NR 351 Week 7 Discussion

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-351: Transitions in Professional Nursing

Prof. Name:

Date

Using Systems-Based Practice to Foster Leadership in Nursing

Role of Systems-Based Practice in Nursing Leadership

Systems-based practice plays a critical role in empowering nurses to deliver holistic, coordinated, and patient-centered care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2015), systems-based practice emphasizes accessible, continuous, and person-centered care for patients with chronic conditions. This approach incorporates team collaboration, health information technology, and shared decision-making (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2020). Nurses adopting this framework are encouraged to go beyond addressing immediate health issues within their units and consider the broader spectrum of patient care needs across the healthcare continuum. By embracing core nursing competencies such as teamwork, collaboration, informatics, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement, systems-based practice supports leadership growth and improved patient outcomes.

Application of Leadership Skills through Shared Governance

In my clinical setting, I plan to use the principles of systems-based practice to enhance my leadership abilities. Shared governance is one avenue that fosters collaboration between bedside nurses and nurse leaders. McKnight and Moore (2020) define shared governance as a structure that promotes shared decision-making, enabling nurses to have a voice in decisions affecting their practice. Participating in shared governance groups within my healthcare system will allow me to build leadership skills and actively contribute to policy improvements. This experience will help bridge the gap between bedside care and administrative decision-making, thereby empowering nurses and enhancing patient outcomes.

Improving Patient Outcomes through Discharge Teaching

One critical area in my current inpatient cardiac unit is reducing patient readmissions, often caused by patients not adhering to discharge instructions. To address this issue, I will leverage systems-based practice principles and leadership skills to enhance discharge teaching. Effective discharge teaching requires teamwork and clear communication to ensure patients understand their care plans post-discharge. Currently, this process is often rushed due to operational pressures, but by advocating for improved discharge education practices and involving my colleagues in these efforts, I can help reduce readmission rates. Collaborating with the healthcare team to prioritize patient understanding during discharge will align with systems-based practice goals, ultimately fostering better patient outcomes.

Table: Key Aspects of Systems-Based Practice for Leadership

Heading	Details	Action Plan
Principles of Systems-Based Practice	Emphasizes holistic, coordinated, and patient-centered care through teamwork, technology, and shared decision-making.	Adopt core nursing competencies such as teamwork, informatics, and evidence-based practice to enhance patient outcomes system-wide.
Shared Governance	Involves shared decision-making between bedside nurses and nurse leaders to improve practice and outcomes.	Join shared governance groups to gain leadership experience, advocate for policy changes, and engage in decision-making processes within the healthcare system.
Discharge Teaching	Focuses on patient education to reduce hospital readmissions by improving adherence to discharge instructions.	Use leadership skills to encourage team collaboration and advocate for thorough and patient-centered discharge education practices.

References

Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2020). NR351 Transitions in Professional Nursing: Week 7 Lesson. Downers Grove, IL: Online Publication.