Recommended Strategies for Knowledge Dissemination at Micro, Meso, and Macro Levels
A doctor of nursing practice (DNP) should be prepared to disseminate knowledge to colleagues at the micro, meso, and macro systems. The primary ways of dissemination include the integration of scientific evidence into practice, the development of organizational and systems leadership, the application of clinical scholarship and analysis, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). The micro level stands for patient care; the meso level increases the scope of a healthcare institution, and the macro level is the policy level (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). As such, the DNP essentials discussed below would have a different approach for each level.
DNP Essentials Related to Knowledge Dissemination
Essential I: Integrating Scientific Underpinnings into Practice
Integrating scientific underpinnings into personal practice at the micro level is relatively difficult. Changing personal practices based on studies is possible, but if those are not supported at an institutional level, these practices may contradict the established policy (Menichetti et al., 2021). As such, the DNP must first push for an institutional change within their existing healthcare organization. The strategy would involve presenting the evidence at a hospital leadership meeting and proposing policy changes (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). At the macro level, a DNP can contact a local representative in person, via a letter, or through a medical association to solicit the integration of the evidence into policy.
Essential II: Developing Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
Developing organizational and systems leadership to improve quality and systems thinking is easier at the micro level since DNPs can start with themselves and their subordinates. The required knowledge can be disseminated through leaflets, emails, and other contact methods to improve the knowledge and make a more quality-minded effort (Menichetti et al., 2021). At the meso and macro levels, the DNP will have to engage various stakeholders and present them with their plan of development, the need for it, and the knowledge supporting it.
Essential III: Applying Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
Applying clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice is critical for individual research and dissemination of information. Typically, a DNP performing research would have to present their findings to their colleagues at all three levels, including meso and macro (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). For meso levels, it could take the form of a scientific article, presenting the findings in a table supported by a methodological framework. At a macro level, the decisions are typically made by individuals unfamiliar with medical terminology (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). The information has to be brought to a level at which they can understand it to make an informed decision.
Essential VI: Employing Interprofessional Collaboration to Improve Health Outcomes
Different kinds of information distribution are used when interprofessional collaboration is used to improve patient and population health outcomes. At a micro level, when part of a team, DNPs, and nurses are to utilize professional language, keep it succinct and to the point, and ensure that it cannot be misinterpreted (Menichetti et al., 2021). When engaged with other audiences at meso and macro levels, the language patterns should remain the same, with changes made to ensure that the people the DNP interacts with understand them (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). This strategy would result in the successful dissemination of information.
Essential VII: Demonstrating Advanced Clinical Judgment and Systems Thinking for Evidence-Based Care
Advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability are needed to plan, provide, and assess evidence-based care to enhance patient outcomes. At the personal (micro) level, the strategy involves engaging other peers to provide feedback on the decisions the DNP makes to reduce the potential blindsides and biases involved in the process (Menichetti et al., 2021). When presenting the information at the meso and macro levels, multiple accounts must be critically reviewed and compared to one another before being presented to the healthcare institution’s leadership board or lawmakers (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). A critical reviewing strategy is, thus, the best way to address information dissemination at all three levels.
References
Arnold, E. C., & Boggs, K. U. (2019). Interpersonal relationships e-book: professional communication skills for nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Menichetti, J., Lie, H. C., Mellblom, A. V., Brembo, E. A., Eide, H., Gulbrandsen, P.,… & Juvet, L. K. (2021). Tested communication strategies for providing information to patients in medical consultations: A scoping review and quality assessment of the literature. Patient Education and Counseling, 104(8), 1891-1903.