Ideological tensions amidst rapid and continuous organizational change in healthcare
Journal of Organizational Change Management
ISSN: 0953-4814
Article publication date: 20 October 2020
Issue publication date: 2 December 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to explore the nature of frontline nurses' experiences of living with rapid and continuous organizational change.
Design/methodology/approach
A critical hermeneutic approach was utilized. This was a qualitative inquiry theoretically guided by critical management studies.
Findings
Participants recognized that many change initiatives reflected an ideological shift in healthcare that supported a culture of service, whilst sacrificing a culture of care. A culture of service prioritized cost-savings and efficiency, which saw nurses lose the time and resources required to provide quality, safe care.
Practical implications
Nurses felt morally responsible to uphold a culture of care, which proved challenging and at times unobtainable. The inability to provide quality, safe care in light of organizational changes resulted in a multitude of negative emotional repercussions, which fostered moral distress.
Originality/value
The findings from this study bring to light ideological tensions that negatively impact nurses. This study supports the conclusion that the planning, implementation and evaluation of organizational change initiatives must reflect a culture of care in order to alleviate the many negative experiences of organizational change noted in this study.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: The author(s) received financial support from Ontario Graduate Scholarship, University of Ottawa Excellence Scholarship and Toronto General Hospital, School of Nursing Alumnae Association Scholarship for the doctoral research associated with this publication. No financial support was received for authorship and/or publication of this article. Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Citation
McMillan, K. and Perron, A. (2020), "Ideological tensions amidst rapid and continuous organizational change in healthcare", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 33 No. 6, pp. 1029-1039. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-02-2020-0061
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited