Leadership Journal
A conversation with the practicum mentor was critical in unveiling specific leadership qualities I should develop. I learned essential leadership skills applicable at the professional level of care delivery. One of the essential qualities is discipline. The character of discipline involves the ability to meet deadlines, keep appointments, and end appointments on time (Salvage & White, 2019). Nurses embrace discipline to relate professionally with their colleagues and deliver quality care to the patients. Discipline involves the provision of quality and non-discriminatory care to all patients. It involves the provision of care without diluting the standards of care in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Discipline comprises adherence to ethical and legal standards of practice (Bowles et al., 2019). I will strive to embrace ethical care for all patients from different ethnic groups. Provision of care should promote equality and meet the needs of the patients. Discipline is vital for the nursing profession since it underscores the standards of behavior required for quality care.
Professional-level leadership involves inspiring others to achieve their goals. Nurse leaders must motivate their teammates to reach their targets. The nursing profession involves delegating tasks to empower others (Bowles et al., 2019). Empowering the team members is a way of inspiring them to attain better skills. The nursing profession is evolving posing the need to improve professional skills. For instance, my practicum mentor has been inspiring in delegating tasks and effectively guiding how to accomplish them. I appreciate the progress I have recorded in the past months. Mentorship involves practically helping others to become a better version of themselves (Stubin, 2021). My practicum mentor was specific about the characteristics required in inspiring others to achieve their goals. One of the qualities is patience since change takes time. Leaders should not expect overnight change, but they should be patient in
Leadership, according to my practicum mentor involves active listening. Listening to the challenges and issues affecting nurses and workplaces provides an opportunity to deliver quality care. Nurses should strive to demonstrate confidence in their ability to listen and resolve conflict (Stubin, 2021). My practicum mentor had a quote from American statesman John Quincy Adams that, “if a person can inspire others to dream more and do more, then that individual is a leader.” Leadership is about identifying the challenges other nurses are going through and developing sufficient mechanisms to resolve the issues. For instance, an unsafe and unfriendly working environment poses a challenge to nurses. A high level of turnover is evident due to unsafe workplaces (Salvage & White, 2019). Nurses are forced to work for long hours without sufficient compensation. A leader should actively listen to the challenges and develop mechanisms to eliminate the challenges. Active listening provides an opportunity for the nurses to communicate effectively to their leaders.
My conversation with my practicum mentor was a successful engagement. I learn three essential professional leadership qualities I should embrace as a leader. I learned that leaders in the nursing profession have an impact on the quality of patient outcomes. Maintaining professional leadership inspires others who are determined to uphold quality standards of care. One of the striking professional-leadership skills is inspiring others to achieve more. A nurse leader should strive to motivate and empower others to realize their dreams (Salvage & White, 2019). My practicum mentor has been inspirational in helping me to overcome my professional challenges. In the future, I will strive to mentor others to improve the quality of care.
References
Bowles, J. R., Batcheller, J., Adams, J. M., Zimmermann, D., & Pappas, S. (2019). Nursing’s leadership role in advancing professional practice/work environments as part of the quadruple aim. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 43(2), 157-163.
Salvage, J., & White, J. (2019). Nursing leadership and health policy: everybody’s business. International Nursing Review, 66(2), 147-150.
Stubin, C. (2021). Igniting the leadership spark in nursing students: leading the way. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 18(1).
