Incorporating nursing theory into a nursing department strategic plan.

Corporations, including health care organizations, have used the strategic planning process as a means to plan, coordinate, and direct activities of the organization. Research has shown that nursing departments that conduct strategic planning perform better. But few nursing departments develop strategic plans. Our nursing department recently developed a strategic plan, but the unique aspect of our department's plan is the incorporation of nursing theory. This article will review the strategic planning process, describe the selection of a nursing theory to incorporate into a nursing department strategic plan, and give examples of the integration of strategic planning and nursing theory.