Assessment 1 Instructions: Mentor Interview

Interview a leader of your choice who has experience with creating and managing budgets, and write a 3-5 page analysis of your findings from the interview.

Introduction

Note: Complete the assessments in this course in the order in which they are presented.

Business acumen, including financial management skills, is a key competency for nurse leaders, and a primary responsibility for many is the development and management of operating and capital budgets.

For this assessment, you will speak with a leader of your choice who has experience with creating and managing budgets, learn about that person's approach to budget management, and consider techniques or strategies you may emulate when you create and manage budgets.

Nurse leaders must be well-versed in the fundamentals of health care economics. A firm understanding of these concepts is essential in order to examine national trends and diverse health care organizations. At the organizational level, health care economics operate in a manner very similar to other competitive industries and businesses.

Within any organization, regardless of size, nurse leaders must understand the purpose and complexity of building a solid budget. Nurse leaders must be able to recognize the organizational or unit goals and then be adept and competent in the planning, designing, and defending a budget to meet those needs.

Note: Complete the assessments in this course in the order in which they are presented.

Preparation

You are the nurse manager of a new urgent care clinic, and one of your first tasks is to prepare next year's operating budget. Like many nurses, you have had little or no direct experience with the budgeting process and realize that financial management is not one of your strengths as a leader. Consequently, you have decided that you need to reach out for help from someone in the facility with budgeting experience and financial management expertise who can offer you help and insight.

As you prepare to complete this assessment, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be completed or submitted as part of your assessment.

Capital and operating budgets each play a major role in the financial expenditures of nursing units.

What is the purpose of each type of budget?

How does managing these two types of budgets differ?

What financial management techniques are common to both types?