"Change can be good": unit perspectives on transforming care at the bedside

Abstract

Background: How do nurses commit to effecting change, the kind of change that will transform both care received and the caregiver? This was the mission of Transforming Care at the Bedside, the 2003 initiative sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. OBSERVATIONS AND OBJECTIVES: This analysis reflects processes and context of unit change through Transforming Care at the Bedside. Organizational leadership includes engagement in change.

Subjects and methods: Descriptions of change process were solicited from stakeholder interviews and focus groups to evaluate and make recommendations for the future.

Results and conclusions: Stakeholders recognized that "Change can be good!" Reflection and strategic evaluation strengthen planning for sustainability supporting staff engagement and transformational leadership in an academic health science setting.