Nursing Leadership Development Research Articles

Global Nurse Leaders

Globalization changes the benchmarking of excellence from national to "world class" standards. A synthesis of literature about global leadership was used to guide interviews with 17 nurse leaders from 8 countries in 5 continents. The leaders demonstrated leadership from early school years, learned from their mentors, had productive and sustained results in their work with peers and students, and realized their potential in becoming leaders in global health and nursing. The leadership development of future nurses requires formal and informal education, and training for global competencies, international experiences at home and abroad, and promoting and rewarding international work.

Educating Nurses for Leadership Roles

As a result of the growing shortage of nurses and the dramatically changing role of the front-line nurse manager, leadership education for nurses is of critical importance. The purpose of the project described in this article was to design, implement, and evaluate an innovative model of nursing leadership development for students enrolled in registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing or registered nurse to master of science in nursing programs. A guided "action-learning" course was designed that focused on both core knowledge and experiential learning. The course was developed with the assistance of an advisory panel of prominent nurse leaders with expertise in administration, health policy, informatics, and nursing education. The prototype course was offered for the first time as an elective in Spring 2003. Evaluation data indicated that the course was considered valuable by students and with modifications suggested by students, faculty, and advisory panel members, the course would be offered regularly as part of the curriculum. Recommendations also included adapting course content to a continuing education format.

Opportunities Abound: Stay Connected to Healthcare Initiatives

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a pleasant and safe summer! In this issue of the journal, I’d like to give you an update on recent activities of the Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses, as well as other organizations supporting nursing leadership development. So often, nurses remain unaware of important national-level initiatives, for a variety of reasons. There are many websites to which you can subscribe without cost (or “bookmark as favourites”) to stay in the loop and to ensure you don’t miss important opportunities, such as access to national scholarships, bursaries, research grants and position papers or statements that could help support changes you would like to see in your practice or organization.

Leadership Development of Hispanic Nurses

The underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority nurses and other health professions has been linked to the continued disparities in health outcomes for these populations (Institute of Medicine. Unequal Treatment. Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2002). Strategies to reduce health disparities, such as increasing the cultural competence of majority nurses, often depend on leaders of the same racial and ethnic groups to provide leadership in research, education, practice, and communities. However, little is known about the leadership pathways of racial and ethnic minority nurses. In this descriptive study, 22 Hispanic nurse leaders completed an open-ended survey related to their definitions of leadership, and challenges and opportunities in their leadership development. Although there are similarities in many aspects of leadership development, the lack of Hispanics in the workplace, the ability and responsibilities related to being bilingual and bicultural, and perceived discrimination in the work setting are additional challenges identified by Hispanic nurses. The importance of role models and mentors in facilitating leadership development is a dominant theme. Results of this study provide direction not only for the development of leadership for Hispanic nurses but also for other racial and ethnic minority nurses.

Leadership in Challenging Times

Leadership is at the forefront of our minds today, not only because it is an election year, but also because of the great need for effective leaders in our national, professional, and personal lives. The theme runs through many of our professional journals. Indeed, the NLN has instituted a new task group whose mission is to develop a comprehensive cadre of effective leaders in nursing education. Other major nursing organizations offer leadership development programs as well. Often we ask, who and where are those individuals who will lead us in these challenging times? The answer is that we all face leadership opportunities every day. However, new realities exist that cause us to wonder if we are up to the task: pessimism and cynicism about health care and nursing; power shifts brought about by an informed clientele; instant information and changes m many areas of nursing education, practice, and health care; knowledge as currency; the loss of a sense of community and job security; and a renewed search for meaning in our personal and professional lives. These new realities offer opportunities for each of us to make a difference and develop a practical plan for successful leadership. In The Leadership Challenge (Jossey-Bass, 1995), James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner offer an evidenced-based approach to facing this challenge that builds on a 17-year research database. Kouzes and Posner support an approach to leadership that is practical and workable on a day-to-day basis. For these authors, becoming a leader requires a commitment to five fundamental guiding practices: 1) challenging the process, 2) inspiring a shared vision, 3) enabling others to act, 4) modeling the way, and 5) encouraging the heart. Seeking and accepting challenges presents opportunities for change, growth, innovation, and improvement. Taking risks, experimenting, and learning from mistakes are part of the process. In nursing education and practice, opportunities abound for challenging the process. We all share the responsibility for identifying and leading change where possible - a major task for leaders. But first, it is essential to bring about a shared vision for the future of nursing education and practice. If we cannot envision our future, there will be a lack of direction and incentive to change. Envisioning our future as one that is exciting, changing, responding, and essential to health care can be uplifting and motivating to nurse educators, practicing nurses, our students, and our clients. …

Rural Nurse Leadership Project

An innovative leadership development program in Vermont is testing the effect of nurse leadership development in a rural environment. Supported by a two-year grant from the Helene Fuld Health Trust, leadership development training is offered to a select group of outstanding nursing students who are recipients of the merit-based Freeman Nurse Scholars Award. This is a statewide project, drawing participants from all five schools of nursing in Vermont. Variables of interest are retention in the profession, professional values, rural practice, nurse satisfaction, and professional activism.

Factors influencing nursing leadership effectiveness in Hong Kong.

Nursing education in Hong Kong has undergone major reform in recent years, similar to that in Australia and the United Kingdom (UK), involving the introduction of degree level preparation. Although there were some changes in the nursing education system, the reform was considered slow. While a combination of complex factors contributed to the reform, the effects of nurse leaders was instrumental in influencing policy development. This study investigated the factors that influenced the effectiveness of nursing leadership in the reform of nursing education in Hong Kong. A case study approach was used. Methods of data collection included document search and semi-structured interviews (n = 27). The time frame of the study extended from the first proposal of nursing degree programme in the year 1985 to 2000 by which 200 nursing degree places were secured. Situational variables that impacted on leadership effectiveness were categorized as barriers and facilitators. Barriers were related to nursing professional socialization in a health care system that was dominated by the medical profession. Facilitators were related to socio-politic-economical changes in the wider environment. This study suggests the importance of education, positive socialization and unity in promoting nursing leadership development.

Patricia Hess, PhD, RN, GNP: leader in care of the dying.

Palliative care access is fundamental to the highest attainable standard of health and a core component of universal health coverage. Forging universal palliative care access is insurmountable without strategically optimizing the nursing workforce and integrating palliative nursing into health systems at all levels. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored both the critical need for accessible palliative care to alleviate serious health-related suffering and the key role of nurses to achieve this goal.1) Summarize palliative nursing contributions to the expansion of palliative care access; 2) identify emerging nursing roles in alignment with global palliative care recommendations and policy agendas; 3) promote nursing leadership development to enhance universal access to palliative care services.Empirical and policy literature review; best practice models; recommendations to optimize the palliative nursing workforce.Nurses working across settings provide a considerable untapped resource that can be leveraged to advance palliative care access and palliative care program development. Best practice models demonstrate promising approaches and outcomes related to education and training, policy and advocacy, and academic-practice partnerships.An estimated 28 million nurses account for 59% of the international healthcare workforce and deliver up to 90% of primary health services. It has been well-documented that nurses are often the first or only healthcare provider available in many parts of the world. Strategic investments in international and interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as policy changes and the safe expansion of high-quality nursing care, can optimize the efforts of the global nursing workforce to mitigate serious health-related suffering.

Nursing Leadership Development: A Training Program for Developing Nurse Intrapreneurs

Nursing Leadership Development: A Training Program for Developing Nurse Intrapreneurs

Colonial heritage and nursing leadership in Trinidad and Tobago.

The present report analyzes the development of indigenous nursing leadership in Trinidad and Tobago within a political and economic context. Psychological and administrative factors inherited from the nation's colonial past persisted in the postindependence period (1956‐1986). Discussed in the report are political and economic factors that both promoted and hindered the development of indigenous nursing leadership as well as international nursing perspectives that have relevance to the issue.