APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCE

UNIT 8

THE NURSING PROFESSION FROM A SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT

Learning objectives

By the end of this unit, students should be able to

• Define change agent

• Describe the types of change

• List the process of change

• Identify barriers that are stopping nurses to be change agent

From the beginning of our discussions in this module, we asserted that

• the premise of sociology is the community

• nurses work in and with the community

• Interactions between the nurse and the community contribute to the health
of the community.

In this unit we will deal with the subject of nurses being change agents

You improve the quality of lives of your patients.

You gain insight into the minds and hearts of your patients

Understand the patients’ need – this is not always biochemical.

Introduction

Being a change agent is the major role of nurses due to the fact that nurses spend
more time with patients than any other health professionals (doctors, radiographers
etc) and nurses are the largest workforce in the healthcare industry. A nurse does
not have to be a facility manager before bringing positive change to the working
environment.

What is change agent?

The change agent is the person who directly or indirectly effects the change
process through intentional interventions into the life of the group or organization.
His/her job is to develop a climate for planned change by overcoming resistances
and marshalling forces for positive growth.
The change agent utilizes "change" concepts including problem formulation and
problem resolution in order to promote planned social change in his/her work setting
or role functioning and it is essential for nurses to be aware of the problems/
challenges in their working environment for them to be able to formulate
solution/ideas to solve the problems.

Types of change

There are 4 types of change

1. Change in organizational structure: This is usually changes in power,

communications patterns, and roles.

2. Change in technology: Gaining acceptance of a change in technical

supplies or new equipment is probably the easiest type of change to accomplish.

3. Change in behaviour: For example, influencing individuals to come for health

checks and/or counselling when this has not been the routine is generally more
difficult.

4. Change in values and assumptions: A change of this type is the most difficult
to accomplish. It is almost always by conflict.

Process of change

• Introduction of a new idea

• Tension between the new and the old idea

• Probable compromise and alteration

• A decision, plan for action, and then actual implementation

• Feedback, which may in turn become the idea for a new cycle of change.

Barriers stopping nurses from being a change agent

Nurses are not allowed to be a full partner in decision making.

Other health professionals such as doctors see nurses as people without much
knowledge.

No voice for nurses, they are less recognized.

Therefore , it is time for nurses to stand up for themselves and be the change agent
for their patients and the community at large, they need to be the advocate for
their patients for quality services to be rendered. The time has come for nurses to
take the lead in the revolution to making healthcare more patient-centered and
quality driven. It is necessary for nurses to continue to look for ways to impact
changes in the healthcare system.