Assessing Progress and Renewing Plans
The decision to hire a registered nurse made a big difference in relation to the workload.
Morale improved, we all felt better having taken the steps to get involved in the problem
solving process, and it brought us together in a positive, action-oriented way.
We agreed to meet monthly for a progress report and discussion. This was valuable for keeping the lines of communication open and we were able to review the impact of our actions.
We discovered that coming together was helpful and empowering; we were engaged in doing something constructive about our situation. The workload and scheduling concerns were relieved and staff reported that their concerns had been heard and respected and although the larger issues still impacted on our practice, we had learned about a process for constructive resolution that could be applied again and again as difficult situations emerged.
Dealing with professional practice problems takes patience and perseverance and a commitment to working together. We took the opportunity to celebrate our successes, however small. The process enabled us to set more realistic expectations for ourselves at work and this alone is health-promoting.
We learned that collaborative and creative resolution of professional practice problems or situations that give rise to problems is an ongoing and healthy process. We also learned that evaluating progress is necessary for ongoing change management.