Question

Choose a change management theory and describe how you would apply it to the implementation of a new healthcare technology in your area/speciality of nursing.

Answer 1

Introduction : Planning is important for socioeconomic development. It helps to conceive and achive results in an atmosphere and spirit of true democratic situation, where in different agencies at various levels are involved in the policies of the government for welfare of it's people.  

Change theories in nursing

Change theories are used in nursing to bring about planned change. Planned change involves , recognising a problem and creating a plan to adress it. There are verious change theories that can be applied to change projects in nursing and health care.

Here I am applying Kurt Lewin's change theory .

According to this theory -

Unfreezing involves finding a method of making it possible for people to let go of an old pattern that was counterproductive in some way . In this stage , the need for change is recognized , the process of creating awareness for change is begun and acceptance of the proposed change is developed.

Example: Installing new infusion pump. During the staff meetings in between management and staff supervisor or incharges can tell the problems of following old manual drip method while administering IV fluids. They should also suggest the alternative matheods to which is cost-effective and employee friendly . Some employees may oppose the change since they are adjusted to old method so they should also discuss in all the nursing departments and make them to understand how the new infusion pump reduce time effort but increase aquirecy. Council the staffs and give orientation about how to use the new machines.

Moving to a new level involves a process of change in thoughts, feelings , behavior, or all three, that is in some way more liberating or more productive. The need for change is accepted and implemented in this stage.

Example: first we should tell the supervisor and incharges to adupt the new technology . Incharges should force the staffs to practice new infusion pumps in practice. They should take staff's feedback about new method and direct staffs attitude in a positive direction about adupting new technology. Supervisor and incharges can discuss with management and give a notice date to the employees to learn the new techniques of infusion pump and during that time they can use both new method and old method (emergency) in practice. They will also announce that after the notice date old practice method will be removed so that staffs become motivated to adupt the new change of practicing infusions pump.

Refreezing: is establishing the change as new habit, so that it now becomes the ' standards operating procedure'.

Example: After the notice date management should remove the old practice method of administering IV fluids and make infusion pump in practice completely and make it a permanent change till further improvement.