CHAPTER 1

T HE P R OB LEM

This chapter presents the introduction of the entire concept of the paper, which includes the
background or the rationale of the study, the conceptual framework, significance of the study,
scope and limitation, and the available related studies.

1.1. Background of the Study

Nursing leadership and management have become important aspects in the

healthcare industry nowadays. With the rising demands of discipline in clinical and

academic nurses, it is just imperative that every administrator is trained and well-

groomed to fit for the function.

In the Philippines, intensive apprenticeship and practicum programs are integrated

in the nursing curriculum – all in undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate studies –

to provide venues for the training of the different function levels set by the respective

programs. This trend has spread all over the country. Famous of which in the master’s

level is the shadowing.

Shadowing, in the layman’s sense, is an observational study done in a participative

manner with the observers or the proponents of the study levelled off as a second or

third party. In this way, the external parties will be able to have an overview of the

target case. The Xavier University Master of Arts in Nursing’s course in Practicum in

Nursing Administration (N209) enables the students to be involved in such training.

The course technically involves translation of learned concepts, principles, and theories

in nursing management and leadership applied in various settings such as hospital,

school, industries and community; the emphasis of which is geared towards the

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beginning competency of a graduate student through hands-on experiences in Nursing

Administration/Service.

In light of this, the researcher seeks to provide an expository of the observations as

a realization of the course made to the various leaders based in clinics and in the

academe and lay down personal interpretations established on the different theories

presented in the course.

1.2. Conceptual Framework

1.3. Statement of the Problem

The concept of the paper is founded on the objective of the curriculum, which

is to experience real-world know-how of the nursing-based administration/service

in the context of expected attitude and theoretical principles application within a

10-day period at a hospital-based and academe-based institutions in Cagayan de

Oro City. This is successfully achieved by:

 Reviewing the essential concepts, principles, and theories in nursing

management and leadership applications in the hospital setting.

 Undergoing self-awareness activities prior to practicum proper.

 Assessing the corporate and institutional profile of Maria Reyna

Hospital.

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  Accomplishing the activities stated in the Executive Planner/Matrix:

o Conducting courtesy call to the heads of the institutions or key

persons in the practicum.

o Be oriented to the physical set-up, routines, policies and

procedures and personnel of the identified areas for practicum.

o Utilizing the management process and leadership in Nursing

Administrators of the area.

o Observing and document actual situations.

o Analyzing the scope of roles, functions, and responsibilities of

the Nursing Administrators.

 Adhering to ethico-moral, legislative, and legal principles while

performing hands-on experience as Dean and Chief Nurse.

 Supervising CI’s, nursing students, nursing staff, and personnel in the

care of clients in the hospital.

 Acquiring a sense of commitment, compassion, and consciousness in

performing the assigned task.

In this connection, the general objective of this paper is to discuss the

observations made to the various leaders based in the identified institutions and lay

down personal interpretations established on the different theories presented in the

course. Specifically, the paper seeks to:

 Conduct a time and motion study for the objects of the study

 Sum up the issues and concerns present in the system

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  Relay the insights and personal reflections of the intern-observer

1.4. Significance of the Study

The importance of this study is devised towards the development of the

graduate attitude in leadership as required of from a Master of Arts in Nursing

student. Aside from setting up examples of the theories in nursing management

and leadership that is still confined in the classroom, the curriculum, is significant

in the major sense by providing a practical and hands-on applications of the

theories and examples presented in the class. This study’s beneficiaries include:

The intern-observer/student: as the one who is directly involved in the

practicum process; who will be integrating the lessons within the study; and who

will be keeping the confidentiality of the sensitive points within the systems being

studied.

The course professor: being the one who is responsible for the smooth process

of the practicum realization, and in the collection of the learning experiences of the

students for future discussions in the course.

The systems being studied: for further analysis of their management and

administration scheme that will be raised as necessary in the right time.

1.5. Scope and Limitations

The discussions in this paper revolves only at the issues and experiences

encountered by the students during the practicum, and their reflections and

insights after the coming across the situations. These reflections are based on the

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 CERAEs submitted by the students in each day of their practicum duty. Any aspect

outside the objective of the program will not be included in the study. The names of

the persons involved in the system and the systems being observed will be kept for

confidentiality purposes.

1.6. Literature Review

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