As Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) leaders implement evidence-based practice (EBP), they must deve ...
As Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) leaders implement evidence-based practice (EBP), they must develop strategic leadership in order to minimize ethical conflict while creating a high-quality, patient-centered environment. The most common sources of ethical problems occur during periods of organizational change. Therefore, developing proactive leadership strategies to mitigate the development of ethical problems and facilitate the EBP implementation is critical. Developing transparent communication and ethical leadership strategies within healthcare organizations are the first step to developing proactive strategies to reduce the number of ethical problems. By clearly defining the purpose, benefits, and expectations of an EBP project, healthcare professionals can develop trust in one another and foster an open, ethical work environment to discuss their concerns. Developing a positive ethical climate has been shown to reduce moral distress and to improve the ability of healthcare professionals to make ethical decisions that positively impact both nursing practices and patient care (Hou et al., 2021). Promoting collaborative efforts among all disciplines, including physician, advance practice nurse, registered nurse, administrator, and patient involvement in the development and implementation of EBP projects represent a second proactive strategy to reduce the number of potential ethical problems. By involving a variety of stakeholders throughout the entire project development process, there are increased opportunities for diverse perspectives and enhanced engagement on the part of each discipline involved in the project. Additionally, by engaging in collaborative decision-making processes, the likelihood of encountering resistance to change and/or being excluded from decision-making processes decreases as well (Naamati-Schneider et al., 2024). Protecting patient privacy, confidentiality, and using data responsibly represents a third proactive strategy to reduce the number of potential ethical problems that may emerge. Most EBP projects involve gathering clinical data in some form, therefore DNP leaders must protect this data and provide clear definitions regarding what data will be collected and how it will be used. Protecting patient data and providing transparency regarding how data will be used must also comply with all federal, state, and local laws governing the use of protected health information. Moreover, DNP leaders must address the ethical challenges created through digital transformations and electronic health records. If DNP leaders fail to take action to prevent ethical problems with regard to implementing EBP, negative results may include decreased morale, increased levels of moral distress, decreased productivity among healthcare workers, poorer teamwork, decreased adherence to best practices, delayed completion of EBP projects, compromised patient safety, and a diminished level of quality care provided to patients. Furthermore, organizations with suboptimal ethics climates have reported decreased levels of job satisfaction among employees and decreased organizational effectiveness (Hou et al., 2021). References Hou, Y., et al. (2021). A cross-sectional exploration of emergency department nurses' moral distress, ethical climate and nursing practice environment. International Emergency Nursing, 54, 100968. Naamati-Schneider, L., Arazi-Fadlon, M., & Daphna-Tekoah, S. (2024). Navigating moral and ethical dilemmas in digital transformation processes within healthcare organizations. Digital Health, 10, 20552076241260416. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241260416
