Alicia Henderson
Piedmont College
Author Note
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelors of Science in Nursing
Healthcare is Changing, Why are Nurses Being Left Behind?
Nurses must deliver care based on the best available practice, which suggests there is a continual need to update, or make changes to practice (Mitchell, 2013). Change is defined by Grohar-Murray and Langan (2011) as a dynamic process by which an alteration is brought about that makes a distinct difference. Changing established behavior of any kind can be difficult. There are many models and theories that can be used to for implementing, managing, and evaluating change. However Kurt Lewin’s …show more content…
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is best described as the integration of best research evidence with the clinical expertise and patient values (Brady & Lewin, 2007). Nursing is continually struggling to successfully implement research into practice (Brady & Lewin, 2007). In order to achieve better patient outcomes, new knowledge must be transformed into clinically useful forms, effectively implemented across the entire care team within a systems context, and measured in terms of meaningful impact on performance and health outcomes (Stevens, 2013). Major changes in the United States (U.S) health care system and practice environment will require profound changes in the nursing field (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine, 2011). Various forces drive change in health care including rising cost of treatments, workforce shortages, professional obligations, advances in science, aging population, the potential to increase patient satisfaction, and promotion of patient and staff safety (Mitchell, …show more content…
Nurses are in a position to change healthcare by implementing evidence-based research into practice. Nurse leaders must begin thinking now about how emerging research and technology will change the practice of nursing and proactively prepare themselves with the competencies they need to address these emerging changes (Huston, 2013). With strong leadership in nursing, nurses can overcome barriers and assist in advancing healthcare while delivering evidence-based practice.
References
Brady, N., & Lewin, L. (2007). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 21(1), 53-56.
Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine. (2011). Overview of the report. In The Future of Nursing Leading Change, Advancing Health (p. 6). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
Hader, R. (2013). The only constant is change. Nursing Management (Springhouse), 44(5), 6-6
Huston, C. (203). The Impact of Emerging Technology on Nursing Care. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 18(2).
Kerridge, J. (2012). Leading change: 1 – identifying the issue. Nursing Times, 108(4),