What people resist is not change per se, but loss.” ― Ronald Heifetz
Change is an essential part of growth in a complex place like the NICU – whether in practice, research, policy, staffing, equipment, roles, leadership, or workflow. On the surface, the NICU’s fast-paced intensive care environment seems like fertile ground for innovation and improvement. And yet, despite meaningful progress over the decades, we still find ourselves confronting long-standing myths and challenges in foundational areas of care.
It can be frustrating – even maddening – to work in a system that often seems intent on doing things the way they’ve always been done. While we cannot apply a quick fix to the very real nuances of providing quality care to such vulnerable patients, we can choose to move together toward something better—one step at a time.
|
If we take Heifetz’ quote and apply it to implementation, it may look something like this:
Addressing invisible barriers like loss can foster understanding versus doubt, interprofessional respect versus hierarchy, and momentum versus stagnation. It’s a small step – but it’s forward. And it’s together. |