Preparing Nurse Leaders

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There are various personal qualities and attributes that are useful in the preparation of a nursing profession. These qualities serve to develop the intelligence, compassion, and dedication that are necessary for nurses. The qualities are broken down into five sections: Knowledge; Work Habits; Pursuit of Knowledge; Personal Attitudes and Ethics; Problem-solving Skills (Scully, 2015).

Knowledge

In order to carry out their job effectively, nurses must have a good understanding of medical terminology as well as basic medical knowledge that is appropriate for their specific nursing specialty. This information must be updated regularly due to changes in medicine and technology. Nurses should also be able to understand instructions given by doctors or specialists so they can relay these instructions accurately to those who need them (i.e., patients or family).

Work Habits

One of the main goals in establishing a nursing career is to establish positive work habits. A nurse should establish good work habits in the following areas: organization, documentation, communication, professional boundaries and professionalism, time management, and flexibility. Nurses should learn how to prioritize their time so they have time for personal activities as well as opportunities for continuing education. Nurses should learn how to effectively communicate with other professionals as well as patients by using written and verbal language. They must also set forth professional boundaries (i.e., what they are not allowed to do). Nurses need to learn how to maintain professionalism on the job and off the job (i.e., in public or private settings). Lastly, nurses must learn how to manage their time effectively.

Pursuit of Knowledge

In order to properly provide care for their patients, nurses must be able to obtain the latest information in their medical field and learn the most effective ways to treat patients. In order to do this, nurses need to set aside time for continuing education opportunities. They should also seek out mentors and role models who can teach them new skills and share valuable information with them.

While they are on the job, nurses should be actively involved in patient care. In order to ensure that they are providing the best possible care, they should be willing to ask questions when necessary. They should also be flexible in their approach to patient care and willing to change care plans as required.

Personal Attitudes and Ethics

In order to help patients feel safe, nurses must be able to establish a trusting relationship with them. They should also be able to set aside personal feelings while they are at work and not become personally involved in their patients’ lives. Nurses should also maintain a sense of dignity for all people, regardless of race, gender, or age.

Problem-Solving Skills

Nurses must have good problem-solving skills if they are going to be successful in providing quality care for their patients.

Cultural competence

Cultural competence refers to the ability to understand, respect, and honor the dimensions of other cultures. We are culturally competent when we can act in a supportive and respectful way towards others while appreciating their different ideas, behaviors, beliefs and values. It is the ability of healthcare professionals to work effectively across cultures. The concept is based on the belief that different cultures have different worldviews and values, which impact health beliefs, practices, and behaviors in families, communities, organizations and society at large. Cultural competence also acknowledges that an individual’s identity as a member of a subculture or cultural community has an influence on its health goals. It can also be simply defined as the “The ability to understand cultural difference in communication styles”.

“Ability to recognize the importance of culture for health care decisions.”

“Recognizing how one’s own beliefs may differ from those from other cultures.

Ethical sensitivity

In leadership, Ethical sensitivity tends to refer to the capacity to understand and appreciate the ethical implications of decisions and/or actions, whether as a leader or follower, and also to understand how others perceive such implications. In nursing leadership scenarios, Ethical sensitivity refers to the ability to identify ethical issues in practice, such as respecting patient rights, confidentiality and privacy. It also includes understanding how organizational policies can affect patients’ treatment. It is simply the degree to which an individual is empathetic and sensitive to the needs or desires of other people. A person who is ethical sensitive is able to discern the individual’s preferences, rights, and priorities. An ethical-sensitive leader has “a sense of empathy that allows them to put themselves in other people’s shoes.” Consequently, they are able to understand how their leadership choices affect co-workers. Although most leaders are not ethical-sensitive by nature, the development of this trait can be cultivated through training and practice in leadership positions.

Leadership and life-long learning

Leadership and life-long learning refers to the ability to lead and be a lifelong learner.  It is an essential trait of leadership that will allow you to excel in all endeavors. Leadership is the ability that allows people on an organization to “move forward together” or “be a team”. This can be further defined as the practice of influencing, motivating, and guiding others so they follow your vision or idea of action or progress towards a given goal. The definition can often be best described by observing a leader doing something new, exciting and different compared to what they were doing before while being open minded and learning along the way. The key element in implementing leadership is how well you inspire others.

As a nurse leader, leadership and life-long learning is one of the cornerstones of the fundamental requirements for effective leadership.  Those leaders that possess these abilities are recognized as being competent, competent leaders. They usually have an ability to influence and inspire others. This is why this type of person is known as a leader versus a dictator or supervisor. The most important aspect in being a leader that has leadership and life-long learning is to improve oneself every day and make continuous improvements in areas of competence within your role. The leader that has leadership and life-long learning understanding what they don’t know will be well versed in this subject area.

Impact of a graduate education in nursing

A graduate education in nursing is vital for my future career goals. A graduate education in nursing will provide me with the skills and knowledge to care for patients, uphold ethical practices in healthcare, administer medications, create evidence-based decisions and care for the environment. Nursing schools provide a holistic educational model that integrates theoretical knowledge into practical application. The primary focus of the graduate program is patient care, but it also covers other aspects of life as well such as managing your time effectively and how to be an advocate for those you are responsible for caring for.

A graduate education will also provide me with leadership qualities and attributes that are vital in the healthcare field. As I progress through the nursing program and enter into practice as a registered nurse, I will take on leadership roles within my healthcare facility. Nursing school exposes students to many aspects of leadership including establishing and maintaining professional relationships with peers, mentors, administration and other professionals in the healthcare field.

Establishing professionalism in your nursing career is vital because you are expected to be reliable, dependable, and trustworthy and exhibit mature actions in all situations. A graduate education will also give me the skills I need to pursue a Ph.D. in Nursing Education so I can become a nurse educator that provided training to future nurses and conducts research on topics within my area of expertise in nursing practice.

In conclusion, preparing nurse leaders at all entries of practice will assist in advancing the health of the people of New York, the wider geographical regions, and the global community. High quality research, public service, accessible educational programs, and clinical practice is vital in preparing nurse leaders with the necessary attributes and qualities. The nurse leaders must be allowed to explore their own strengths, aspirations, and styles of learning in order to develop the required leadership skills. A nurse leader is one who has shown a deep desire for advancement in nursing and is willing to take on the responsibility of others in the health care team. A nurse leader is prepared to assume a career that utilizes theory, evidence, and research as a means for quality nursing care to be given at all levels of practice.

References

Scully, N. J. (2015). Leadership in nursing: The importance of recognising inherent values and attributes to secure a positive future for the profession. Collegian, 22(4), 439-444.