NR 451 Implementing Change Despite Resistance (graded A+)

NR 451 Implementing Change Despite Resistance (graded) Change can be difficult to implement. Now that you are almost finished with your change project, if you were to implement your project in your clinical practice, what type of resistance do you expect from staff? List at least three ways that you can lessen the resistance you may encounter to help ensure the success of your project. Change is never an easy thing to overcome. By nature I think many people are resistant to change for various reasons. The reasons are not unfounded ones, but there are times in life and in careers where changes will happen and the solution is to know how to approach the idea of change. Change at times can be good and at times it can be bad, but knowing how to handle the change is the only thing that an individual can control. Forbes magazine lists several reasons why people are resistant to change, such as fear of the unknown, mistrust, loss of job security/control, bad timing, and an individuals’ predisposition toward change (Quast, 2012). However, although resistance is pretty much a guarantee that you will have to deal with, there are several things that as a project manager or change agent one can do to lessen the resistance. There are many tools one can use to apply these changes just as mentioned in the MindTools website, such as having leadership skills, team management skills, time management, stress management, and having good communication skills, these are just to name a few things that can help (Toolkit, 2017). Resistance to change is to be expected, but I believe that with great communication you can explain your thoughts and ideas in a manner that can be received appropriately. I would also use my listening skills, because the people that are going to be affected by change want to thoughts to be heard as well. I would also empower them to contribute, so that they feel that they are also in control of their job. They will be less resistant to change if they feel that they can control their position a little more. Change is inevitable in any type of work. However, in the healthcare field changes are inevitable and are also constant. The medical field is evolving every day, new medical advances, newer techniques, and with great research the discovery of new ways to be patient care. Nurses are crucial to healthcare in particular due to their direct contact and relationship with their patients. Due to this direct contact, they have the ability to see potential problems that may arise in the health of the patient due to their care. Therefore, a nurse can be a great leader and change creator, which can bring a higher level of care an safety to the patient. As stated in our lesson this week, “healthcare professionals, especially nurses, play an extremely important role in providing and maintaining the safety and quality of patient care (CCN, 2017).”