Critical preparation and readiness to support future change
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Critical preparation and readiness to support future change

Elizabeth Curtis Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Emma Duffy Administrative officer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Frank O’Rourke School manager, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Sylvia Huntley-Moore Academic, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Annabel Walsh Administrative officer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Ken Coogan Executive officer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Catherine Comiskey Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, and at the time of the review was head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

The challenging nature of change is well documented and adequate preparation before implementing a change initiative is critical to reducing resistance and increasing its chances of success. This article describes a service review conducted in preparation for possible change and improvement at an internationally ranked school of nursing and midwifery in an Irish tertiary education institution. The purpose of the review was to examine organisational structures and work activities, including pressures facing the administrative team that supports the school, and to establish whether operations were fit for purpose and capable of continuing to support the international ranking. The article outlines the importance of change to maintain a competitive edge and the critical role of leadership during change. The background and rationale for the service review are discussed along with the methods used to prepare staff. The article also reports outcomes of the surveys and focus groups undertaken and discusses the main recommendations and changes implemented so far. It also suggests how the outcomes are relevant to clinical practice.

Nursing Management. doi: 10.7748/nm.2018.e1749

Citation

Curtis E, Duffy E, O’Rourke F et al (2018) Critical preparation and readiness to support future change. Nursing Management. doi 10.7748/nm.2018.e1749

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

curtise@tcd.ie

Conflict of interest

None declared

Published online: 22 May 2018

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