The Nurse as Change Agent and Advocate

Chapter 8

Origins of Change

Began in the 1990s Continuing increase in health care costs Employees expected to become multiskilled Presents challenges for both providers and

consumers

Types of Change Developmental change-

– changes or improvements in currently used processes and operations

Transitional change-– Moves into a different pattern of

operation and structure Transformational change-

– creates a whole new set of attitudes and appproaches

Change Driving forces for change

– See page 300 for examples of driving and restraining forces

– External forces • Insurance companies• Government• New technology• See page 300 for examples of

– Internal forces • Strategy for success• New philosophy

Planned –deliberate and conscious Unplanned- reactive change

Theories of Change Bridges’ transformational change

– Focuses on transitions of attitudes and beliefs– Old must be given up

Lewin’s force field theory of change– Moving from one state to a new desired state– Unfreezing, movement, and refreezing

Coghlan and McAuliffe– 5 tasks of change- determining the need,

defining the desired state, assessing, implementing and managing it, and consolidating it

Question

Change in our health care delivery system is an ongoing process. The view that stability in any organization or system is achieved through a balance or equilibrium of forces acting on the situation is a component of which theory of change?A. Coghlan and McAuliffeB. BridgesC. LewinD. Bennis and Chin

AnswerC. Lewin

Rationale: another theory of change is the force-field analysis described by Lewin. Force-field analysis begins with the view that stability in any organization or system is achieved through a balance or equilibrium of forces acting on the situation (Lewin, 1951).

Strategies for Creating Change Environmental and adaptive strategy Power-coercive strategy

– Leader orders change Empirical-rational strategy-

– Change will be accepted if seen as desirable Normative-reeducative strategy (most

common)– Change will take place only after attitudes,

values, skills etc. change

Leading and Managing Change Role of the change agent

– The person who seeks to lead or create change

– Demonstrate your commitment to change

– Believe in the necessity for planned change

Managers of change– Quality patient care continues

– Staff feel supported in doing their jobs

– Adverse effects of the change are mitigated

Facilitating the Change Process

Assessing the situation– Identifying driving and restraining forces– Understanding losses associated with change– Recognizing resistance to change

• Lack of trust can be key• Fear and loss of control• Change fatigue- feel overwhelmed by the expectations and

lose enthusiasm– Self-assessment

Planning for change– Developing trust

–Listening is very important– Planning a response to concerns– Fostering involvement– Timing the change

Facilitating the Change Process (cont’d)

Implementing the change

– Using a pilot project

– Providing resources and supports for change

– Managing the time frame

– Interpersonal processes for change

• Negotiation- find areas both sides can give

• Co-optation- enlist key people from opposition

• Coercion- threat of adverse effects

– Sustaining the change- “refreezing”

– Monitoring and evaluating the change process- story board

Facilitating the Change Process

Question

Is the following statement true or false?

One reason that change fails is recognizing the losses inherent in change.

AnswerFalse.

Rationale: as mentioned earlier, Bridges (2003) suggests that there are many losses in any change and failure to acknowledge that loss is present is one reason for the failure of change.

Effectively Participating in Change Understanding the change

– Why it should occur

– Who it will benefit

– What is required for success

What is your place in the change?– Viewed as positive or negative

– Participation is essential

Change Through Advocacy Definitions

– Pleading or arguing in favor of something

– Mediation- helping 2 parties work out an agreement

• Broker or responsible model- negotiation, compromise and persuasion

• Adversarial model or legalistic- focus on rights of the client without concern for others

– Empowerment of individual- advocate for self

Background

– Ombudsman program (1978 Nursing Homes)

– American Nurses Association- ethical standard

Prerequisite to effective advocacy

– Identify and define your own beliefs and values

• Avoid paternalism- making decisions for the person

– Clinical competence

– Believe that you have the right to speak up

Change Through Advocacy (cont’d)

Assessing the need for advocacy– Those who lack knowledge– Those with little power– Those who need to make decisions– Those who receive inadequate care– Those who are unable to communicate for

themselves

Change Through Advocacy (cont’d)

Question What is a prerequisite to being an effective

advocate?

A. Believe you know what is best for your client.

B. Define your own beliefs and values.

C. Identify what family members believe and value.D. Be supportive of other health care personnel.

Answer

B. Define your own beliefs and values.

Rationale: before being a client advocate, you must identify and define your own beliefs and values.

Advocacy Goals

Advocacy Outcomes

Advocacy Actions

Preventing the need for advocacy Providing information and education Assisting and supporting client’s

decision making

Communicating with Health Care Professionals

Demonstrate knowledge and tact Include information about the client’s

concerns, questions, and expectations Call the appropriate physician Encourage direct communication between

the client and the appropriate health care providers

Working for Changes in the Health Care System

Advocate through understanding– Organizational structure

– Volunteer for ethics committee

Make sure resources are available– Clients need to select options that fit their

values and choices

– Community services

Being Involved in Public Policy Formulation

Expertise to be an advocate for the health care needs

Support legislation that benefits health care consumers or makes needed services available

ANA encourages nurses to step forward as the experts they are to speak to the media

Question One of the ways to be actively involved in the

formulation of public policy is:

A. Networking with other professionals at a social level

B. Volunteering for planning committees in professional organizations

C. Knowing who your congressional representatives are

D. Being actively involved in nursing organizations that work for programs and services for clients

AnswerD. Being actively involved in nursing

organizations that work for programs and services for clientsRationale: the best ways to be actively involved in formulation of public policy is through nursing organizations that work for programs and services for clients, and network through professional organizations, alumni groups, friends, and coworkers.

Advocating for Other Staff Members

Managers must address:– Staff needs– Staff requests– Staff problems– Staff rights

Requires careful judgment relative to the staff member’s situation and the needs of the

agency

Constraints and Supports

Constraints– Conflict with other staff

– Lack of supports

– “Bucking the system”

Supports– Legal mandate for client rights

– Personal reward for quality care