Topic 1
How can the DNP-prepared nurse apply the concepts of a complex adaptive system to individual patient care? Provide examples.
Complex = hard to predict or comprehend; Dynamic = shifting; Adaptive = Adapting to a specific condition or environment. A complex system may be defined as a group of simple agents or units that interact within a system. It represents an extensive system with adapting, changing or evolving behaviors (Resnick & Collins, 1998).
A CAS (Complex Adaptive System) deals with management practice change and reformation of nursing leader thought, problem-solving approach, and behavior. It rejects prior beliefs and adopts the attractor (catalyst which facilitates spontaneous emergence of novel behaviors) and self-organization ideas, promoting the development of innovation and order (Penprase & Norris, 2005). Complexity science emphasizes the fact that an institution’s most powerful mechanisms commence with its workforce, and provides novel nurse leadership approaches to effectively navigate the healthcare setting’s complex, turbulent atmosphere.
One can view the nursing profession and overall healthcare system as CASs to gain fresh insights. According to McNeill and Chaffee (2007), though numerous scholars actually consider nursing a CAS, the discipline is yet to advance a relevant visual model.
DNP-prepared nursing professionals need to recognize the fact that things won’t be exactly in line with theory within actual clinical settings. A CAS is complex owing to the dynamic interactional networks, with linkages not being the sum of distinct static entities. In other words, individual elements’ behavior isn’t predictive of collective behavior. Nurses need to be quick-witted to promptly handle unforeseen events. For example, a nursing staff member may face the dilemma of dealing with a patient who is bleeding excessively and simultaneously having to meet the needs of another diverse patient population; he/she needs to decide which issue to address first. These occasions require nursing professionals to demonstrate leadership and skill. Emergency rooms commonly face such challenging...
Develop a scenario and describe application of a change theory from the perspective of an advanced practice nurse leader.
Change implies altering the original state of things. It may be unplanned or planned. The former is linked to unpredictable results whereas the latter represents a series of events executed for attaining certain set objectives.
Change Agents in Nursing
Within the context of nursing, change agents are individuals (whether staff nurses, nursing leaders or other persons working in collaboration with nursing staff) who effect change which influences nursing services. Change theories help achieve planned change. It is vital for nursing leadership and staff members to familiarize themselves with change theories in order to be able to choose the appropriate theory which fits the context.
Lewin's Change Theory
This three-stage theory popular among nursing staff encompasses unfreezing, moving and refreezing (Oguejiofo, 2018). It is governed by resistant and driving forces. The former are staff members who oppose change and the latter are change agents that persuade the workforce to adopt change. This theory’s success necessitates domination of resistant forces by driving forces (Tiffany & Lutjens, 1998).
Rogers' Change Theory
Rogers came up with a 5-stage modification of Lewin's theory, including awareness, interest, assessment, acceptance and execution. It is applicable to long-run change projects and works where nursing staff who, up until now, ignored change, decide to implement it by being convinced by the statements of peers who already implemented it.
Within Lewin’s theory of change, 'unfrozen' individuals may start moving. The theorist understood change as a process in which an institution needs to shift to a novel state (Study.com, 2018). This step of moving or transitioning is characterized by change implementation or actually effecting change.…
