Change in Nursing

¶ … Hospital X has decided to change its documentation from one system of computerized charting to another. There are obviously good reasons for this change which include solving problems of the system that was used before, this change will make work procedures more efficient and it will also reduce any unnecessary workload.

My critical care unit is the one that has been selected to try out this new computerized documentation as well as making recommendations about its use.as a nurse manager I would be very careful on how I go about this change process First of all I will only accept to proceed with the change process if its implementation is for a good reason. There would be no need of initiating a change which would not bring any benefits to the organization.

Therefore I will first scrutinize the new system that has been proposed and weigh its pros and cons before going ahead with the change process. Secondly, I will ensure that I will carry out the change process gradually. Change takes time before it is accepted and fully implemented since people were used to the old system that was in place. I will not just wake up one morning and impose the new system on people in my unit.

I will carry out the process quite gradually ensuring that it does not come as a surprise to the others and if done in a gradual manner then it would be easy to carry out the change process. The third thing is ensuring that the change is planned and not sporadic or sudden. This means that I will have to communicate the change to those involved in good time and in an effective way.

This is because people do not like change and therefore an overnight change would lead to people resisting the change no matter how good the change being introduced is. Therefore I will ensure that I plan how I will go about introducing this new system to those who will be affected by the change. I will not just attack them with the new system but I will ensure that I inform them on a change that is coming and make them understand the benefits of this new system.

Any change within the unit or organization brings feelings of achievement, loss, stress or even pride. For this reason it is very important for the change to be planned. A planned change is that which results from a well-thought out and deliberate effort in order to make something happen. A sudden or sporadic change will scare those who are affected with the change and they often end up not accepting the change since they will feel as though the change has been imposed on them.

The fourth thing is that I will ensure that I involve al those who are affected by this new system either directly or indirectly in planning for the change.