Scenario #5

The small rural critical care access hospital has been in this small town for 40-plus years. Most staff have worked here for over 20 years and are used to paper charting. The hospital was recently bought out by a larger organization planning to adopt a computer charting system. The newer staff knows the change may be chaotic but is okay with it, as most have used the electronic health system before in other organizations. The older nurses, however, were not happy that we would be adopting this new system and have shown some resistance to change. The charge nurses are nervous that morale will be low and patient care will be affected during this implementation.

Skill Application #5

Opportunity Statement

The current undesirable situation is that the organization has decided to implement computer charting, which has caused some resistance from a few of the older nurses. The problem is that some of the team members are resistant to change and do not believe we can effectively implement this change. If this implementation does not go smoothly, it may affect morale and patient care. Ideally, the transition to computer charting will go without a hitch, and the new staff will adjust to the new change.

Social and Emotional Power Skill

Executive function is a power skill that enables individuals to solve problems and regulate emotions. In the above scenario, I would use this power skill to help plan and organize the execution of the implementation of the new computer system. With my executive function problem-solving skills and ability to manage complex tasks, this will hopefully be a smooth transition, and the rest of the team will easily adapt to the change.

Strength

My personal strength of empathy will help in this situation. Even though this change is going to happen regardless of how the nurses feel, I will listen to and show empathy for those who are resistant to it. By showing empathy, the nurses will feel heard and understood, making it a less stressful transition. By showing empathy, the team will trust the transition process and be more willing to adapt to the new change.

Communication Strategy

Active listening is the appropriate communication strategy that I would use as a nurse leader in this situation. I would hold a staff meeting and clearly communicate the reasons and benefits for implementing the new computer system. I would allow time and an interruption-free environment for everyone to ask questions. I would also show transparency and update them on the progress or any changes during the process. Keeping an open-door policy and the whole team informed will help build consensus among the unit.

Based on the scenario above, describe lessons learned while determining the appropriate social and emotional power skills to address the scenario