Abstract
This paper aims to consider the responsibilities of doctoral nurses to lead changes in practice through a very personal reflection of over 52 years in nursing. The reflective learning moves from an early training experience where I learned to ‘do’ to becoming a nursing professor with a doctoral qualification and an ‘evidence-based doer.’ The change witnessed has been considerable. As the highest educated professional, I have learned that doctoral nurses are responsible for leading and directly influencing clinical practice, either as a practitioner, an educator, or a researcher. They are capable of encouraging the development of critical thinking skills and helping practitioners to be curious, take risks with ideas, identify gaps in the evidence base, and be creative in their problem-solving. If the strategic vision for nurses globally is to provide the best quality of patient care, then evidence-based practice is key to leading from the head, hand, and heart. Doctoral nurses understand the patient benefits of a high staff-to-patient ratio and having a critical mass of university qualified nurses and must strive to influence policy to this effect. As each country, particularly in Latin America, develops a critical mass of doctorally qualified nurses, then they can harness their innovation, create new ways of working, attract them back into practice, and strengthen their political voice to lead strategic change. Doctoral nurses must develop their leadership skills and their confidence to lead. They have a responsibility to realise their potential and identify the opportunities to really make a difference.
Highlights
Having celebrated 52 years in nursing, I reflect on my nursing career and observe how nursing has come of age
I have shared my reflections on the importance of doctoral nurses as leaders and the cultural context of their vision
You have the knowledge and capability to lead in whatever speciality you care to focus, whether that be education, research, or practice
Summary
Having celebrated 52 years in nursing, I reflect on my nursing career and observe how nursing has come of age. The need to recognise the Institute of Medicine in their report on the Future of Nursing, as reported by Luckett (11) too, which advocates increasing the number of doctoral nurses in the USA and for nurses to practise at their educational level It is those doctoral nurses who have the education to develop the evidence base on which to change nursing practice for the better, create nursing philosophy and theory to guide nursing practice, and assist governments at the policy level to improve the health of the population. Not representative of other contexts, it is strong evidence to suggest that nurses’ educational qualifications and the nurse-to-patient ratio seem to have a direct impact on the outcomes of hospital patients, reinforcing the importance of having a critical mass of professional nurses on duty at the same time and that they have an undergraduate degree qualification With this evidence, doctoral nurses must influence government policy at a strategic level to ensure an adequate nurse-to-patient ratio for the survival of their patients. I invite you to step up and feel that inner strength to lead
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
