Analyze selected strategies to decrease conflict and stress.
• Identify preferred approaches in effective conflict management.

Resources

• Textbook: Fundamentals of Project Management
• Textbook: Leading and Managing in Nursing

Background Information

Constructive response to conflict and the implementation of effective strategies to counter conflict and stress are leadership skills that are refined with experience. If you have not encountered conflict or stress while leading your project team, consider the following case study:

Your direct supervisor designated you as a project manager, with a team of four, to implement a change in practice related to recently published evidence-based research. The team is split into two camps. The last team meeting was a disaster, with two team members sitting on one side of the table and the other two members on the other side.

The tension in the air was palpable. You ended the meeting after only 30 minutes because nothing was being accomplished. You schedule another meeting for next week.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review Chapter 8 and 19 in your textbook, Leading and Managing in Nursing.
3. Read Chapters 13, 14, and 16 in your textbook, Fundamentals of Project Management.
4. Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following:
   1. Identify the primary members of your capstone project team using initials and job titles.
   2. Based upon Heagney’s definition of team stages in Chapter 13, at what stage is your team functioning? Validate your answer with examples.
   3. If your team is not at the performing stage, what can you do to help the team reach the performing stage? If your team is at the performing stage, what can you do to facilitate the team staying at the performing stage?
   4. Briefly, describe a conflict or stress you and/or your team have experienced during your capstone project? If you have not experienced this conflict, base your responses to the following questions on how you would react to the conflict in the case study included in the Background Information.
      1. How well did you deal with the conflict?
      2. Was your approach positive or negative?
      3. Considering the five approaches to conflict Heagney discusses in Chapter 14, what would be the most appropriate approach to handle this type of conflict? How would you handle this method?
5. Cite and reference a minimum of one source for your initial posting.
6. Your initial post is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.
7. Read and respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings by the end of the workshop.  You are encouraged to respond to follow-up instructor questions directed to you.
8. Your responsive posting should be at least six sentences in length and be well developed by providing substantive feedback, specific suggestions, with evidence of critical thinking.