The document presents two case studies related to human resource management and labor relations in hospitals. Case study #1 focuses on Joan, a nurse manager at TrulyGood Hospital, who faces employee dissatisfaction due to recent layoffs and negative performance appraisal reactions. Case study #2 describes Tom, the CEO of Beneficent Hospital, who becomes aware of a disconnect with staff despite financial success, indicated by unusual staff behavior during his rounds.

1. NURS 6221: Managing Human ResourcesLabor Relations: Case
Studies
Directions: Select one case study for this week’s
Discussion.Case Study #1: The Saga of TrulyGood Hospital
Joan, Nurse Manager at TrulyGood Hospital had been having a
hectic month. Performance appraisals for all 70 of her staff
members were due the previous week and Joan had been
spending an enormous amount of time writing and delivering
them. Although it didn’t seem to be an unusual year, there
seemed to be more “push back” from staff members when she
shared their appraisals and a lot more negativity about the small
salary increases this year. It hadn’t been that long since they
had several layoffs, and she supposed people were still unhappy
and nervous about the unstable job situation.
Joan hadn’t been as visible in her department for the last couple
of weeks and was surprised at the grumbling she was hearing.
As she was making rounds, she noticed Tim, one of the
Emergency Department nurses, talking with several of her
employees and handing out index cards. That’s curious, she
thought, but before she could investigate, someone asked for her
help and she was tied up for the next hour.
Later in the day, she stepped into the break room and noticed
there was on the bulletin board an article about the successful
union organizing election at a nearby hospital with a giant
“WAY TO GO” written in red across the article. Who could
have put that there, she wondered? Just as she was reaching for
it, her phone rang and she spent the rest of the day at an
unscheduled meeting to talk about problems with patients
throughout the hospital.Case Study #2: The Saga of Beneficent
Hospital
Tom, the CEO of Beneficent Hospital, was driving home from a
corporate system meeting feeling euphoric. The last quarter
numbers were out, and his hospital was doing great with

2. productivity and all of the other financial indicators. With the
recent employee layoffs and cost-savings cuts that had been
made, he was looking impressive compared to his colleagues
throughout the system. In fact, the system President had made a
point of using Tom as an example to the others about what
could be done if they just “put their minds to it.” Things
couldn’t be better, and he was in a hurry to get home and share
the news with his wife.
He stopped at the hospital briefly to pick up a few things in his
office. As he drove away from his personal parking space, he
noticed a group of nurses at the front of the building talking
with someone he didn’t recognize. “I wonder who that is?” Tom
asked himself. The nurses seemed very interested in what the
individual was telling them.
When Tom was making his rounds the next day, he noticed a
distinct coolness in the greetings he was receiving. Staff
members he normally found to be talkative seemed to avoid eye
contact with him. Even when asked a direct question, many
appeared to be too busy to stop what they were doing. At the
end of his rounds, Tom sought out Ava, a nurse manager who
had played a large role in reducing unnecessary expenses within
her department. As Tom congratulated her on the impact of
these efforts, he noticed a distinct grumbling coming from
nearby staff members. Though he didn’t want to admit it, he
knew these had to be directed towards him. Ava thanked him for
his acknowledgment. As she walked away, he saw her glance at
the gathered staff members.
© 2012 Laureate Education, Inc.