Jennifer Floyd Aranilla
Week 3 Initial Post
While formal structures are comprised of official leadership roles with defined responsibilities, informal structures consist of naturally occurring social networks of employees who work together to reach desired outcomes and fill in the gaps and delays created by the formal structures (Marquis & Huston, 2017). Downey, Parslow, and Smart (2011) describe the benefit of informal nurse leaders, who are a foundation of the informal structures. “Outside the boundaries of formal authority is a phenomenon, in which leadership is driven by a network of people who make things happen primarily through subtle power and influence” (Downey, Parslow & Smart, 2011, p. 518).
My hospital is part of a large corporation. Within the medical center, there exists a traditional bureaucratic structure. I am part of the behavioral health service line and have dual reporting to the medical center administration and the corporate service line, indicating a matrix structure. Marquis and Huston (2017) note that a disadvantage of the matrix structure is the complexity of communication requirements and slow decision making and this is true of my service line. As a Magnet facility, the hospital holds in high regard the importance of nurse-led councils. In addition to facility practice, research, recognition and retention committees, each area has a department advisory team (DAT) that makes process and policy decisions for their units. Council representatives report out at their respective DATs and the CNO-led nursing executive council. Administration supports the councils and teams decisions and staff view them as an integral part of the facility’s functioning.
Downey, M., Parslow, S., & Smart, M. (2011). The hidden treasure in nursing leadership: Informal leaders. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(4), 517–521. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezp.waldenulibrary…
Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2017). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (9th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
apa format, 2 refernces, discussion reply