1. Application: Systems Theory
As noted in the Learning Resources, systems theory provides a
meaningful and beneficial means of examining challenges in
health care organizations. To do this effectively, however, it is
essential to assess
all
system components, as some may be relatively healthy while
others are problematic.
For this Assignment, you apply systems theory to the
examination of a problem in a department or a unit within a
health care organization. (
Note:
You may use the same problem you identified for the
Discussion as long as it meets the criteria for this assignment.)
To prepare:
Review the Meyer article, “Nursing Services Delivery Theory:
An Open System Approach,” in this week’s Learning Resources.
Focus especially on the information presented in
Table 1 (p. 2831) and Figure 2 (p. 2833).
Reflect on your organization or one with which you are familiar
(
Refer to the first discussion you did for me, My organization is
a hospital University of Maryland Medical center
) . Within a particular department or unit in this organization,
identify a problem the staff is encountering.
Using Table 1 in the Meyer article as a guide, analyze the
department or unit, identifying inputs, throughput, output,
cycles of events, and negative feedback. Consider whether the
problem you have selected relates to input, throughput, output,
cycles of events, and/or negative feedback.

2. Think about how you could address the problem: Consider what
a desired outcome would be, then formulate related goals and
objectives, and translate those goals into policies and
procedures.
Research professional standards that are pertinent to your
identified problem.
Reflect on the organization’s mission statement and values. In
addition, consider how addressing this problem would uphold
the mission and values, while improving the organizational
culture and climate. (Depending on the organization you have
selected, you may have explored these in the Week 1
Discussion.)
To complete:
Write a
4- to 5-page
paper (page count does not include title and reference page)
that addresses the following:
(1) Describe a department or unit within a health care
organization using systems theory terminology. Include a
description of inputs, throughput, output, cycles of events, and
negative feedback.
(2) Describe the problem you identified within the department
or unit using an open- systems approach, and state where the
problem exists using the systems theory model (input,
throughput, output, cycles of events, or negative feedback).
(3) Based on this information, explain how you would address
the problem as follows:
(a) Formulate a desired outcome.
(b) Identify goals and objectives that would facilitate that
outcome.

3. (c) Translate those goals and objectives into policies and
procedures for the department or unit.
(d) Describe relevant professional standards.
(4) Explain how your proposed resolution to the problem would
uphold the organization’s mission and values and improve the
culture and climate.
Guidance for Application Assignments
:
Application Assignments require a title page, introduction, body
of the paper, conclusion, and reference page. The title page
needs to follows APA style and includes a title, student name,
course number and section, and date. An abstract is not
required. APA style headings are to be used appropriately to
separate and organize sections of the paper. The use of direct
quotes is discouraged and should only be used when the source
material
uses
language that is particularly striking or notable. The
introduction should provide an overview of the topic, the
purpose of the paper, and topics that will be addressed. The
body of the paper needs to address all required topics. The
conclusion ought to provide closure for the reader, synthesize
the content, and tie everything together to help clarify the main
points of the paper. The reference page should include all
references cited in the assignment in correct APA format.
.
Credible sources include scholarly peer-reviewed journal
articles, evidence based resources, and professional (.org),

4. educational (.edu), and government websites (.gov).
Commercial websites (.com) are not considered credible
sources.
Please note:
When selecting articles for course assignments, you are advised
(unless you are referencing seminal information) to focus on
work published
within the past five years.
Required Resources
Note:
To access this week's required library resources, please click
on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the
Course Materials
section of your Syllabus.
Readings
Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2015).
Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory
and application
(8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Review Chapter 7, “Strategic and Operational Planning”
See especially Figure 7.1 on page 147.
Chapter 8, “Planned Change”
Organizational Change Associated With Nonlinear Dynamics
(pp. 172–176)

5. Read this section of Chapter 8 on planned change. Consider the
role of leaders in effectively managing planned change.
Chapter 12, “Organizational Structure”
“Organizational Culture” (pp. 274–276)
There are many structures organizations take, and these
structures influence how the organization functions. This
chapter discusses many different organizational structures and
provides insights into how these structures influence the change
process, as well as leadership and management.
Johnson, J. K., Miller, S. H., & Horowitz, S. D. (2008).
Systems-based practice: Improving the safety and quality of
patient care by recognizing and improving the systems in which
we work. Retrieved from
http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/advances2/vol2/Advances-
Johnson_90.pdf
This article addresses the importance of systems-based practice
(SBP) in health care workplaces. The authors state that SBP
knowledge is one of six core competencies that physicians have
to know in order to provide safe and proper care for their
patients.
Manley, K., O’Keefe, H., Jackson, C., Pearce, J., & Smith, S.
(2014). A shared purpose framework to deliver person-centred,
safe and effective care: Organisational transformation using
practice development methodology.
FoNS 2014 International Practice Development Journal 4
(1) [2].
Except from Abstract: A shared purpose is an essential part of
developing effective workplace cultures and one of the founding
principles of practice development in establishing person-
centred, safe and effective practices that enables everyone to
flourish. When units within health care organizations recognize
their interdependence, they can create an interdisciplinary

6. practice through systems integration.
Meyer, R. M., & O’Brien-Pallas, L. L. (2010). Nursing services
delivery theory: An open system approach.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66
(12), 2828–2838.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
In this article, the authors examine the effects of nursing
services delivery theory in large-scale organizations. Among
other benefits, this theory supports multilevel phenomena and
cross-level studies, and it can guide future research and the
management of nursing services.
Optional Resources
Glennister, D. (2011, July).
Towards a general systems theory of nursing: A literature
review
. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the
International Society for the System Sciences, Hull, United
Kingdom. Retrieved from
http://journals.isss.org/index.php/proceedings55th/article/viewF
ile/1717/569
Hayajneh, Y. (2007).
Management for health care professionals series: Systems &
systems theory.
Retrieved from
http://www.hayajneh.org/a/readings/Systems-Theory.pdf