Remember, change is always inevitable ~ Dr. Maggie

Managing Change: An Online MSN Degree Can Help

Managing change is an essential part of nursing administration and executive nurse leadership; however, change is easier said than done.  Take the  “Tolerance for Change” assessment found at http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073381225/student_view0/chapter14/self-assessment_14_2.html  

Understanding your own “me” issues related to change can help you with fostering the change process in others. Several change theories have been developed to assist you with needed change in your workplace or in your own life.

One of my favorite change theories is Lewin’s theory of unfreezing and refreezing of behavior.  His model indicates that people need to “unfreeze” learned behavior patterns, change to the new behavior, then  refreeze the new behaviors into their daily activities.  I once read it takes 21 x of doing something before it becomes a habit, which fits nicely into Lewin’s theory of change. One of the most difficult aspects of change is taking that first step. 

Helping others change with that first step is a key skill of nursing leaders.  Getting individuals to see the reason(s) for change can promote initial behaviors toward desired change.  For example, changing a procedure such as shift change reporting processes requires a broad understanding of the need for change.  Typically, if a nursing leader can foster staff agreement regarding the change, the leader can then begin to garner ideas from their staff to implement the change.  By including the staff in brainstorming ideas to initiate change, staff will feel more ownership in the change. 

Dr. Maggie

Communication with Online MSN Degree Faculty

Often life “happens” with a personal or work-related crisis.  When in an online MSN degree program, it is important for students to have strong communication with their online teachers. Our busy lives guarantee that a crisis will occur during school at the worst possible time.  It is not a matter of “if”, but a matter of when!  Working ahead, if possible, is the best safeguard against looming catastrophes in our lives.  More importantly, when something happens which may be an obstacle to our course work, it is imperative to contact faculty as soon as possible regarding the situation. Even if you might meet a due date, ask for the extension anyway, you can always not use the extension, but at least you are covered. 

Via Email or phone, have a friend or family members call the faculty to inform them of a “personal situation” affecting the ability to do course work for a few days.  Details are not needed if you feel you’d like to keep them to yourself.  What is needed is a definitive time frame for your absence from class and when you will resume coursework so that an appropriate extension is requested.  Remember, most MSN programs will only grant incompletes if  75% of work is completed for a course.  Keep in mind that you are then  responsible for past course work to make up PLUS current course work, which may cause undue stress-so try to avoid incompletes where possible.

Communication with faculty regarding course content or assignment questions is associated with important timing of those questions.  Be sure to ask about assignment questions at least a week in advance of an assignment due date to allow for faculty response time to incorporate the information in your assignment. Email or the Q& A discussion area are the best ways to ask your questions.  If you have a complex issue or lack understanding of a majority of an assignment, setting up a conference call with faculty is the best way to handle those types of complex questions, as email may become too cumbersome.  In addition, for those of you who might be auditory learners, one phone call can be more helpful than a dozen emails when it comes to getting the answers you need.

Dr. Maggie

Statistics Help and Online MSN Degree Programs

An understanding of basic, and even some intermediate, statistics helps the online master of science in nursing science degree student evaluate clinical research for reliability and  clinical applicability.  A terrific resource to augment any text or material from a graduate statistic course is :

Donnelly, R.A. (2010).  The complete idiot's guide to statistics. 2nd ed.  New York, New York: The Penguin Group.

The book explains in layman’s terms statistical principles, and when to apply them with simple examples.  At the very least I recommend this book to use as a resource when evaluating research for use to determine if a change in nursing practice is warranted.

Dr. Maggie