Applying Nursing Theory to Guide Leadership Essay

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Pages: 9

Applying Nursing Theory to Guide Leadership

Nurse leaders are faced with issues or problems on a daily basis that are often expected and sometimes unexpected. It “comes with the territory” so to speak. If there were no issues to solve or hurdles to overcome the necessity of designating a leader would not seem quite as important. Nurse leaders can tackle issues that occur in their work environment using nursing theory to guide them. Nursing theory provides a framework that nurse leaders can use to implement interventions or changes to positively impact the staff they lead. This framework of the theory will set the standards for achieving the desired outcomes and is based on knowledge that is gleaned from practice and/or research.
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(p.257). In addition if turnover is not halted case loads will swell further causing further turnover and preventing members from receiving the case management they so badly need.
Applying Concepts and Principles of Theory Applying Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort as a framework to decrease nursing turnover can help the nurse leader impact this nursing issue. According to Kolcaba, Tilton and Drouin (2006) “Comfort Theory proposes that when the comfort of nurses is enhanced, nurses are more satisfied, more committed to the institution, and able to work more effectively. (p.539). Nurses who are more committed to the company and more satisfied would be less likely to leave. In addition if nurses were able to work more effectively they could carry heavier works loads temporarily until new staff could be hired and trained. Nurse leaders can reduce nurse turnover rated by increasing comfort of the nursing staff.
Strategy
The strategy proposed to decrease nurse turnover using Kolcaba’s theory will be increasing nursing comfort on these four levels: physical, pyschospiritual, environmental and social. Proposal for increasing the physical comfort of nursing staff working in case management would include allowing nurses to end work on time or at least allowing nurses to flex their schedule. Currently staff is expected to start at eight in the morning and work until tasks are completed and at least until four thirty in the afternoon. Currently nursing