Reflections by clinical nurse specialists on changing ward practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Palliative Care
• Clinical Practice Improvement

Background:

• North Middlesex University Hospital Trust identified frequent clinical incidents related to syringe driver use.
• A need for standardized nursing competencies in syringe driver management was recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and assess nursing competencies for setting up and using syringe drivers.
• To explore the role of change management principles in implementing practice changes.
• To examine the impact of leadership styles on the adoption of new clinical practices.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of specific nursing competencies for syringe drivers.
• Assessment strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of the introduced competencies.
• Analysis of change management processes and leadership influences during implementation.

Main Results:

• Successful introduction of standardized competencies for all nurses.
• Demonstrated improvement in the understanding and application of syringe driver use.
• Insights gained into effective change management and leadership in clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• Standardized competencies are crucial for improving patient safety in syringe driver use.
• Effective change management and supportive leadership are vital for successful practice innovation in nursing.
• The initiative provides a model for other healthcare settings seeking to enhance clinical practice.