NR 351 Week 7 Discussion: Leaders and Systems-Based Practice (Graded)

In my current role, I have seen how the system-based practice can help an organization to improve patient care. According to Chamberlain School of Nursing (2021), the goal of systems-based practice is to improve patient care while also recognizing the different components that influence how care is given such as economic, legal, political, and regulatory factors. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has a core competency required for resident students to ensure that they are aware of the larger systems of healthcare and can effectively rely on the resources within the system to provide the best care for patients (Vitek et al., 2014). At the top of the system (macro-system) is the bigger corporation that owns our facility. That corporation owns multiple facilities. Within our facility, we have different systems such as the surgical department and endoscopy department that make up the microsystems. By working as a system, our facility is not alone. The corporation has employees that create policies for best practices and communicate regulatory changes that then get passed down the systems to get implemented at our facility. This is an example of how the system-based practice can improve patient care. The macrosystem also creates training and has meetings for leaders to educate on how to be a better leader as well as improve quality in our facilities. This allows me to grow as a leader through the education that the macrosystem creates that is passed down to impact the different departments of our facility (microsystems). The quality leaders at the different facilities get together monthly via phone and twice a year in person where we collaborate and exchange ideas on how to improve the quality of patient care at our individual facilities. By working together as a larger system, we can improve patient care at the microsystem level. Through these meetings, I continue to learn and grow as a leader. 

References:

Chamberlain College of Nursing (2021). NR351 Transitions in Professional Nursing: Week 7 lesson. Chicago, IL: Online Publication.

Vitek, C. R., Dale, J. C., Homburger, H. A., Bryant, S. C., Saenger, A. K. & Karon, B. S. (2014). Development and initial validation of a project-based rubric to assess the systems-based practice competency of residents in the clinical chemistry rotation of a pathology residency. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, 138(6), 809-813. Doi: 10.5858/ arpa.2013-0046-OALinks to an external site..

Using systems-based practice (SBP) to empower other nurses is what makes a great leader (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2021). I may not be practicing just yet as a nurse, but I have learned a lot from this module and how important it is to utilize SBP. Lacasse (2013) explains the importance of developing future nursing leaders. This article explained that the initial leadership development and continuing education about the many dimensions of healthcare innovations are vital to providing nurses with the tools necessary to fully participate in an interprofessional approach to healthcare improvement. A report recommended transformational changes in practice and education, which position nurses to influence healthcare policy, healthcare delivery systems, and the future of general healthcare practices. One suggestion is that nurses at all levels prepare to assume leadership positions through continuous education.

I will be utilizing SBP in my role as a nurse to empower other nurses. I plan on doing this by engaging in lifelong education. I believe it is imperative to be educated and keep up with the changes in healthcare to be this role model. Nurses need to be skilled in SBP to impact quality patient care. SBP is being integrated into the education of healthcare workers and is not simply a nursing concept.  Healthcare systems are continuously changing and complex. These changes include microsystems that may involve only your unit and your patients to the global healthcare structure (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2021). Not only will I continue my education, but I will also use a team approach, health information technology, and shared decision-making as I grow as a nurse leader.

References

Chamberlain College of Nursing (2021). NR351 Transition in Professional Nursing: Week 7 lesson. Chicago, IL: Online Publication.

Lacasse, C. (2013). Developing nursing leaders for the future: Achieving competency for transformational leadership. Oncology Nursing Forum, 40(5), 431–433. https://doi.org/10.1188/13.onf.431-433