Title : Managing change in nursing and long-term care: Leadership, workforce competencies, and organizational innovation in healthcare systems

Healthcare systems worldwide are undergoing profound transformations driven by demographic ageing, workforce shortages, increasing care complexity, and rising expectations regarding the quality, safety, and efficiency of services. Nursing and long-term care sectors are particularly affected by these dynamics, positioning nursing leadership as a central determinant of sustainable organizational and system-level change.

This presentation examines the role of leadership and strategic management in guiding change processes within nursing and long-term care organizations. Its primary objective is to analyze how nursing leadership, workforce competency development, and organizational innovation interact to enhance quality of care, professional practice, and healthcare system resilience. The analysis is grounded in interdisciplinary research integrating healthcare management, nursing science, and public health perspectives.

The presentation explores critical dimensions of change management, including leadership styles in nursing management, organizational culture, professional autonomy of nursing staff, and interprofessional collaboration. Particular attention is devoted to nursing workforce competencies, understood not only as clinical expertise but also as leadership, managerial, communication, and adaptive skills required to navigate complex healthcare environments. These competencies are framed as essential enablers of evidence-informed decision-making and effective implementation of organizational change.

Furthermore, the presentation highlights the role of nursing education, academic institutions, and continuous professional development in strengthening leadership capacity and supporting innovation in nursing and long-term care. Organizational innovation is conceptualized as a systemic process encompassing new models of care delivery, workforce organization, governance, and professional development, rather than solely technological advancement.

The findings underscore that effective change management in nursing and long-term care requires an integrated approach linking nursing leadership, education, and organizational strategy. This contribution offers a leadership- and nursing-focused management perspective relevant to healthcare executives, nurse leaders, educators, and policymakers engaged in strengthening the resilience and long-term performance of healthcare systems.

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