Planning: a cyclical and participative approach

In today's turbulent environment, nurse administrators are challenged to plan and deliver change on several fronts at once. Most of us lack the resources to employ full time planners, or special project personnel. At KitchenerWaterloo Hospital the Nursing Division has developed and used a cost-effective approach to planning which allows for active involvement of all key stakeholders and assures that people are working on the plans that matter most to them. In less than three years, using this approach, the Division has implemented a broad range of progressive professional initiatives despite significant energies being required for rationalization of services with a neighbouring hospital, computerization, attempted unionization, three rounds of bed closures and the stress of severe budgetary deficit. Through it all, we have been able to maintain not only our commitment to patients, families, and each other, but also an enthusiasm and optimism for nursing's present and future.