Questions and Topics We Can Help You Answering;
Transitioning From Closed to
Open Systems
How do effective nurse leaders and others approach problem solving and decision making in organizations? As suggested in this week’s Learning Resources, systems theory provides a valuable way to assess situations and prepare to address problems.
For this week’s Discussion, you identify an issue or process that could be improved and apply knowledge and strategies related to systems theory.
Note: You may find it helpful to view the Assignment instructions and use the same problem for this Discussion.
To prepare:
• Review the information presented in this week’s Learning Resources on systems theory and the difference between open and closed systems.
• Reflect on the practices and processes with which you are familiar in your organization. Identify one problematic issue or process that could be improved.
• Consider the problem from a closed-system perspective. Then think about how the issue or process you selected could be addressed by viewing it from an open-system perspective. How would the transition from a closed- to an open-system view help you and others to address the problem and improve outcomes?
By Day 3
Post a description of the problem that you identified in your selected organization. Explain the problem from a closed-system perspective. Then, describe how the problem could be addressed by viewing it from an open-system perspective, and explain how this modification would help you and others improve health care outcomes.
In Week 1, you examined the foundations of health care organizations, especially as they relate to mission, vision, and values, and culture and climate. The attention now turns to how these inform the development of goals and objectives, as well as policies and procedures that guide planning and day-to-day activities in health care organizations. In addition, this week you view health care organizations through the lens of systems theory.
Here are some references
Manley, K., O’Keefe, H., Jackson, C., Pearce, J., & Smith, S. (2014). A shared purpose framework to deliver person-centred, safe and effective care: Organisational transformation using practice development methodology. FoNS 2014 International Practice Development Journal 4-(1).
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Meyer, R. M., & O’Brien-Pallas, L. L. (2010). Nursing services delivery theory: An open system approach. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(12), 2828–2838.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
In this article, the authors examine the effects of nursing services delivery theory in large-scale organizations. Among other benefits, this theory supports multilevel phenomena and cross-level studies, and it can guide future research and the management of nursing services.