title: Nursing future search. Building a community of nurses in an integrated healthcare system.
abstract: Many models and approaches are available to manage change and plan for the future. Large group intervention is one approach to tapping the collective wisdom of a nursing system facing formidable adaptive challenges. Large group interventions involve many people, and they include open sharing of information, group problem-solving, participation, and sharing of power to create a shared future. One model for creating a vision for the future is called "Future Search". In this article, we describe the methodology of Future Search as a model to plan for change. A case study illustrates the use of a Nursing Future Search by an integrated, not-for-profit healthcare organization in northern Virginia. Results and the outcomes of a 6-month follow-up conference reveal nine planning groups that are moving a community of nurses to action.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Health Systems, Georgetown University School of Nursing, Washington, DC, USA. mastoma@aol.com
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mastorovich
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Drenkard
mesh_terms: D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010934:Planning Techniques; D014768:Virginia