Improving Nursing Leadership Skills
Nursing leadership is a vital component of health care delivery, as it influences the quality of care, patient satisfaction, staff retention, and organizational performance. However, many nurses face challenges in developing and exercising their leadership skills, such as lack of role models, mentorship, training, feedback, and support. Therefore, it is important for nurses to seek opportunities to improve their leadership skills and competencies, both for their own professional growth and for the benefit of their patients and colleagues.
Some of the strategies that nurses can use to improve their leadership skills are:
– Self-assessment: Nurses should regularly evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses as leaders, using tools such as the Leadership Practices Inventory or the Nurse Manager Skills Inventory. These tools can help nurses identify their areas of improvement and set realistic goals for their leadership development.
– Education: Nurses should pursue formal and informal education opportunities that can enhance their knowledge and skills in leadership theory and practice. For example, nurses can enroll in courses or programs that focus on topics such as communication, conflict resolution, decision making, team building, change management, and ethical leadership. Additionally, nurses can read books, articles, blogs, podcasts, or webinars that offer insights and tips on effective nursing leadership.
– Mentorship: Nurses should seek mentorship from experienced and respected leaders in their field, who can provide guidance, feedback, support, and inspiration. Mentors can help nurses develop their leadership vision and style, as well as offer advice on how to overcome challenges and achieve goals. Nurses can find mentors within or outside their organization, through formal or informal channels.
– Networking: Nurses should build and maintain relationships with other leaders and potential leaders in their profession, who can offer diverse perspectives, experiences, and opportunities. Networking can help nurses learn from each other’s successes and failures, exchange ideas and best practices, collaborate on projects or initiatives, and access resources and support. Nurses can network through professional associations, conferences, events, social media platforms, or online communities.
– Practice: Nurses should apply their leadership skills and competencies in their daily work environment, as well as in other settings where they can demonstrate their leadership potential. For example, nurses can volunteer for leadership roles or tasks in their unit or department, such as leading a quality improvement project, chairing a committee meeting, or mentoring a new staff member. Alternatively, nurses can seek leadership opportunities outside their workplace, such as serving on a board of directors, joining a task force or advisory group, or participating in a community service project.
By following these strategies, nurses can improve their leadership skills and competencies over time, which can benefit not only themselves but also their patients, colleagues,
and organizations.
References:
– Kouzes JM & Posner BZ (2017). The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations. 6th ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
– Sherman RO & Pross EA (2010). Growing Future Nurse Leaders to Build and Sustain Healthy Work Environments at the Unit Level. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing 15(1).
– Wong CA & Cummings GG (2007). The Relationship Between Nursing Leadership and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review Update. Journal of Nursing Management 15(5): 508-521.
– Yoder-Wise PS (2018). Leading and Managing in Nursing. 7th ed. St Louis: Elsevier.
