Use concrete examples to show how policy affects nurses
It’s one thing to have a policy that encourages nurses to report concerns about patient care, but getting nurses to use the system is something else entirely. Here are some tips for making sure the policy and procedures are put to use:
- Understand nurses’ time constraints.
Nurses are extremely busy, and their patients can’t wait while they study a long memo or attend a day-long seminar about a new policy. There are a variety of ways to introduce a policy or new process to nurses, but always keep in mind that they have other things to do. Keep it short and to the point.
- Try to use in-person presentations rather than written communications.
When possible, a face-to-face presentation may be more effective than communicating the policy on paper. It’s too easy for nurses to overlook the written explanation or put it aside because they’re too busy. It can be a good idea to point out that you are presenting this policy in person because it is so important. But keep it brief.
- Enlist the aid of a nursing leader.
A nursing leader should be involved in the creation of the policy and process, and that person can be instrumental in getting the message out. Preferably, this person should be someone admired and respected by other nurses. The nurse’s involvement, especially in actually deli-vering the message, will help overcome some natural skepticism about whether the hospital really wants to hear the nurses’ opinions.
- Don’t depend too much on e-mail for disseminating the policy.
When nurses are taking care of 10 patients at once, they don’t have the time to sit down and study all the information they’re sent. E-mail may be a tempting way to disseminate information because it is so convenient, but many people get too much e-mail and ignore much of it. Some people also associate e-mail with information of a lower priority and lesser value than information delivered by other means.
- Use concrete examples to make the policy relevant.
Hospitals often make the mistake of issuing a single policy statement that says staff are encouraged to report their concerns about a violation of law or policy, but they don’t make it relevant to nurses. With generalized wording, it is easy for nurses to conclude that the policy doesn’t really apply to them. Even if the policy addresses the need to report billing fraud, you can give nurses examples that apply to them, such as a physician ordering too many tests.
- Acknowledge the power differential between nurses and physicians.
Concerns about patient care usually involve a physician, and that can make nurses reluctant to report their concerns. Make sure your policy and procedures have safeguards built in so that the nurse reporting a concern cannot be punished in any way by the physician. Explaining these safeguards and assuring the nurses that they work will be one of the biggest hurdles when getting the message out.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content