• Review the Resources and identify one change that you believe is called for in your organization/workplace.
o This may be a change necessary to effectively address one or more of the issues you addressed in the Workplace Environment Assessment you submitted in Module 4. It may also be a change in response to something not addressed in your previous efforts. It may be beneficial to discuss your ideas with your organizational leadership and/or colleagues to help identify and vet these ideas.
• Reflect on how you might implement this change and how you might communicate this change to organizational leadership.
Problem Addressed (Assumed from typical Workplace Assessment): The environment lacks formal, institutional mechanisms for processing secondary trauma and moral injury resulting from patient deaths, medical errors, and emotionally devastating cases, leading to cumulative stress and staff exit.
2. Implementation Strategy: The 5-Step Plan
The implementation will follow a structured, multi-phase approach to ensure sustainability and integration into the existing workplace culture.
Phase 1: Planning and Policy Development (Months 1–2)
Action: Secure leadership buy-in and funding. Form a CISM Task Force composed of representatives from Nursing Leadership, Mental Health/Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and frontline staff (Peer Support Volunteers).
Deliverable: Develop a formal De-briefing Policy and Procedure outlining standardized triggers (e.g., unexpected pediatric death, patient suicide, staff-involved adverse event) and ensuring de-briefing time is mandated and scheduled as paid work time.
Phase 2: Peer Support Training and Certification (Months 3–4)
Action: Recruit and train a multidisciplinary cohort of 15-20 Peer Support Facilitators (nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers) using a reputable, certified CISM model (e.g., International Critical Incident Stress Foundation—ICISF).
Sample Answer
Proposed Organizational Change: Implementing a Standardized, Interdisciplinary De-briefing Program 🧘♀️
1. The Change Called For
The change I propose is the implementation of a Standardized Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and Peer Support De-briefing Program across all high-stress units (e.g., ICU, ED, Labor & Delivery).
This change is necessary to effectively address the systemic issues of nurse burnout, compassion fatigue, and high staff turnover, which are pervasive challenges in high-acuity healthcare environments. These issues compromise patient safety and organizational financial stability.