Benchmark Assignment - Application of Concept Analysis to Clinical Practice

Leading Change in Professional Nursing Environments
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Leading Change in Professional Nursing Environments
Introduction
Change is a constant in any organization or environment, and nursing and healthcare are no different. Like every other professional sector, nursing and healthcare are subjected to continuous development and change not only in the facilities and organizations, but also in the practice techniques and approaches. In this sense, it is vital that all healthcare facilities are equipped with the appropriate techniques and personnel to lead, drive, and manage change in a way that benefits the entire organization (Jacobs, Rouse, & Parsons, 2014). In this sense, leading change is a valuable concept that stands to benefit the nursing industry, and one that should be embraced. This paper examines a concept analysis article on leading change in nursing to gain a better understanding of the intricacies involved.
Method of Analysis
The method of analysis for the article selected relied on the use of Walker and Avant’s iterative methodology. This method hinges on 8 main steps which include identifying a concept, determining the purpose of the analysis being conducted, identifying the uses of the concept, identifying the defining attributes of the concept, finding cases that distinguish the concept, identifying the antecedents and consequences of the concept, and finally defining the empirical referents for measures. This method works well to ensure that a holistic understanding of the concept, in this case leading change, is elaborately developed.
Process Steps
Selecting a Concept
The concept selected for this study was leading change.
Establishing Purpose of the Analysis
Change is a normal and unavoidable part of any organization’s lifespan. It enables organizations to grow, develop, and improve, which are vital to maintaining success and stability. However, leading change can be a hectic and chaotic process that can also damage the working relationships of the staff and minimize profitability for the organization (Austin, Bentkover, & Chait, 2016). In this sense, it is vital that organizations learn to lead change, and especially in the healthcare setting where there is no room for error or allowance for a drop in quality of service offered (Jacobs et al., 2014). Seeing as nurses are often called to lead changes aimed at advancing the health of people, populations, and systems, this analysis works to develop a blueprint for achieving these goals.
Uses of the Concept
This concept was found capable of bolstering Lewin’s three-phase model of change as well as Kotter’s 8-stage process of leading change. It is also worth noting that this concept was used to help identify the internal and external environmental factors contributing to or hindering change, as well as to perform a qualitative analysis of leading change among nurses (Nelson-Brantley & Ford, 2016). However, the major use of this concept of leading change was found to be helping in the identification of defining attributes for leading change.
Identifying Defining Attributes
The defining attributes for this concept of leading change were identified as being indiv...