To be successful, "culture change" initiatives—efforts to help nursing homes transform from institutional hospital-like settings to homes that focus on residents' preferences—depend critically on the care provided for and directed by nursing homes' professional nursing staff. While the objectives of culture change and the goals of nursing are compatible in many ways, there are also points of friction—including those stemming from new notions of accountability for resident care and the necessity of new leadership styles. A recent "Issue Paper" from the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (New York University College of Nursing), Nurses Involvement in Nursing Home Culture Change: Overcoming Barriers, Advancing Opportunities, explores these obstacles and makes recommendations about nurses' roles and competencies regarding nursing home culture change, as well as recommendations for nursing education. The publication, which resulted from a Commonwealth Fund–sponsored meeting of interdisciplinary experts in culture change and in gerontological nursing convened by the Hartford Institute in collaboration with the Coalition of Geriatric Nursing Organizations and the Pioneer Network, is organized in five sections covering: culture change and research supporting culture change; nursing in nursing homes; culture change, nursing practice, and nursing education; recommendations; and next steps. Read the paper by visiting www.hartfordign.org/policy/position_papers_briefs or by e-mailing [email protected].
