How to manage performance issues in nursing practice
Intended for healthcare professionals
How to series    

How to manage performance issues in nursing practice

Erhauyi Meshach Aiwerioghene Senior lecturer – healthcare management, School of Health and Social Care, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales

Why you should read this article:
  • To recognise why it is important that leaders or managers address performance issues in nursing practice

  • To know what is involved in preparation before discussing performance issues with a nurse

  • To understand the steps to take to address a nurse’s performance issues and support improvement in their practice

Rationale and key points

Addressing performance issues in nursing practice is a crucial but sensitive aspect of the role of nurse leaders and managers. This article explains how they can undertake this process by using a supportive and proactive approach that can foster a positive work environment, improve patient care and empower nurses to thrive in practice. Those involved in addressing a nurse’s performance issues must have the knowledge and skills required to do so effectively with sensitivity and care, while working within their level of competence.

• Where performance issues have been identified, early intervention is essential to foster constructive dialogue, preserve relationships and maintain a motivated and productive healthcare team.

• The focus should be on understanding what aspects of the nurse’s performance require improvement, what has been learned from the situation and how this can be applied to the nurse’s future practice.

• It is useful to work with the nurse to develop a collaborative action plan for improvement that establishes clear goals, timelines and resource allocation.

Reflective activity

‘How to’ articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of:

• A time you addressed performance issues with a colleague or team member, or how someone helped you to improve your practice.

• How you could use this information to develop your knowledge and skills in addressing performance issues.

Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2024.e12443

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

e.m.aiwerioghene@swansea.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Aiwerioghene EM (2024) How to manage performance issues in nursing practice. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2024.e12443

Disclaimer

Please note that information provided by How to articles is not sufficient to make the reader competent to perform the task. All clinical skills should be formally assessed according to policy and procedures. It is the nurse’s responsibility to ensure their practice remains up to date and reflects the latest evidence

Published online: 31 October 2024

Want to read more?

RCNi-Plus
Already have access? Log in

or

3-month trial offer for £5.25/month

Subscribe today and save 50% on your first three months
RCNi Plus users have full access to the following benefits:
  • Unlimited access to all 10 RCNi Journals
  • RCNi Learning featuring over 175 modules to easily earn CPD time
  • NMC-compliant RCNi Revalidation Portfolio to stay on track with your progress
  • Personalised newsletters tailored to your interests
  • A customisable dashboard with over 200 topics
Subscribe

Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more