Driving Change—Not Just a Walk in the Park: The Role of the Nurse Champion in Sustained Change

If the one constant in professional nursing is change, then change management becomes significant to nurse leaders. Nurse leaders must focus on managing change to achieve desirable patient outcomes and promote the success of their staff. A leader's personal response to change can be a defining leadership trait, either positive or negative. As nurse leaders develop change management skills, they are able to assist staff in navigating clinical practice changes and professional development. 1 Change models are widely recognized to provide a useful framework in the change management process. 2 This article describes one hospital's experience in navigating a major practice change by using Kotter's 8-step change model as implemented by designated nurse champions.