Strategic Planning Process and Nursing Process
Strategic planning process entails a systematic approach in matters to do with decision making. Strategic planning defines an organization’s strategy or the direction it takes. It involves making decisions on allocation of resources to achieve various objectives or goals. On the other hand, the nursing process involves organized phases that are meant to help nurses provide better health care to patients. This paper will compare the strategic planning and the nursing process.
According to Grunig & Kuhn (2011), the strategic planning process is primarily concerned with establishing investments that can help an organization preserve the potentials to be successful in the future and to develop new potentials. The success potentials can be categorized into three: a strong position in the market, a competitive advantage in the long-term and lastly competitive advantage over other organizations in terms of resources. Thus, strategic planning ensures that the organization’s mission and vision are in harmony with its long-term goals. In developing a strategic plan, organizations often take into consideration the actions and possible responses of the internal as well as external stakeholders. Strategic planning involves a series of steps which includes goal definition, environmental analysis, data analysis, identifying potential solutions, implementation of actions and finally evaluation (Hebda & Czar, 2013).
The nursing process on the other hand ensures that nurses deliver patient care in a goal oriented and systematic manner. This is similar to future orientation in strategic planning involving organizations. The nursing process is an ongoing and dynamic process that continues indefinitely. The nursing process unites nurses and helps them work in unity to achieve a holistic, patient-oriented care. The nursing process, just like the strategic process also involves a series of steps. These steps include assessment of the patient, diagnosis of the condition, planning or outcomes relating to the patient, implementation of the care plan during hospitalization and evaluation of the patient’s status on a regular basis (Karen, 2012).
Both the strategic planning process and the nursing process focus on long-term goal achievement. They both entail the application of scientific approaches in formulating actions that lead to achievement of the desired outcomes. The nursing process focuses on care of patients in hospital settings. This is slightly different from strategic planning which focuses on ensuring future success of the organization in light of the internal and external stakeholders. Another notable difference is that strategic planning process involves conducting SWOT analysis which entails a look into the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
The nurses’ role in strategic planning process involves processing data into useful information in relation to the nursing organization. Nurses should be able to plan ahead in relation to new trends or unforeseen events that may impact the nursing organization (Karen, 2012). Thus in strategic planning, the nurse should play a role in involving the necessary stakeholders to decision making. Such stakeholders may include physicians, nurse managers, board members and others. The other role is to develop a projection of the various strategic issues. This includes making a detailed analysis of resources required, current status of development and the resources needed. In light of this, nurses should link the strategic plan with quality plan, human resource plan and the financial plan. The nurse should also develop innovative solutions to various issues in the nursing organization.
The nurse’s role in the nursing process involves keenly following the six steps. In assessment, the nurse must collect and examine data concerning patients. The nurse is also expected to make a diagnosis on the clients’ health needs or response to health conditions. Planning involves the nurse developing a set of goals meant to help the patient recover, for instance eating a balanced diet on regular intervals. Implementation involves a careful execution of the care plan. Lastly, the nurse is expected to carry out regular evaluation of the implemented plans to establish whether they are effective. To become more involved in strategic planning in informatics, nurses at all levels must be actively engaged in the process. It is also imperative to enhance collaboration among nurses at all levels (Hebda & Czar, 2013).
References
Grünig, R., & Kühn, R. (2011). Process-based strategic planning. Heidelberg: Springer.
Hebda, T., & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of Informatics (5th ed). Retrieved from The Universisty of Phoenix eBook Collection.
Karen, D. (2012). Strategy as a Solution: Developing a Nursing Strategic Plan. Journal of Nursing Administration, 42(5): 242 – 245.
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