Leading Change
Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations
We are set to go live with our electronic health record on a little over a week and staff has indicated that they are resistant to the changes. People fear change because they fear the unknown but in order to have a successful implementation of the EHR, frontline staff must put forth effort to adapt to the change. Everett Rogers (2003) identified five personality traits that influence the receptiveness of new technology. Those traits include: relative advantage, compatibility with existing values, simplicity, trailability and observable results. Utilizing these five practices in the preliminary meeting with nursing staff, will help achieve a smoother transition. The five topics for the meeting are outlined below.
Relative Advantage
Relative advantage is when a new way is more advantageous to those using it than the old way. Electronic health records are better for the patients, making faster communication between medical professionals from different organizations and preventing repeated testing, however, that does not mean it is more advantageous for the nursing staff, than systems already in place. The majority of concern from nurses is whether it will take longer to document on the new system than currently, taking more time away from the bedside (Lee, 2003). Reassuring nurses that, although it may not
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Additionally, advancing technology has been the normal course of things for decades. Young and old alike, currently have a smart phone and have adapted to the use of computers and the internet and nurses are no exception. Healthcare has had many technological advances from automated instruments that check vital signs to robots performing surgery (Barnard. & Locsin, 2007). The electronic health record is simply one more advancement in the sea of new technologies.
Trialability &