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The current system of healthcare in the United States needs radical change. For the health of the nation to improve, we must shift from one taking care of illness to one of prevention and the promotion of health. Access to services must be remedied, and many of the social determinants affecting health need to be addressed.

The providers of healthcare must lead this charge. Who better to forge a new system than those embroiled in the daily challenges in the current system? All providers of healthcare must work to their full scope of licensure. And nurses, in particular, should consider more education to become equal partners at the clinical and business tables (a minimum of a BSN). A number of other professional ancillary caregivers have many more years of education required for entry into practice (i.e., pharmacy, physical therapy, etc.), and most now require doctoral preparation. Varying levels of nursing education for entry and in practice inadvertently place nurses on an uneven playing field (associate degree, diploma, and bachelor preparation).

In addition, healthcare data systems must become more accessible and seamlessly transfer usable analytic information for assessment, quality improvement, and overall population health, and the data must be used both internally and externally to drive improvement. Caregiver health and well-being must become priorities in the system of the future, as mental and physical health are equally necessary for best practice. Violence in healthcare settings must no longer be tolerated, and those who engage in these behaviors must be held accountable. We must return healthcare entities to sacred places of healing.

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Hear and respond to nurses’ and other healthcare workers’ concerns. No longer should healthcare staff concerns go unaddressed. Patient safety and quality outcomes are paramount, and the expectations from customers are continuing to increase. A system of continuous learning, improvement, and innovation must be front and center.

  • Action Step: Think about some of the processes that do not work as they might in your organization. Or, what do you hear your colleagues constantly talking about that is a problem? Are there improvements to be made? You can write your thoughts here:

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  • Action Step: Has anyone stepped up and brought the concerns or areas of improvement to the leadership? If not, it’s time to stop complaining and start acting! Get to work collecting data, present the problem(s), and take ownership and accountability for the solution(s). Be part of the solution—not part of the problem!

  • Action Step: A good source of information is employee survey results. Ask to be included in reviewing the results (including the comments), and participate in planning solutions. Focus groups are also a great source of feedback to gather what employees think about the work environment (in real time). Learn what the front line needs to provide exceptional care and service as well as what they need to feel appreciated and grow in the work environment.

  • Action Step: Consider posting easily ...

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