If you’re a nurse leader, you know that change is constant in healthcare. Changes can be externally driven, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or they may stem from internal efforts, such as: Show
You can be confident that your leadership initiatives will produce positive results if they are fully embraced by your team. However, there is the possibility of employee resistance. In fact, research shows that 70% of change initiatives fail — often because of employee resistance. Getting employees to welcome change isn’t always easy and can be intimidating. Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Through DHGE’s Certificate in Nurse Leadership with Duke CE, you can help your team to accept change and improve as a whole. The program utilizes the revolutionary Kotter’s 8 Step Framework for Accelerating Change. As a charge nurse, I have participated in DHGE’s Nurse Leadership Program. I’ve also successfully used Kotter’s framework to plan new initiatives and communicate them to my team. Here are four key strategies I have learned from this groundbreaking approach. 1. Demonstrate empathyChange often provokes fear and apprehension. As humans, we’re more comfortable with what we know, even if it might not be best for us. It’s important to understand the attachments your team may have with current processes. As you’re planning how to share proposed changes with your team, add compassion into your message by:
In a fast-paced field such as healthcare, it’s common for teams to have change thrust upon them suddenly and unexpectedly. Unfortunately, this can lead to a team that feels undervalued and unheard. To prevent this, be sure to keep your team’s morale in mind when building your initiatives. Empathize by assuring that you will be walking through the changes with them. 2. Prepare and expect to succeedIn DHGE’s Nurse Leadership Program, I learned that up to 50% of change projects fail in the first phase of planning. While this statistic may appear discouraging, the good news is that with a clear vision, a coalition, and a sense of urgency, your change project has a greater chance of success. A clear visionWhat do you want to accomplish with your initiative? The more detailed your objectives are, the easier it will be to communicate them to your team. Don’t forget to explain the benefits of achieving these objectives, so employees will see a reason to be invested. If you’re unsure of your plans, consult with someone unrelated to your initiative. Obtain feedback to be sure your message regarding the change will be clear and concise to the team. A coalitionIt’s unlikely that you can carry out this initiative without the help of key colleagues. For example, to drive down infection rates, you may need to collaborate with the infection prevention team in your hospital as well as a group of physicians. Ensure everyone in your coalition is on the same page, so once the initiative rolls out, the expectations remain consistent. A sense of urgencyYour message should be compelling, easy to understand, and there should be no question as to its importance. When your team understands the gravity of the initiative, they will be more motivated to act sooner rather than later. 3. Engage and empower your teamEmployee engagement requires constructive, two-way communication. Ask your team members for their opinions during formal meetings and one-on-one chats. Through these conversations, you may realize other ways of reaching your initiative’s goals. Further, you’ll be able to address roadblocks early in the process. Maintaining employee engagement is critical to a successful change project. If the initiative is too physically, mentally, or emotionally draining, frustration and burn-out are inevitable. As a nurse leader, closely monitor these areas and make adjustments to intervene before disengagement occurs. Equally critical to success with change is taking note of any staff limitations. For example, if your team is facing a staffing shortage, address that issue prior to implementing the change effort. Also, schedule regular check-ins with your team to ensure they have the resources they need to make the project a success. 4. Sustain and reward effortsAccording to DHGE and Duke CE’s Nurse Leadership Program, it can take up to five years for a change to become sustainable. However, when your unit or healthcare organization has several initiatives running at the same time, it’s easy to lose track of what you started. To maintain focus:
An important aspect of sustaining an initiative is demonstrating appreciation to your team for their efforts. Celebrate and reward them for the contributions they’ve made to their unit and the organization. In doing so, you’ll secure their continued support in the current initiative and future endeavors. ConclusionAmerican management consultant Gary Hemel once said, “You can't build an adaptable organization without adaptable people — and individuals change only when they have to, or when they want to.” As a nurse leader, you can help your employees overcome their resistance and adapt to organizational change. The DHGE Nurse Leadership Program is a good place to start. Which is the first step in time management process?Step 1: Write down your short-term and long-term goals.
You'll also have personal and family goals, as well as business and professional goals. The key to time management is to know your goals, prioritize them and to focus on tasks and activities that help you reach those goals.
When managing your time during your shift What should you do first?When managing your time during your shift, what should you do first? Rationale: Setting priorities is the first step in time management, after you receive shift report.
How do you manage your time as a nurse?7 Time Management Tips for Nurses. Delegate the Right Way. Healthcare is a team effort for a reason. ... . Arrive Early to Prepare the Little Things. ... . Prioritization Is a Nurse's Best Friend. ... . Take Breaks When You Can (Even if You Don't Need One Yet) ... . Anticipate Needs. ... . Balance Work With Life. ... . Have Fun.. What is the third step to creating a successful personalized time management plan?Now let's look at each of these steps in more detail.. Step 1: Identify available time 1 week out.. Step 2: Estimate time required to complete pending tasks.. Step 3: Prioritize, schedule, and execute.. Set a Long-Term Goal.. |