Nurses ought to be on the forefront of encouraging hospitals' enhanced quality, safety and infection prevention, according to a published report.
An article in Health Leaders Media argues the top responsibility of nursing jobs is the well-being and safety of patients. Efforts to improve those circumstances will be strengthened by more vested involvement by nurses and additional clinical staff.
"Culture eats strategy for lunch," Mary J. Voutt-Goos, director of Patient Safety Initiatives and Clinical Care Design at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, told the publication. "If frontline staff aren't in agreement and actively engaged in the process, it won't happen. Top-down approaches to culture change are typically unsuccessful."
If nurses are less involved due to non-interest or lack of motivation to uphold the effort, metrics measuring quality improvement might slip. Even if orders come from nurses' higher powers, following this direction is not always guaranteed.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for nurses are strong and opportunities are available for candidates equipped with educational degrees ranging from a nursing program's diploma to a master's degree.