01 Feb 2. Clearly identify and articulate

Week 1 Discussion

DQ1 Budgeting Concepts

Motivating employees of a healthcare organization is important for the success of the organization. If employees are not motivated to support the budget, it will typically not be successful. As the nurse leader, discuss two strategies to increase employee motivation related to the budget process.

DQ2 Budgeting Preparation

The largest element of a nursing unit’s operating budget is usually labor. As the nurse leader of her unit, Debbie is preparing her initial annual budget. Describe two factors she should consider when deciding whether to increase or decrease the current number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) on her unit for the next fiscal year.

Week 2 Discussion

DQ1 Healthcare Costs and Prices

Discuss one difference between the types of cost information needed for external reporting and the information useful to the manager.

DQ2 Forecasting

Debbie meets with her supervisor to discuss forecasting. Discuss one reason why Debbie should support forecasting. Explain your rationale.

Week 3 Discussion

DQ1: Causes of Variances

Debbie is reviewing her monthly financial data. Discuss one potential variance that may occur in Debbie’s budget.

DQ2 Interpretation of Variances

Examine the differences between an original budget and a flexible budget. Discuss the purpose of both types of budgets.

Week 4 Discussion

DQ1 Marketing Plans

Discuss the influence your marketing plan can have on your operating budget.

DQ2 Incentives and Economic Implications

Debbie and her supervisor are having some preliminary budget discussions. The use of incentives is mentioned. Discuss the purpose of using incentives in Debbie’s operating budget.

Week 5 Discussion

DQ1: Pro Formas

Debbie and her supervisor have moved to the topic of pro formas. Discuss the purpose of pro forma statements and how they may benefit Debbie.

DQ2 Budgeting Process

Describe the budgeting process and the role of the nurse leader.

Week 6 Discussion

DQ1: Long-term Financing

After reading this week’s article by Niemand, discuss the benefits of developing a business plan to secure long-term financing in a healthcare organization.

DQ2 Financial Risk

Sources of financing for SLMC have changed over time. Historically, many donors provided financial assistance to the organization. Discuss concerns Debbie may have in preparing her annual budget, if your organization has historically been funded by philanthropy.

Week 7 Discussion

DQ1 Business Plan

Discuss the purpose of a business plan.

DQ2 Development of a Business Plan

Discuss the influence of the mission of SLMC in the development of the business plan that Debbie must develop.

Week 8 Discussion

DQ1 Business Plan Assignment

Upload your Business Plan Assignment from Week 7 into this discussion. Please provide insights and constructive feedback to your peers regarding their Business Plan Assignment.

DQ2 Reflection

What specific knowledge of financial management in healthcare organizations, that you gained through this experience, will be most important as you take on your future nurse-executive role?

Week 3 Forecasting Assignment

Purpose

The purposes of this assignment are to (a) identify and articulate key concepts of forecasting and budgeting strategies for your cardiac unit at Saint Louis Medical Center (SLMC), which includes evaluating variance analyses as they apply to nursing budgets within healthcare organizations; and (b) formulate a revenue and expense budget for a nursing unit within a healthcare organization and communicate the information in a clear, succinct, and scholarly manner.

Outcomes

CO 1: Create a business plan based on evidence-based best practices that promotes high quality, safe, patient-centered care. (PO 1, 5)

CO 2: Demonstrate an understanding of holistic care principles and caring healthcare environments through the application of evidence-based financial principles. (PO 1, 2, 5)

Due Date:Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 3 into the CCN Dropbox

Total Points Possible: 200

Requirements:

1. This paper will be graded on quality of paper information, use of citations, use of standard English grammar, sentence structure, and organization based on the required components.

2. Create this assignment using Microsoft Word, which is the required format for all Chamberlain documents. You can tell that the document is saved as an MS Word document because it will end in.docx.

3. Submit the paper to the appropriate CCN Dropbox by 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday of the week due. Any questions about this paper may be discussed in the weekly Q & A Discussion topic.

4. The length of the paper is to be no greater than three pages, excluding title page and reference page. Extra pages will not be read by the instructor and will not count toward your grade.

5. APA format (6th edition) is required in this assignment, including a title page and reference page. Use APA level 1 headings for the organizational structure of this assignment. Remember that the introduction does not carry a heading that labels it as a level heading in APA format. The first part of your paper is assumed to be the introduction. See the APA manual for details. See the resource in Doc Sharing called Guidelines for Writing Professional Papers. Use the suggested format and headings to organize your assignment:

1. Include an introduction (do not label it as a heading in APA format)

2. Key concepts of forecasting budget

3. Supporting evidence

4. Budget strategies

5. Conclusion

Preparing the paper

Note: Use the resources in Doc Sharing related to SLMC to assist in completion of this assignment; Week 3 Forecasting Background and SLMC information as needed.

1. Clear introduction of your forecasting assignment is in the introduction paragraph, including a sentence that states the purpose of your paper.

2. Clearly articulate key concepts of your forecasting budget for the cardiac unit at SLMC.

3. Include of a minimum of three sources of scholarly, empirical evidence that supports your budget strategies for the cardiac unit at SLMC. See resources under Doc Sharing related to SLMC.

4. Identify budget strategies to keep your forecast for the cardiac unit at SLMC within budget.

5. Provide concluding statements that should summarize your overall forecasting assignment content.

6. The paper will be three pages maximum, excluding title and reference page(s).

Week 5 Budget Development Assignment

Purpose

The purposes of this assignment are to (a) identify and articulate key concepts of budget-development strategies for your cardiac unit at Saint Louis Medical Center (SLMC), which includes evaluating variance analyses as they apply to nursing budgets within healthcare organizations; (b) formulate a revenue-and-expense budget for a nursing unit within a healthcare organization; and (c) communicate the information in a clear, succinct, and scholarly manner.

Outcomes

CO 1: Create a business plan based on evidence-based best practices that promotes high quality, safe, patient-centered care. (PO 1, 5)

CO 2: Demonstrate an understanding of holistic care principles and caring healthcare environments through the application of evidence-based financial principles. (PO 1, 2, 5)

(Note: This assignment will be submitted to Turnitin (TII) automatically through the Chamberlain Dropbox.

Requirements:

1. This paper will be graded on quality of information, use of citations, use of standard English grammar, sentence structure, and organization, based on the required components.

2. Create this assignment using Microsoft Word, which is the required format for all Chamberlain documents. You can tell that the document is saved as an MS Word document because it will end in .docx.

3. Submit the paper to the appropriate CCN Dropbox by 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday of the week due. Any questions about this paper may be discussed in the weekly Q & A Discussion topic.

4. The length of the paper is to be no greater than three pages, excluding title page and reference page. Extra pages will not be read by the instructor and will not count toward your grade.

5. APA format (6th edition) is required in this assignment, including a title page and a reference page. Use APA level 1 headings for the organizational structure of this assignment. Remember that the introduction does not carry a heading that labels it as a level heading in APA format. The first part of your paper is assumed to be the introduction. See the APA manual for details. See the resource in Doc Sharing called Guidelines for Writing Professional Papers. Use the suggested format and headings to organize your assignment:

1. Include an introduction (do not label it as a heading in APA format)

2. Identify steps to develop a budget

3. Analysis of sample budget development

4. Strategies to improve budget development

5. Supporting evidence

6. Conclusion

Preparing the paper

As the nurse executive of a healthcare organization, you were provided a sample budget for the cardiac unit at SLMC. You must analyze the proposed budget and make recommendations to improve the development of the budget. Evidence will be used to support your strategies.

Note: Use the resources in Doc Sharing related to SLMC to assist in completion of this assignment; Week 5 Budget Development Background Information and SLMC information as needed.

1. Clearly introduce your budget-development assignment in the introduction paragraph, including a sentence that states the purpose of your paper.

2. Clearly articulate the steps you would take, as the nurse executive, to develop a budget for your cardiac unit at SLMC.

3. Clearly analyze the proposed sample budget developed for the cardiac unit at SLMC.

4. Clearly articulate your strategies to improve the budget development for the cardiac unit at SLMC.

5. Include of a minimum of three sources of scholarly, empirical evidence that support your budget strategies.

6. Provide conclusion statements for your overall assignment content.

7. The paper will be a length of three pages maximum, excluding title and reference page(s).

Week 7 Business Plan

Purpose

The purposes of this assignment are to (a) identify and articulate key steps and concepts in the development of a business plan for a new wellness center at Saint Louis Medical Center (SLMC), which includes evaluating variance analyses as they apply to nursing budgets within healthcare organizations; (b) formulate and evaluate a business plan for a healthcare organization; and (c) communicate the information in a clear, succinct, and scholarly manner.

Outcomes

CO 2: Demonstrate an understanding of holistic care principles and caring healthcare environments through the application of evidence-based financial principles. (PO 1, 2, 5)

CO 4: identify individual gaps in knowledge and competencies in business skills that require further growth. (PO 3)

Due Date:Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 7

Total Points Possible: 225

Requirements:

1. This paper will be graded on quality of information, use of citations, use of standard English grammar, sentence structure, and organization based on the required components.

2. Create this assignment using Microsoft Word, which is the required format for all Chamberlain documents. You can tell that the document is saved as an MS Word document because it will end in .docx.

3. Submit the paper to the appropriate CCN Dropbox by 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday of the week due. Any questions about this paper may be discussed in the weekly Q & A Discussion topic.

4. The length of the paper is to be no greater than four pages, excluding title page and reference page. Extra pages will not be read by the instructor and will not count toward your grade.

5. APA format (6th edition) is required in this assignment, including a title page and a reference page. Use APA level 1 headings for the organizational structure of this assignment. Remember that the introduction does not carry a heading that labels it as a level heading in APA format. The first part of your paper is assumed to be the introduction. See the APA manual for details. See the resource in Doc Sharing called Guidelines for Writing Professional Papers. Use the suggested format and headings to organize your assignment:

1. Include an introduction (do not label it as a heading in APA format)

2. Steps to Develop a Business Plan

3. Alignment with Organizational Mission and Vision

4. Strengths and Weaknesses

5. Throughput Considerations

6. Marketing Strategies

7. Conclusion

Preparing the paper

A business plan is a detailed plan for a proposed program, project, or service. As the nurse executive of SLMC, you must evaluate the feasibility of a business plan for a new wellness center at your organization. Note: Use the resources in Doc Sharing related to SLMC to assist in completion of this assignment as needed.

Use the documents in Doc Sharing to assist in the assignment as needed.

1. Clearly introduce your business-plan assignment in the introduction paragraph. Include a sentence that states the purpose of your assignment.

2. Clearly identify and articulate the steps to develop a business plan for a new wellness center at SLMC.

3. Clearly articulate how the addition of a cardiac-wellness center would align with the mission and vision of the organization, SLMC.

4. Clearly identify two strengths and two weaknesses of this proposed project.

5. Clearly identify at least two throughput considerations or concerns you have for this project.

6. Clearly identify two marketing strategies for this proposed project.

7. Provide concluding statements that should summarize your overall assignment content.

8. The paper length will be four pages maximum, excluding title and reference page(s).