NU420 Unit 3 Discussion Topic

Quality care refers to care that is consistent with the existing professional knowledge and
one that enhances the probability of achieving desired outcomes in a medical setting. In nursing
practice, quality care should be timely care. Delays in the provision of care affect health
outcomes. In my place of work, I would implement a change in staffing. I feel that we are
understaffed. There are few nurses, and this implies that the workload per nurse is huge. That
also means that timely care is affected. Nurses have too many patients to take care of, and they
cannot meet all the needs of the patients when they are needed. Delayed care affects health
outcomes and, consequently, the quality of care.
Lewin (1974) came up with the Planned, First-Oder Change theory. He stated that the
change process takes three steps. The change begins by first helping a person, group, or
organization to release a certain behavior and move towards a more desired behavior. It entails,
“unfreezing, moving, and refreezing.” In the unfreezing stage, the organizations and individuals
realize the need for change. In this case, the hospital management and the nurses will realize that
there is a shortage, and something needs to be done. The management will evaluate the cost and
benefits of change. After realizing that having more nurses is beneficial, then they are ready to
move.
The second step entails moving. This entails implementing the change. However, it will
largely depend on the outcome of the evaluation process. If more members of the leading team
are opposed to adding more nurses, then change is less likely to occur. In the event that more of
the leaders support an increase in the current number of nurses, then change will occur. Lewin’s
theory helps in understanding the change process. The theorist states that making a change is as
important as sustaining it. The success of a change lies in a strategic plan to sustain it.

Lastly, the change process would reach the refreezing stage. This entails sustaining the
change over a long period of time. If the management agrees to increase the number of nurses,
then it must have a plan on how to sustain them. This will entail a plan to pay their salaries and
create a conducive working environment for the said nurses. Overall, although I would wish that
we have additional nurses at my workplace, the change process would take three stages, as
explained by Lewin.

References

Yoder-Wise, P. (2019). Workforce engagement through collective action and governance.
In Leading and managing in nursing (7th ed.)(p.248). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.