Nursing Informatics Theory Paper
Abstract
This paper deals with the Kurt Lewin’s change theory in the light of its application and implementation in the sphere of health care system. The research topic lies in determining whether such a theory is applicable and suitable for the usage in the above-mentioned area of knowledge. From the very start, the brief professional biography of Kurt Lewin is presented. Next, in order to better understand the essence of the presented model, its major constructions are described. In the following paragraph, it is explained, why Lewin’s change theory is so popular in the nursing area and which specialties prove that fact. Finally, the biggest part of the paper is devoted to the analysis of the real-life example of how this model was realized in the nursing education administration. The paper ends with the conclusion, which summarizes the whole work and estimates the analyzed theory.
Keywords: Kurt Lewin, change theory, health care system, nursing education administration
Nursing Informatics Theory Paper
The theory is an unalienable part of any kind of knowledge. Health care system and especially nursing are not the exemptions to this rule. It is vital to understand that these spheres regularly need to be changed in distant aspects. The role of this paper is to analyze Kurt Lewin’s change theory. Despite its relative simplicity and the fact it is not a recently originated theoretical model, the application of the Lewin’s change theory creates a solid basis for advanced changes in the above-mentioned areas of knowledge.
From the very beginning, it is worth mentioning the author of this theory, especially his professional biography. Lewin started his career in 1930 as a visiting professor at Stanford University. Next, after his immigration to the US, Kurt worked at both Cornell University and the University of Iowa. Massachusetts Institute of Technology was Lewin’s next place of occupation, where he began to design his own theoretical frameworks. In 1946, the development of the change theory resulted in the establishment of the National Training Laboratories in Maine. His most famous works include Resolving Social Conflicts and Field Theory in Social Science, Principles Of Topological Psychology, The Complete Social Scientist: A Kurt Lewin Reader etc. (“Kurt Lewin - Nursing Theorist”, n.d.). Therefore, Kurt Lewin is recognized as one of the most prominent nursing and social psychologist ever.
For now, the major constructs of the change theory are to be disclosed. Kurt Lewin proposed this model in 1951 (Schriner et al., 2010, p. 382). According to its provisions, there are three main stages of the theory – unfreezing, movement, and refreezing. As Burnes (2004) explains, during the first stage, new kind of behavior can be successfully adopted only after the unfreezing (destabilization) of the equilibrium (p. 985). It means that this stage involves trying to find a way or making it possible for the participants to stop using an old ineffective pattern. The consideration of the driving forces as well as identifying the plan for change …
