With the rapid changes taking place in the sphere of nursing, contemporary leaders should adapt to the ongoing changes and question the appropriateness of traditional practices. The critical evaluation of the long-established routines and thinking outside the box is crucial for choosing the style of leadership which is most relevant to a contemporary changing system and would improve the end outcome of healthcare services.
The transformation of health care through the implementation of information technologies is important in the era of computer advances. However, the integration of innovative technologies not always means the improvement of the existing practices. Being members of a technological society, we frequently do not know how to use technologies to the best of our abilities. For instance, a survey conducted in one of the clinics using the technology of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) has shown that some users ignored the alerts and warnings of the system while others did not even notice them. “Despite their belief that they utilize the provided decision support, in practice, providers pay little attention to most alerts” (Einbinder, 2010, p. 84). As a Director of Nursing, in 2007, I introduced a computerized inventory system to my Surgery Centre, realizing the obsoleteness of writing information into a book. Through this transformation of established practices was preconditioned with the changes within healthcare, some physicians had difficulties with the implementation of innovative technology. The time lag was needed for improving practitioners’ computer skills and enhancing the effectiveness of a new method. “The reality of clinical leadership must involve a judicious blend of effective management in the conventional sense with skill in transformational change in order to make a real difference to the care delivery process” (Marshall & Coughlin, 2011, p. 6). Thus, a combination of leadership and change management is important for the effective transformation of health care routines and the application of innovative technologies and a new way of thinking to nursing practices.
Successful leadership is important for providing high-quality health care services and satisfying the demands of contemporary patients disregarding the low reimbursements. The burden of organizing the work of departments and adapting them to the changing health care environment lies on nursing leaders. Grossman & Valiga (2009) defined the new style of nursing leadership as “a method of thinking that replaces our standard, orderly, goal-oriented perspective with a free-flowing, anything-can-happen philosophy” (p. 27). Thus, the goals of contemporary nursing leaders are not limited to the adaptation of systems to the existing challenges but should be extended to the attempts of predicting future difficulties. As one of the outstanding nursing leaders, Judith Shamian put emphasis upon the importance of continuing hard work and self-improvement which are significant for meeting the challenges of contemporary health care (Houser & Player, 2004, p. 291). Though the decrease of reimbursements predetermines additional difficulties for health care providers, leaders should do their best for preserving the high quality of medical services, realizing their role in the future of health care and humanity.
The rapid changes in the sphere of contemporary health care require imposing measures for meeting the existing challenges and avoiding the new pitfalls by trying to predict new hazards. The choice of the style of nursing leadership is important for utilizing the innovative technologies in nursing practice and minimizing the negative impact of the financial side of the issue upon the quality of health care services.
Reference List
Einbinder, L. (ed.) (2010). Transforming health care through information: Case studies. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Grossman, S. C., & Valiga, T. M. (2009). The new leadership challenge: Creating the future of nursing (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.
Houser, B. P., & Player, K. N. (2004). Pivotal moments in nursing: Leaders who changed the path of a profession. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.
Marshall, E. & Coughlin, J. (2011). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.