NUR 590 Benchmark – Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project Framework/Model for Change

Sample Answer

The implementation of an evidence-based practice (EBP) project requires a systematic approach that integrates an appropriate change model for the team to develop better processes and guidelines. Hospital-acquired infections are a patient safety issue or problem that providers can prevent and reduce through proper hand hygiene measures and training for patients in diverse healthcare settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities (Al Sawafi, 2021).

As such, the proposed EBP project to reduce and prevent hospital-acquired infections, especially from providers to patients, requires an appropriate framework or model for change. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the selected change model to implement the proposed EBP intervention of hand hygiene measures to reduce and prevent nosocomial infections.

Description of the Proposed Change Model ADKAR Change Model

The implementation of proposed EBP projects in healthcare settings requires an effective or appropriate change model. Spoon et al. (2020) opine that it is essential for change implementers to apply appropriate strategies based on guidelines emanating from appropriate change models or theories.

The ADKAR model is an appropriate change model to implement EBP interventions like improving hand hygiene measures to reduce and prevent hospital-acquired infection. The ADKAR was developed by Jeff Hiat after extensively studying change patterns in various situations or settings. The ADKAR model focuses on individuals driving change in their organizations (Balluck et al., 2020).

The model advances that guiding people through specific change approaches or methods addresses barriers to change along the way. Based on the evaluation of the proposed EBP project, the ADKAR model and its sequential stages are ideal for the proposed solution. The proposed project focuses on education, creating awareness, and implementing hand hygiene measures among providers and patients to reduce and prevent hospital-acquired infections.

Therefore, the implementation of this project will require a model or framework aimed at individualized change processes and efficient management of possible resistance. The ADKAR model is appropriate since it factors all these aspects from an individualized level.

Stages of the Change Framework/Model

The ADKAR model comprises five stages that include awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement. The awareness stage entails creating an understanding that change is essential through effective communication and education as organizational members should know the need for change.

The second stage is desire where stakeholders, especially organizational members, are keen on change among themselves by developing a clear vision and explaining the importance of change (Wonget al., 2020). Members of the organization should understand how to create and implement change.

As such, in the third stage, members understand the importance of change by gaining knowledge and evaluating existing evidence to support the proposed intervention (Balluck et al., 2020). Organizational leaders at this point should have effective communication approaches and training the stakeholders about the goal of the anticipated change.

Upon gaining knowledge on change, members start developing the capacity and competencies to implement it in the organization. As core stakeholders, organizational leaders help members like nurses and other healthcare workers to enhance their abilities to implement change through support, allocating sufficient resources, and celebrating small successes from the beginning.

The fifth stage is reinforcement where leaders, especially nurse leaders, help employees or colleagues to embed new ways of doing things through positive approaches and encouragement.

Application of the ADKAR Model

The proposed EBP project focuses on enhancing hand hygiene measures among providers to prevent and reduce the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections. The project offers extensive education, awareness, training, and setting up of points to increase hand washing, hand sanitization using alcohol-based sanitizers, and integration of informational resources at organizational and individual patient levels to improve hand hygiene.

The ADKAR model is appropriate for this project based on its features or stages. Awareness will entail nurses getting sufficient training and information through effective communication. The project team will evaluate existing literature to demonstrate evidence of the efficacy of the proposed solutions for nurses to understand and be willing to implement them.

After knowing the importance of implementing the proposed measures, the change team will create a desire for change by emphasizing the urgency and its role in the organization, especially in improving patient safety (Jaaron et al., 2021). Through the changes, patients will access safer care and improve their outcomes as well as reduce susceptibility to infections.

The third stage is knowledge where nurse leaders will be expected to increase the rationale for change by providing research evidence and justifying its efficacy to the organization and providers. The knowledge of nosocomial infections, their effects on patients and organizations, and better ways to mitigate them will form the basis of the knowledge (Wong et al., 2020).

Based on the level of acquired knowledge, the team will train nurses and other healthcare workers to possess sufficient competencies or strategies to implement the change. The leadership will offer support, required resources, time, and expertise through collaboration to implement the suggested ways to reduce and prevent infections.

The implementation will involve a trial phase before rollout for the entire organization. Through support and fulfillment of all requirements, nurses will be motivated to implement the new measures and reduce infections (Harrison et al., 2021). The reinforcement stage will entail embedding these new practices as part of the organizational safety measures and culture to improve care delivery by reducing infections (Balluck et al., 2020).

Nurses will integrate the new hand hygiene measures at each point and continue to educate patients on their importance in all areas, especially among the inpatients.

Conclusion

Change implementation models or frameworks like ADKAR are essential to execute proposed EBP projects like hand hygiene measures among nurses to reduce and prevent infections in hospitalized patients. The ADKAR model provides a systematic approach to change and is appropriate for this project because of the benefits it provides based on its stages. Using the model, nurses and other providers in the facility will integrate the proposed measures and enhance the quality of care and patient safety.

References

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• Spoon, D., Rietbergen, T., Huis, A., Heinen, M., van Dijk, M., van Bodegom-Vos, L., & Ista, E.
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