Rumor management in nursing systems: role of the psychiatric CNS

RUMOR MANAGEMENT AND control is particularly important in nursing systems during times of change. In this article, a brief history of the study of rumor and the rumor process is given and applied to nursing, systems thinking and the CNS, and three types of rumor are described. Examples are given and strategies and approaches for managing rumor are prescribed. The first approach, used when a final decision about a planned change has not been made, helps avoid "trickle down" and builds trust and empowerment by soliciting and using input from those who will be affected by the proposed change. The intent of the second approach, used when a decision has been finalized or an event has occurred and rumor has preceded an official announcement, is to debrief from the occurrence or transform the decision. The last approach is used to interrupt a pattern of misinformation and to clarify or inform. The nurse leader or manager must stay in the communication loop and refrain from blaming a speculated source in order to correct information.