Transformation of Nursing Care Practicum Change Project

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NURS 4020: Leadership Competencies in Nursing and Healthcare Practicum

Practicum Change Project

Practicum Objectives

· Differentiate between leadership and management

· Analyze the impact of leadership and management on implementing change in the health care environment

· Identify a practicum change project that focuses on a quality and safety issue

· Evaluate a change theory to use as a framework for your practicum change project

· Describe your setting's mission, vision, and values in relation to its strategic plan

· Analyze collaborative and communication strategies used by multidisciplinary teams.

· Select an effective communication strategy for implementing the practicum change project

· Evaluate the impact of the practicum change project on available organizational resources

· Examine the quality and safety issues associated with the practicum change project

· Justify evaluation strategies for the practicum change project

· Critique practicum change projects

Discussion Requirements

Post your responses to the Discussion based on the course requirements. Your initial postings must be 250–350 words (not including the full references). Keep your responses succinct. Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week's Learning Resources. Other scholarly sources may also be used to support your work. Refer to the APA Publication Manual to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct.

Post your response by Day 4 of this week. Respond by Day 7 to at least two of your colleagues' postings in one or more of the following ways:

· Ask a probing question.

· Expand on the colleague's posting.

· Offer polite disagreement or critique, supported with evidence.

In addition to, but not in place of, the above you may:

· Offer and support an opinion.

· Validate an idea with your own experience.

· Make a suggestion or comment which guides or facilitates the Discussion.

Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.

Week 1: Practicum Change Project

Team Discussion

Identify a Change Project

This week introduced the concepts of leadership and leadership theories. In addition, the media presentation and textbook readings discussed the difference between leadership and management. As you begin your practicum this week discuss with your manager possible change projects that focus on a quality and safety issue that are needed in the agency.  Observe your manager and other leaders at your location.  Identify how management and leadership activities contribute to successful change initiatives. Informally discuss options with your manager.     Please address the following:

· What did you see as the difference between leadership activities and management activities?

· How do management and leadership activities contribute to the success of change initiatives?

· What change projects are needed in your agency at this time?

· Which of these projects will you select for your practicum change project?

Week 2: Practicum Change Project

Team Discussion

Apply Change Theory to the Proposed Change

In week one, you formulated some initial ideas about a Practicum Change Project. You discussed possible change projects with your manager and identified a project for your practicum.

This week has presented information on change, change management, and how an organization's mission, vision, and values are reflected in its strategic plan. Using the information presented in the resources, complete the following two activities with the guidance of your instructor.

Your instructor has assigned you to apply change theory to the proposed change. Check for consistency between the proposed change and the mission/vision/values/strategic plan for the agency. Read more about change theory in your textbook. Please address the following:

· Which change theory will you use as a framework for your change project and why?

· Is there consistency between the proposed change and the mission, vision, and values of the agency?

· If so, describe.

· If not, how will you address the inconsistencies?

Week 3: Practicum Change Project

Team Discussion

Collaborative and Communication Strategies

You are now in the third week of working on the Practicum Change Project.  So far, you have refined your change project and chosen a change theory to organize your approach to the project.

Now, let's begin work on week 3 of the Practicum Change Project!

This week your instructor has assigned you to seek input on the possible change from stakeholders, attend a multidisciplinary team meeting, and interview a leader from another clinical discipline. Part I: Observation

Attend a multidisciplinary team meeting. Observe the communication skills used by the team leader and the group process. Consider the following questions as you observe the meeting:

· Who served as the team leader? What leadership style did you observe?

· How well did the team work together?

· Was there group conflict? If so, how was it resolved?

· Were there any outcomes from the group meeting?

· Did you see evidence-based care or decisions during your observation?

· How was nursing involved in the multidisciplinary group?

Part II: Interview

Interview a leader at least one level above your current or immediate past position from another clinical discipline (pharmacy, respiratory, case management, social work, medicine—not nursing). Ask the following questions:

· How would you describe your leadership style?

· What communication skills do you use?

· What conflicts have you had to manage in the last 3 months?

· What techniques and strategies do you use to work together to promote multidisciplinary teamwork?

Part III: Discussion

Identify ways in which you collaborated with other professionals regarding your activities.

· Think about the stakeholders impacted by the change. How can the change theory you have chosen influence the success of a change project?

· How can the multidisciplinary team of leaders impact the change project?

· What is the best way to communicate the change within the agency?

Week 4: Practicum Change Project Team Discussion

Manage Resources for Practicum Change Project

You are now half-way through the course. Thanks for all of your hard work on your project thus far!

Now, let's begin work on week 4 of the Practicum Change Project!

This week your instructor has assigned you to evaluate resources and develop a budget to fund the Practicum Change Project. Determine if the resources are available for the project (i.e., salaries, supplies, equipment, technology, and education)and develop and present the budget in the practicum discussion area.

Week 5: Practicum Change Project Team Discussion

Post your responses to the Discussion based on the course requirements. Your initial postings must be 250–350 words (not including the full references). Keep your responses succinct. Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week's Learning Resources. Other scholarly sources may also be used to support your work. Refer to the APA Publication Manual to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct.

Address Quality and Safety Issues

You have accomplished a lot in the past four weeks. Just two weeks to go.

Now, let's begin week 5 of the Practicum Change Project!

This week your instructor wants you to identify one quality or safety issue in your setting that will be addressed by the Practicum Change Project. Please address the following:

· What data did you use to identify the quality or safety issue?

· How will the Practicum Change Project address the quality and safety issue?

Week 6: Practicum Change Project Team Discussion

PowerPoint Presentation

Please submit your Practicum Population Project PowerPoint to the Week 6 Assignment submission link below as well as to your Group Week 6 Discussion 2 area.

Present Practicum Change Project

Congratulations! You are now in week 6. This is our last week of the team discussion board.

This week your instructor has assigned you to create and post a PowerPoint presentation that summarizes your Practicum Change Project. Post your PowerPoint presentation by Day 3of this week. (See Rubric in Course Info).

In this Discussion, post the Practicum Change Project you developed.

In addition and based on your experiences, observations, and readings, compose a Discussion post that responds to the following:

· Review all of your team members' presentations in your group and provide feedback on the proposed change project including feedback on the proposed evaluation strategies.