NR 582 Week 2 Leadership Self-Assessment

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-582: Leadership and Role Development for Advanced Nursing Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

Introduction

The role of the master’s prepared nurse as a leader is pivotal in enhancing patient care quality, fostering collaboration within interprofessional teams, and translating evidence into practice. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2023), these nurses are equipped to improve care outcomes by leading healthcare teams, shaping policies, and integrating research findings into practical solutions. They are also responsible for navigating complex healthcare systems, resolving practice challenges, and ensuring accountability for quality care outcomes. This paper aims to examine personal leadership experiences, skills, and styles while identifying strategies for further leadership development.

Personal Leadership Experience

Throughout my 10-year nursing career, I have served in various leadership roles, including unit manager, director of nursing, and clinical consultant. These experiences have bolstered my confidence in my leadership abilities while allowing for continuous growth. Early in my career, I was appointed unit manager at a sub-acute nursing facility just six months after obtaining my registered nurse license. Although initially apprehensive, I received invaluable mentorship from leaders in the field, which helped shape me into the clinical leader I am today. I continue to embrace opportunities for leadership growth while appreciating the person these experiences have helped me become.

Leadership Style

Great leaders possess qualities such as integrity, humility, creativity, motivation, confidence, and resilience (Institute of Medicine, 2004). Effective leaders also demonstrate problem-solving and innovative thinking abilities. I believe my leadership style aligns closely with transformational leadership, which emphasizes balancing personal and organizational goals, engaging in self-reflection, and projecting a clear, inspirational vision. Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in my approach, as I strive to use creativity to resolve conflicts. Additionally, I foresee adopting complexity leadership in my future practice, which focuses on increasing organizational adaptability to improve system performance and reduce burnout (Uhl-Bien et al., 2020).

Leadership Competencies

Professionalism is a key strength of mine, as it aligns with my personal values and advocacy for healthcare policies that prioritize patient well-being. I ensure that patients are involved in decision-making processes and hold myself accountable for maintaining high-quality care. Communication and relationship management are additional strengths, as I have cultivated strong relationships with multidisciplinary teams to achieve common goals. When challenges arise, I address conflicts constructively, fostering a collaborative environment. However, I recognize the need for growth in areas such as knowledge of the healthcare environment and business skills. For example, I have not consistently integrated evidence-based practices into my leadership approach, nor have I fully developed my skills in managing department budgets or understanding economic principles, both of which are crucial for improving clinical outcomes (AONL, 2023).

Strategies

An evidence-based strategy to enhance leadership competencies is the establishment of strong, ongoing communication and relationship-building efforts. These efforts foster two-way communication and the exchange of ideas, promoting collaboration across teams. Additionally, lifelong learning is essential for remaining open to innovative approaches that can improve patient outcomes. Engaging managers and staff in a collaborative, goal-oriented approach focused on patient safety is also critical. This collaborative communication promotes an understanding of quality improvement initiatives and economic principles within healthcare organizations (Institute of Medicine, 2004).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the master’s prepared nurse plays an essential role in leading change to improve care outcomes and build collaborative interprofessional teams (AACN, 2023). My leadership style aligns with transformational leadership, which emphasizes self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to balance personal and organizational goals. I plan to continue engaging in lifelong learning to develop my leadership competencies further. This ongoing development will ensure that I remain equipped to lead effectively in the evolving healthcare landscape.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2023). The essentials of master’s education in nursing. Retrieved from https://www.aacnnursing.org/portals/42/publications/mastersessentials11.pdf

American Organization for Nursing Leadership. (2015). AONL Nurse Manager Competencies. Retrieved from https://www.aonl.org/resources/nurse-leader-competencies