Leading into the 21st century: changing the vision and leading toward success

This article depicts real challenges facing nursing leaders today. Today's health care climate is fraught with many conflicts necessitating nursing leaders to guide their staffs in more positive, productive models of care delivery. This article explores the experience in one organization of seeking an alternative model of care delivery. The needed leadership skills and expertise in leading the implementation of trained teams are highlighted for each phase of the implementation. The background for success is illustrated as well as the successful outcomes of this endeavor. The transdisciplinary model was a new concept to a nursing director who was seeking a better way to bring all health care disciplines on her unit together. It was her goal to expand and reinforce the team's definition of care integration and to define and operationalize a unique method of care delivery. The process and outcomes are outlined, focusing on successes and failures. It highlights the strengths of the transdisciplinary model, not only for the patient, but also for the staff.