The management of change on a nursing development unit.

This article presents a descriptive account of the management of the change process and the nature of nursing developments which have been implemented on a Nursing Development Unit in Manchester Royal Infirmary. The fundamental aim underlying all innovations is to improve the quality of care delivered to patients. Consequently, the evaluation of the change process and whether it has actually served to improve standards is an issue of concern within this article. It is acknowledged that this case study cannot be upheld as an ideal model for innovation in nursing practice. It may however, serve as an example of how idealistic principles might be combined with realism derived directly from clinical practice, and may thus serve to inspire others along similar paths.