Enlist
champions. Those are people who have the power to make changes to help
you resolve your issues. Having the attitude that things will never
change is a cliché that will be true without your effort. Many times I
have heard nurses sigh, “that’s the way it’s always been and that’s the
way it’ll always be.” That doesn’t have to be true.
Many times nurses have tried to make changes in practice situations,
and their efforts were unsuccessful. Enlisting champions can help you
to make the changes that you want to create in your workplace. These
are people who have the pull, the people who have the power, to make
the changes. There may be a physician you get along with fairly well
who might be able to present your ideas to their committee. Maybe
there’s an administrator that you have a particular, connection with,
or maybe your manager.
Look for the people who have the power to make the change rather
than just talking to the people who don’t have any power. Frequently,
we just talk to the other people who don’t have any power either, and
we all end up being frustrated. Look for the champions in your
institution who can help you to make the changes that you want to see
happen to provide better patient care.
Best wishes,
David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com