The role of a nurse has evolved into a new position. Originally, a nurse only provided cares for the patient. As healthcare has changed so has the role of the nurse. Today, the nurse does much more than provide patient cares. Not only do nurses influence patient’s lives but they can impact the entire healthcare system. Nurses fulfill their traditional duties along with providing leadership and act as a change agent. When a nurse identifies a system failure, can become a nurse leader and embrace the need for change therefore becoming a change agent.
Gina was a nurse who attempted to do what her training and professional code of conduct required her to. When she was a staff nurse at ABC hospital there was a work environment full of unease, …show more content…
“Change in today’s health care landscape is a daily, if not hourly, reality. The nurse manager must have strong leadership skills to navigate through change with a focus on the patient and the provision of safe and reliable care” (Stefancyk, Hancock, & Meadows, 2013, p. 13). As seen in the story about Gina, she acknowledged the deficits within the system she worked. Gina assumed a leadership role and addressed the issues head on. She went to department to department looking for resolution. Many times she was routed to other administrative areas. In the end, she was led to the Director of Nursing in her facility. From there, the multitude of issues were addressed and Gina provided ideas for resolution. The Director of Nursing then put Gina in charge of implementing changes. She boldly carried out her mission and became someone the staff admired for her dedication and hard work to improve the hospital unit’s environment and in the end provide outstanding patient care with improved patient outcomes. In order for Gina to make a change, she had to become a leader, and work through the system to incorporate the other departments. It was necessary to do this to get supplies and equipment ordered, hire and schedule according to the hospital needs, and get the inappropriate behavior of the nurse supervisors addressed. This is a clear example where a nurse acted as a leader and change agent through the systems
Gina was a nurse who attempted to do what her training and professional code of conduct required her to. When she was a staff nurse at ABC hospital there was a work environment full of unease, …show more content…
“Change in today’s health care landscape is a daily, if not hourly, reality. The nurse manager must have strong leadership skills to navigate through change with a focus on the patient and the provision of safe and reliable care” (Stefancyk, Hancock, & Meadows, 2013, p. 13). As seen in the story about Gina, she acknowledged the deficits within the system she worked. Gina assumed a leadership role and addressed the issues head on. She went to department to department looking for resolution. Many times she was routed to other administrative areas. In the end, she was led to the Director of Nursing in her facility. From there, the multitude of issues were addressed and Gina provided ideas for resolution. The Director of Nursing then put Gina in charge of implementing changes. She boldly carried out her mission and became someone the staff admired for her dedication and hard work to improve the hospital unit’s environment and in the end provide outstanding patient care with improved patient outcomes. In order for Gina to make a change, she had to become a leader, and work through the system to incorporate the other departments. It was necessary to do this to get supplies and equipment ordered, hire and schedule according to the hospital needs, and get the inappropriate behavior of the nurse supervisors addressed. This is a clear example where a nurse acted as a leader and change agent through the systems