Nursing Management Functions – Study Guide & Practice Questions
Management - ✔✔defined as the art of securing maximum results with a minimum of effort to
secure maximum prosperity and happiness for both employer and employee and give the public
the best possible service
Planning - ✔✔means to decide in advance what is to be done. It charts a course of action for
the future. It is an intellectual process and it aims to achieve a coordinated and consistent set of
operations aimed at desired objectives
Purpose of Planning - ✔✔- It gives direction to the organization.
- It improves efficiency.
- It eliminates duplication of efforts.
- It concentrates resources on important services.
- It reduces guesswork.
- It improves communication and coordination of activities
Objectives of Planning - ✔✔- Reduces uncertainty
- Brings cooperation and coordination
- Reduce competition
- Achieving the predetermined goals
- Economy in operation
- Anticipates unpredictable contingencies
Planning Process - ✔✔(i) The determination of appropriate goals and objectives
(ii) The specification of the actions needed to reach the established objectives
(iii) The optimum period of time for achieving them
, Types of Planning: Strategic plans - ✔✔designed with the entire organization in mind and
begin with an organization's mission. Essentially, strategic plans look ahead to where the
organization wants to be in three, five, even ten years.
Types of Planning: Operational plans - ✔✔sit at the bottom of the pole; they are the plans that
are made by frontline, or low-level, managers.
Types of Planning: Contingency planning - ✔✔Also known as 'special planning', it is used for
situations when changes cannot be foreseen. It is that 'what if' scenario that a business
manager needs to consider so that the company does not face losses. That 'what if' scenario can
be loss of data in a data security firm, a failed product in the market, etc.
Types of Planning: Tactical planning - ✔✔refers to task prioritisation for achieving short term
goals. This is one of the crucial types of planning in management that helps achieve those goals
as prescribed in a strategic plan.
In an organisation, it is approached by mid-level management. The goals to be achieved are set
for one or two departments and then moving on to the next in a tactical plan
SWOT Analysis - ✔✔also known as TOWS analysis, developed by Albert Humphrey at Stanford
university
SWOT: Strength - ✔✔internal attributes that help in an organization to achieve its objectives
SWOT: Weaknesses - ✔✔internal attributes that challenge an organization in achieving its
objectives
The planning hierarchy - ✔✔Mission -> Philosophy -> Goals -> Objectives -> Policies ->
Procedures -> Rules
Management - ✔✔defined as the art of securing maximum results with a minimum of effort to
secure maximum prosperity and happiness for both employer and employee and give the public
the best possible service
Planning - ✔✔means to decide in advance what is to be done. It charts a course of action for
the future. It is an intellectual process and it aims to achieve a coordinated and consistent set of
operations aimed at desired objectives
Purpose of Planning - ✔✔- It gives direction to the organization.
- It improves efficiency.
- It eliminates duplication of efforts.
- It concentrates resources on important services.
- It reduces guesswork.
- It improves communication and coordination of activities
Objectives of Planning - ✔✔- Reduces uncertainty
- Brings cooperation and coordination
- Reduce competition
- Achieving the predetermined goals
- Economy in operation
- Anticipates unpredictable contingencies
Planning Process - ✔✔(i) The determination of appropriate goals and objectives
(ii) The specification of the actions needed to reach the established objectives
(iii) The optimum period of time for achieving them
, Types of Planning: Strategic plans - ✔✔designed with the entire organization in mind and
begin with an organization's mission. Essentially, strategic plans look ahead to where the
organization wants to be in three, five, even ten years.
Types of Planning: Operational plans - ✔✔sit at the bottom of the pole; they are the plans that
are made by frontline, or low-level, managers.
Types of Planning: Contingency planning - ✔✔Also known as 'special planning', it is used for
situations when changes cannot be foreseen. It is that 'what if' scenario that a business
manager needs to consider so that the company does not face losses. That 'what if' scenario can
be loss of data in a data security firm, a failed product in the market, etc.
Types of Planning: Tactical planning - ✔✔refers to task prioritisation for achieving short term
goals. This is one of the crucial types of planning in management that helps achieve those goals
as prescribed in a strategic plan.
In an organisation, it is approached by mid-level management. The goals to be achieved are set
for one or two departments and then moving on to the next in a tactical plan
SWOT Analysis - ✔✔also known as TOWS analysis, developed by Albert Humphrey at Stanford
university
SWOT: Strength - ✔✔internal attributes that help in an organization to achieve its objectives
SWOT: Weaknesses - ✔✔internal attributes that challenge an organization in achieving its
objectives
The planning hierarchy - ✔✔Mission -> Philosophy -> Goals -> Objectives -> Policies ->
Procedures -> Rules
