Advancing Leadership Capacity in Nursing

Abstract

To address the potential shortage of nurse leaders, the profession must evaluate current strategies in both education and practice. While many new graduates dream of becoming a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist, few transition into practice with the goal of becoming a nurse leader. To increase the number of nurses capable of leadership, the profession must address 2 critical issues. First, effort must be made to augment faculty and students' conceptualization of nursing such that leadership is seen as a dimension of practice for all nurses, not just those in formal leadership roles. In so doing, leadership identity development would be seen as a part of becoming an expert nurse. Second, a comprehensive conceptual framework for lifelong leadership development of nurses needs to be designed. This framework should allow for baseline leadership capacity building in all nurses and advanced leadership development for those in formal administrative and advanced practice roles. The knowledge and skill requirements for quality improvement and patient safety have been explored and recommendations made for Quality and Safety Education for Nurses, but parallel work needs to be done to outline educational content, objectives, and effective pedagogy for advancing leadership development in nursing students at all levels.

Choosing the Path of Leadership in Occupational Therapy

“…Within the health care milieu, various disciplines have focused on leadership as a construct worthy of significant academic consideration. In particular, the nursing profession has long targeted leadership as an area for capacity development and also as a way to support nurses to participate in leadership roles (Bulmer, 2013;Scott & Miles, 2013;Wong et al, 2013). Nursing journals, such as the Canadian…”

Perspectives on global nursing leadership: international experiences from the field

“…It has established the Global Nursing Leadership Institute, an annual programme for nurses at the senior or executive level (Blaney 2012). Advancing nursing leadership capacity continues to emerge as a current imperative (Scott & Miles 2013).…”

Capacity building - a challenge for nurse managers

“…). Leadership should be seen as a dimension of practice for all nurses, not just those in formal leadership roles (Scott & Miles ) and consequently as part of becoming an expert nurse. Research managers and clinical nurse researchers have an obligation to publish their findings in journals.…”