UNIT 2 ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF

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NURSING ADMINISTRATION
Structure
2.0 Objectives
2. I Introduction
2.2 Administrative Process
2.3 Elements/Functions of Administration
2.3.1 Planning
2.3.2 Organising
2.3.3 Staffing
2.3.4 Directing
2.3.5 Coordination and Controlling
2.3.6 Reporting
2.3.7 Budgeting
2.4 Principles of Administration
2.5 Let Us Sum Up
2.6 Answers to Check Your Progress
2.7 Fwther Readings

2.0 OBJECTIVES
After completing this unit, you should be able to: . .

explain the meaning of administrative process;

describe the various elements of public and nursing administration;
discuss the significance of each and every element in the management of the nwsing
service department; and
s administration to be applied in nursing service administration.
explain the p ~ c i p l e of

2.1 INTRODUCTION
From the previous unit, you might have got a clear idea about the administration and
management and differences between administration and management. The administrative
and operative functions in order to be effective need various processes. These processes are
described as elements of administration. For a scientific administration there is a need for
definite principles which help the administration to use them as guidelines in managing
smoothly any organisation.
This unit focuses on administrative process, elements and principles of administration.

It comprises a series of interested and interdependent functiom performed by the

administrator and managers for reaching the common objectives of an organisation. The
administrative process is a social process involving co-ordination of effects and various
categories of people with in the organisation. It is an intellectual, dynamic and creative as
s % r n I I no nl."&-lln..o mI,IOPEE
 The process is based on goal orientation meaning that all the actions are directed towards Elements and Prii les
Nursing Administi. . n
the achievement of goals. The process tries to define the nature of jobs to be performed by
all the personnel including manager; tries to maintain a sequence and interrelationships of
managerial functions like planning, organising, stafEng,directing, coordinating and
controlling etc.

The process is common to all the organisations whether it be a hospital, community health
center, college, school or office.

The administrative process is carried out by some functions which are explained as
elements. You will study those elements of administraiontorganisation in the following
section.

2.3 ELEMENTSIFUNCTIONS OF ADMINISTRATION

Gulick and Urwick coined the acronym - POSDCORB - to promote seven elements of
administration.

Both Gulic andUrwick were influenced by Taylor and Fayol. Gulick used Fayol's five
elements of administration, viz. planning,organisation,command, coordination and control
as framework for his neutral principles. Gulick briefly described the duties of ar
administrator with the help of famous acronym POSDCORB, which are used mostly to
describe the functions of administration.

A - Attuning

P Planning

S Staffing

D Directing

R Reporting

B Budgeting

2.3.1 Planning
Planning is the first step for the function of any administration. The word planning as used
by Fayol is "Prevoyance"which when translated explains forecasting and preparation for
it. The word planning is also interchangeably used with policing. Before a plan or a policy
can be made some attempt is made to forecast the situation to which the plan is to be
applied. The degree of accuracy with which the forecasting is done determines the success
of the plan. Forecasting should be done on the basis of available factual evidence rather
than the opinion$of the policy makers. Investigation of facts involves two things i.e.,
collection and classification. Investigation is often the work of experts of the respective
field. The investigators in the case of nursing administration are representatives from the
' field of health and nursing. Investigators along with the policy makers function in
committees, councils or government bodies. It is important that active participation of
nursing representatives involved in the clinical ahd academic institutions is sought to
prepare a realistic and workable plan.

Plan must be prepared keeping in mind the realities of the situation, which may be far away
from the ideals. Planning takes into account the resources available (manpower, material
and money), and the limitations of the situations. The plan should also have the provision
for adequate training and distribution of staff.
Priacipks of Nursing and Therefore, the plan should be such that can be easily integrated into the existing framework
Public Administration of the administration structure. The plan may be prepared for development purposes or to
bring about change.

The characteristics of a good plan are:

Plan should be-based on a clearly defined objectives. Objectives outline the intentions
that the p l a ~ e r alofig
s with members of the organisations, hope to achieve.
Therefore, objectives need to be communicated to all the members of the nursing staff
and others.

Plan should be simple, unambiguous, and free from complexities which may lead to
wastage of resources. A simple plan leads to success and achievement of laid down
objectives.
Plan should be based on the process of investigation for activities of the various
nursing members so as to set standards to assess quantity and quality of performance.
Plan should be flexible to adapt to different emergencies and changing situations.
Plan should be balanced so that it can be operated effectively within the total purpose
of the health agency.

Plan should be realistic, based on verifiable facts.

Planning in health care situations can be divided into two categories:
Strategic planning

Operational planning

Strategic planning is concerned with developing broad objectives, determining the services
required and means of hlfilling the same. Strategic planning is done at the highest planning
level with statement of the purpose. The purpose is focused on making decisions chosen
from among realistic options based on quantitative judgements. The process involves to
find answers as to "what services are needed". "Who will purchase them?", where would
the nursing services like to be in ten years? yow many departments? What type of clients
will be there?

Strategic planning is not based on facility oriented services but on market oriented i.e., in
response to the needs of the community. Thereby, the hospital is economically survivable,
and the preparation leads to a short range (2-3 years) and long range (5-6 years) strategy.
Therefore, it is important to involve experts in the field of health, nursing, economics,
administrator as consultant.
Operational planning is done at the lower organisational level generally, focused on
programme fixmulation and implementation. It is concerned with implementing strategic
planning in all its components at the operational level.

Implementation can be independent of strategic planning, because it concerns itself with

systems planning at alnevek of the institution - i.e., when a new service or department is
added, when there is need for upgrading of an existing service or department, or when a
new system of organisation is being introduced.
A step by step approach to planning involves following steps:

Analysis of the situation

Identifying priority problem

Formulating objectives-
Setting goals

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