Assignment Application Planned Change In A Department Or Uni

Assignment Application Planned Changein A Department Or Unithealth C

Assignment: Application: Planned Change in a Department or Unit health care organizations are continuously immersed in change from the emergence of new policies, to promote quality care and improve patient safety to keeping pace with the rapid growth in knowledge and best practices. Establishing a solid framework for planning and implementing change is a wise move, as it provides a foundation for the extensive coordination that will be needed to successfully facilitate the change. For this Assignment, you propose a change at the department or unit level and develop a plan for guiding the change effort. To prepare: Review Chapter 8 in the course text. Focus on Kurt Lewin’s change theory, and contrast it with other classic change models and strategies.

Reflect on problems, inefficiencies, and critical issues within a specific department, unit, or area in your organization or one with which you are familiar. Select one issue as a focal point for this assignment, and consider a change that could be made to address the issue. Think about how the change would align with the organization’s mission, vision, and values as well as relevant professional standards. Using one of the change models or strategies discussed in Chapter 8, begin formulating a plan for implementing the change within the department/unit. Outline the steps that you and/or others should follow to facilitate the change effort.

Align these steps to the change model or strategy you selected. Determine who should be involved in initiating and managing the change. Consider the skills and characteristics that are necessary to facilitate this change effort. To complete: By Day 7 Write a 3- to 5-page paper (page count does not include title and reference page) that addresses the following: Identify a problem, inefficiency, or issue within a specific department/unit. Describe a specific, realistic change that could be made to address the issue.

Summarize how the change would align with the organization’s mission, vision, and values as well as relevant professional standards. Identify a change model or strategy to guide your planning for implementing the change. Provide a rationale for your selection. Outline the steps that you and/or others would follow to facilitate the change. Align these steps to your selected change model or strategy.

Explain who would be involved in initiating and managing this change. Describe the skills and characteristics that would be necessary to facilitate the change effort. Reminder: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references.

Paper For Above instruction

In contemporary healthcare environments, change is an inevitable and essential process to ensure quality patient care, safety, and organizational efficiency. This paper explores a targeted change initiative within a hospital unit, employing Kurt Lewin's change theory as the guiding framework for planning and implementation. The chosen issue is the frequent medication administration errors in a medical-surgical unit, which compromise patient safety and lead to increased morbidity and healthcare costs. Addressing this issue requires a structured approach aligned with organizational goals and professional standards, ensuring sustainable improvements that resonate with the mission to provide safe, effective, patient-centered care.

Identification of the Issue

The medical-surgical unit under review faces recurrent medication administration errors, often due to interruptions, inadequate staffing, and inconsistent adherence to protocols. These errors extend beyond administrative oversights, risking adverse patient outcomes, prolonged hospital stays, and increased liability for the organization. Root cause analysis indicates that both systemic inefficiencies and cultural factors contribute to these errors, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive change strategy aimed at fostering a culture of safety and accountability.

Proposed Change

The specific change involves implementing a "Medication Safety Protocol" that includes designated "No Interruption" zones during medication rounds, enhanced staff training, and regular audits of medication administration practices. This intervention aims to mitigate errors by establishing a focused, standardized process rooted in evidence-based practices. It aligns with the hospital’s mission to deliver safe, high-quality care by reducing preventable errors and fostering a culture committed to safety and excellence.

Alignment with Organizational Mission and Standards

This change supports the health organization’s mission to "deliver compassionate, safe, and quality care" and directly corresponds to professional standards outlined by organizations such as the Joint Commission and the American Nurses Association (ANA). Ensuring medication safety not only aligns with organizational values but also with ethical standards emphasizing patient safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. It reinforces the organization’s dedication to reducing harm, adhering to evidence-based practice, and cultivating a safety-oriented culture among staff.

Change Model Selection and Rationale

Kurt Lewin's Change Theory was selected as the guiding model because of its simplicity, emphasis on unfreezing existing practices, transitioning to new processes, and refreezing to solidify change. Its three-stage structure—Unfreeze, Change, and Refreeze—provides a practical blueprint for implementing behavioral and procedural changes in healthcare settings. Compared with other models, Lewin’s framework allows for focused change management that considers organizational inertia and facilitates stakeholder buy-in by emphasizing communication, education, and reinforcement.

Implementation Steps Aligned with Lewin’s Model

1. Unfreeze: Conduct staff meetings to discuss medication errors, present data, and build awareness of the need for change. Engage nursing leaders and clinical educators to foster a shared understanding and commitment.
2. Change: Pilot the "No Interruption" zones during medication rounds, provide targeted training on medication safety protocols, and introduce checklists and audits to reinforce adherence.
3. Refreeze: Standardize the new protocols through policies, integrate them into routine practice, and recognize team members demonstrating compliance. Monitor error rates and gather feedback for continuous improvement, solidifying the new safety culture.

Stakeholders and Skills for Change Management

The success of this initiative hinges on active participation from nurse managers, staff nurses, pharmacists, and hospital leadership. Nurse managers are crucial for championing the change, providing mentorship, and ensuring accountability. Staff nurses must demonstrate openness to learning and adherence to protocols. Hospital leadership should facilitate resources, policy adjustments, and reinforce the importance of safety initiatives. Essential skills include effective communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement. The change agents should also possess adaptability and resilience to navigate resistance and sustain motivation.

Conclusion

Implementing a medication safety protocol through Lewin’s Change Theory offers a structured pathway to reduce medication errors in the medical-surgical unit. By engaging stakeholders, applying evidence-based strategies, and reinforcing new behaviors, organizations can foster a culture of safety that aligns with their core mission and professional standards. This systematic approach ensures sustainable improvement, promoting better patient outcomes and organizational performance in the long term.

References

• Cummings, G. G., Tate, K., Lee, S., Wong, C. A., & Paananen, T. (2018). Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 85, 19-60.
• Health Care Advisory Board. (2020). Strategies for reducing medication errors in hospitals. Healthcare Innovation Report.
• Jooste, K., & Dhai, A. (2017). Ethical issues in hospital medication safety. South African Medical Journal, 107(4), 297-299.
• Kurt Lewin. (1947). Frontiers in group dynamics: Concept, method and reality in social science; social equilibria and social change. Human Relations, 1(1), 5-41.
• Landry, M. D. (2019). Change management strategies in healthcare organizations. Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(2), 70-75.
• McConnell, C. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, and management. Elsevier.
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• The Joint Commission. (2021). Sentinel event alert: Preventing medication errors.
• American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. ANA Publishing.
• Wong, C. A., Cummings, G. G., & Hayduk, L. (2018). Passion for work? The relationship of work passion with nursing satisfaction, turnover intent, and the practice environment. Journal of Nursing Management, 26(5), 558-565.