in 2000 words in APA format,
use Lewin’s Change theory to explain how to reduce noise levels in the NICU setting.
The purpose of this paper is to define the utility of Lewin’s Change theory and its application in nursing practice, and apply it to change the noise level in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the hospital setting. Include a summary of Lewin’s Change theory, problem or issue with high noise level in practice, an intervention which is correlated with Lewin’s Change theory selection, and a conclusion. Use APA format 6th edition, 8 to 10 pages. First headings required, second and third headings if needed. A minimum of 5 articles from professional journals are required.
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Introduction:
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a crucial part of healthcare, providing critical care to premature and severely ill newborns. However, the noise level in the NICU can be a significant source of stress for patients, families, and healthcare workers. High noise levels in the NICU can lead to negative health outcomes for newborns, including hearing loss, changes in sleep patterns, and physiological stress responses. Therefore, reducing noise levels in the NICU is critical to promote better health outcomes and improve the quality of care provided. In this paper, we will use Lewin’s Change theory to explain how to reduce noise levels in the NICU setting.
Lewin’s Change Theory:
Lewin’s Change theory is a widely used theoretical framework for organizational change. The theory provides a framework for understanding how people and organizations react to change and how to implement change successfully. Lewin’s Change theory consists of three stages: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing.
1. Unfreezing: In this stage, individuals and organizations become aware of the need for change. This stage involves creating readiness for change by identifying the problem, clarifying goals, and establishing a sense of urgency.
2. Changing: The second stage involves implementing the change. This stage includes identifying the best course of action, planning the change, and taking action to implement the change.
3. Refreezing: The final stage involves stabilizing and institutionalizing the change. In this stage, the change is reinforced, and the organization or individual returns to a new state of equilibrium.
Problem or Issue with High Noise Level in Practice:
The noise level in the NICU can have negative health outcomes for newborns. High noise levels in the NICU can lead to stress responses, changes in sleep patterns, and hearing loss. The noise level in the NICU is typically above the recommended levels, with levels averaging between 70-80 decibels, which is equivalent to the sound of a vacuum cleaner. The high noise levels in the NICU can be attributed to equipment, alarms, and conversations among healthcare workers. Noise levels in the NICU setting can cause distress among the neonates and their families, impact their rest and recovery, and pose a challenge to the healthcare setting.
Intervention which is Correlated with Lewin’s Change theory Selection:
The intervention to reduce the noise level in the NICU will involve the following steps:
1. Unfreezing: The first stage involves creating awareness among healthcare workers, neonates, and their families about the negative impact of high noise levels on the neonates’ health outcomes. The NICU staff will be educated on the importance of reducing noise levels in the NICU to promote better health outcomes. The families of neonates admitted to the NICU will be informed of the hospital’s effort to reduce noise levels and their role in helping to achieve the desired outcome.
2. Changing: The second stage involves identifying the best course of action to reduce noise levels in the NICU. This stage will involve the implementation of various strategies such as reducing equipment noise, having alarm-free zones and establishing communication guidelines to prevent unnecessary noise in the NICU.
Reducing Equipment Noise:
a. Equipment relocation: Some equipment, especially the loud ones, will be moved away from the bedside of infants.
b. Equipment maintenance: Regular maintenance and servicing of equipment such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and other medical equipment will reduce noise from faulty equipment.
c. Equipment redesign: Equipment redesign will involve the incorporation of noise reduction features such as sound insulation and noise cancellation to prevent the spread of noise.
3. Establishing Alarm-Free Zones:
a. Development of policies and guidelines for the use of alarms in the NICU. This is intended to reduce the unnecessary use of alarms.
b. Use of predictive analytics and algorithms to reduce false alarms.
4. Communication Guidelines:
Include communication guidelines among healthcare workers and visitors to the unit to reduce unnecessary noise. Staff will be encouraged to communicate in areas set aside to reduce the spread of noise to the neonates.
5. Refreezing:
The final stage involves the reinforcement of the change and maintaining the new noise-reduced NICU environment. The hospital employees will continue to maintain equipment, redesign or replace equipment when necessary, maintain alarm-free zones, and review communication guidelines regularly.
Conclusion:
High noise levels in the NICU have been identified to cause stress responses, changes in sleep patterns, and even hearing loss among neonates. Therefore, reducing noise levels in the NICU is critical to ensuring better health outcomes and improving the quality of care provided. Lewin’s Change theory offers a framework that can be used to implement successful change in the NICU setting. The unfreezing stage will create awareness among all stakeholders regarding the issue of high noise levels. The changing stage will involve the implementation of evidence-based interventions to reduce noise. The refreezing stage involves the institutionalization and reinforcement of the changes, ensuring that the new noise-reduced NICU environment is maintained. Through this intervention, the noise level in the NICU can be reduced, promoting better health outcomes, and improving the quality of care provided.
