Starting the lean journey: The effect of lean awareness on nurses’ knowledge and readiness for lean transformation in the hospital

Abstract

Background and objective: Lean is a form of quality improvement which receiving an increased attention and rapidly becoming the latest approach in healthcare. Lean presents a set of philosophies, principles, and tools for (re)designing hospitals to maximize value and minimize waste, improving performance and care quality. Leading the journey of Lean transformation (LT) in the nursing units is a natural role of nurses. It has been indicated that enhancing nurses’ awareness and knowledge about Lean approach is essential for increasing nurses’ readiness in order to assume an active role in LT Journey in hospitals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lean awareness on nurses’ knowledge and readiness for LT at a private hospital.

Methods: A quai-experimental research with one group pre-post- test design was conducted with all nurses (N = 90) who are working in a private hospital, Egypt. Lean Awareness Sessions (LASs) were introduced to nurses as the study intervention. Lean knowledge questionnaire and Organizational Change Recipients’ Belief Scale were used for assessing nurses’ knowledge and their readiness for LT, respectively.

Results: Nurses’ knowledge of Lean concept significantly improved after attending LASs compared with pretest knowledge questionnaire (p < .001). A strong significant positive correlation increased between overall nurses’ knowledge of Lean and their readiness for LT after attending LASs (r = 0.697, p < .001). These results prove that the knowledge nurses acquired through LASs increased their readiness in a significant way for LT.

Conclusion and recommendations: For a successful transformation towards Lean hospital, significant factors should be considered by hospital and nursing managers such as: training programs, nurses’ empowerment, and effective communication. The readiness for Lean should be supported by understanding the necessity for change, having clear and endless leadership direction, and a strong change agent. Future longitudinal study may permit stronger statements regarding the causal relationship between Lean knowledge and readiness and to understand how Lean adoption impacts nurses’ outcomes.