Mn 501 Unit 5 Discussion:opinion Leader Perspectives

MN 501 unit 5 discussion: Opinion Leader PerspectivesThe adoption of new evidence based practices in nursing involves many factors one of which is social influence. According to change theory, doctors or nurses are unwilling to adopt new practices based solely on objective processes but through opinion leaders in the workplace (Carpenter & Sherbino, 2010). Opinion leaders are described as informal leaders who have the ability to influence the decisions of others. They have become respected sources of information in healthcare because they are always connected to new ideas and they have the interpersonal skills needed to influence change (Anderson, 2013). For one to be an opinion leader they should possess the following characteristics; be well integrated in their place of work, have strong interpersonal and networking skills, have good researching techniques, have access to current research and be respected within their local network (Borbas et al., 2000, p.25S).In my nursing practice, we deal with a lot of diabetic patients who cannot control their blood sugar using self-management techniques. Many patients return within 4 to 5 days with elevated sugar levels after being discharged from hospital. During a staff meeting, I suggested spending more time with these patients before discharge to