In order to promote safe, caring, patient-centered environments,  nurse leaders must both conceptually understand and be proficient at  performing a wide variety of leadership skills. Effective nursing  leaders develop and maintain awareness of issues that emerge at many  levels within and outside of their organizations. In addition to  developing self-assessing competencies necessary for their roles, nurse  leaders must also acquire organizational and systems leadership skill  sets.

In this program, you have examined the role, concepts, and principles of  health care policy and how legal and regulatory agencies interact with  professional nursing practice. You have also looked closely at the  factors that impact disparities in health care access. This  understanding of health care policy, as well as the multicultural,  socioeconomic, political, legal, and regulatory elements that affect  individuals, communities, and vulnerable populations, positions nurses  to bring about change through effective communication with colleagues,  consumers, and officials. Added to this is your demonstrated knowledge  of financial management and cost containment, as well as how they affect  quality of care.