Personal_Perspective_Paper

Abstract Its practically impossible to go throughout a day without using a decision-making model. Decision making models can be very effective in problem solving. In this paper I will discuss the decision making process I use to evaluate my role as a team assistant in an Assisted Living facility, and how after gathering and analyzing information I decided to make a career change. That career change began with my decision to pursue a graduate degree. . Personal Perspective According to Microsoft (2009), decision making is "the process of making choices or reaching conclusions” (Decision-Making, para. 1 ). Its practically impossible to go throughout a day without using a decision-making model. In this paper I will discuss the decision making process that was used to evaluate my role as a team assistant in an Assisted Living facility, and how gathering and analyzing information helped in my decision to pursue a graduate degree. The role of team assistant did not previously require me to make incalculable decisions; however, I find myself often at the helm of making significant decisions in my department. I do realize that as a team assistant, I support several managers, staff members, patients, and family members. That means I have many chiefs and each think that their request is the only one of major importance. The presence of many chiefs requires juggling priorities and balancing out multiple requests while concentrating on initial responsibilities. Printing out letters on letterhead, and completing time sheets do not require anything more than a little preparation and a manager’s signature; while meeting with family members to discuss medical treatment changes, staff members being out of compliance with state regulations, and writing disciplinary reports, clearly need to be addressed by a manager. The ultimate choice to return to school to secure a graduate degree did not solely materialize as a result of the increasing job duties as much as the increase in unpleasant ending results that accompanied the newly given job duties. The breaking point occurred on the day when I arranged a meeting between the Assisted Living manager and a family member to update a member’s plan of care. Scheduling of the meeting was made a week in advance to allow changes and postponement notifications if necessary. Just before noon on the day of the meeting, the Assisted Living manager gives me a clipboard of forms and instructs me to “go over this section, go over that, add comments here, and have the family member sign here. I will be unable to attend the meeting.” The family member arrived and the fact that I could not make any command decisions regarding care, coupled with the fact that the manager did not call to reschedule infuriated the family member. I was able to supply her with general information and although she asked to reschedule the meeting with the manager, she seemed satisfied. In evaluating my role as a team assistant in an Assisted Living facility, I have found that the assigning of extra duties, the number of individuals directing my daily activities and the lack of professionalism in my department have encouraged my decision to return to graduate school. Reference Microsoft. (2009). MSN Encarta. Retrieved from http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861688906/decision-making.html on March 22, 2010.