Nursing Home Case Study Essay

1 Introduction

The main objective of this case study analysis is to understand the nursing home company MV Health and their worker’s current situation. Due to changes in the company’s management and structure, the organisation wants to attain the goals of more efficiency and profitability. The impacts of actions taken and the general strategy will be analysed regarding the relevant Human Resource Management issues with the example of nurse advisor Sarah who is the main character in this case study. To do so, different specialized literature will be used to point out effects and coherences between the analysed issues.

2 Identification of the two key HRM issues with the case study

In the case study “MV Health” there are two key issues related

It is a fundamental HRM activity and plays the key role in deciding on the actual job structure which is, “identifying the relevant tasks and activities and allocating them across employees in a way that allows the organization to reap benefits from specialization”, but also bundle job tasks in order to use possible synergies between the different tasks (Foss, Minbaeva, Pedersen & Reinholt, 2009, p.873). There are two major approaches to job design, these are the job enrichment approach “which attempts to make the job more interesting, challenging, and significant by adding dimensions such as variety, autonomy, feedback, and control” and the job engineering approach “which attempts to make jobs more efficient by improving work methods, tools, and task-goal structure through activities such as time-and-motion studies and goal setting” (Umstot, Bell & Mitchell, 1976,

After the introduction of an overall senior management the presented nurse advisor Sarah now has to deal with a number of different tasks like more paperwork or cleaning that do not fit to her profession. Furthermore, she is having her breaks in isolation and she needs authorisation if she wants to order small items like bandages because the management thinks this is more efficient and cost-effective. But on the other hand, unqualified casual workers are authorised to hand out medication to the patients. As a result of changes in law, Sarah also has to take care of 15 instead of 8 high care patients which is a way bigger workload. This role ambiguity, role conflict, isolation, the lack of authority and a bigger workload are the factors which Colligan & Higgins (2006) pointed out as the factors that lead to workplace stress. Obviously, a change in Sarah’s mental state in response to the workplace stress is already taking place as she is less motivated, unhappy and already starts to think of finding another job. Therewith, there are also negative consequences like absenteeism, lower productivity and poor decision-making appearing which also affect MV Health.

With the increasing stress and pressure the job satisfaction of Sarah is decreasing. Mainly the lack of autonomy and a low participation or involvement, which is shown in the frustration