Nurse faculty practice: from theory to reality.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Administration
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Change

Background:

• Transitioning faculty practice from concept to reality requires strategic planning and adaptation.
• Existing theories of planned and organizational change provide a foundation for implementing innovations in academic health settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the developmental stages of a faculty practice plan over a 6-year period.
• To identify promoters and constraints influencing the plan's evolution.
• To present strategies for achieving group consensus and successful implementation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Bennis, Benne, and Chin's theories for planned change.
• Applied Hage's theory for organizational change with a dominant coalition.
• Employed Smith's Time Line as a framework for historical tracing.

Main Results:

• Identified political, logistic, and financial factors impacting each developmental stage.
• Documented faculty reactions and the consensus-building mechanisms employed.
• Highlighted the critical role of a dedicated faculty planning group and organizational adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Successful faculty practice plan implementation hinges on a core group of resilient faculty planners.
• Adapting existing organizational systems to support nursing interests is crucial for sustainability.
• The presented plan demonstrates a pathway from theoretical concept to operational reality with future goals outlined.