Span of control matters.

Prompted by manager concerns about span of control, a large, integrated health system set out to determine if span of control really mattered. Was there something to it, or was it just an excuse for poor performance? A team of middle managers studied the problem and ultimately demonstrated a strong relationship between span of control and employee engagement. Consequently, it was decided to add 4 management positions to note the effect.

Addressing the human side of change: career development and renewal.

At no time in history has the pace of organizational change been so great. And while ample attention has been placed on the need for change, significantly less attention has been placed on the human side of these changes. Across the country, organizations are now recognizing the need for new and different strategies to respond to the ever-changing workplace and workforce needs.

The nurse as an educator.

The rapidly changing healthcare system offers challenges and opportunities for nurse educators. Increasing evidence of health promotion/consumer empowerment, cost containment, increase in chronic illness, and the continued expansion of medical technology requires nurses with broad educational competencies. These competencies include preceptoring, patient education, and formal presentation skills.

Evaluation: an important aspect of staff development service.

Evaluation is an important aspect of staff development service. However, it is frequently overlooked or superficially addressed in staff development quality management programs. This article emphasizes the importance of multilevel evaluation techniques to assure quality education and promote effective use of staff development resources.