The Field of Nursing in Leadership - Research Paper Example

? Nursing Leadership Nursing Leadership Leadership is a critical issue in the field of nursing. As a nursing professional, I appreciate the significance of leaders who are symbols of the entire nursing profession. However, I believe that a vast majority of nurses do not believe that they have the capacity to become leaders. This is quite unfortunate since effectual nursing leadership encompasses more than the title or institutionally afforded powers (Parse, 1997). On the contrary, I believe that nursing leadership primarily concerns how nurses carry themselves in various situations that constitute the nursing profession. The perception towards the nursing profession is established through the various day to day interactions that take place between nurses, the public, administrators and patients and their families. I am of the opinion that nurses who can locate their inner leader and employ it effectively in the conduct of their duties, regardless of the level in the organization that they contribute, discover that they are capable of positively impacting patient care, and produce desired outcomes. After going through the entire course of nursing school in which nurses are taught on techniques, procedures and policies, nurses enter the working world in which leadership is a part and parcel of the job description. Nurses are called upon to lead their patients to wellness and steer them away from diseases while at the same time leading other nurses towards growth and learning. Nurses also lead doctors and physicians into greater communication and thoughtfulness. It is my opinion that, in order to a true leader in my nursing profession, I will have to invest a lot of energy and time, and money, as well, into my own personal leadership development. My personal plan for becoming a true nurse leader entails five vital elements (Parse, 1997). Firstly, I will begin by becoming knowledgeable of pertinent issues that affect people in the medical environment. This knowledge includes both professional medical knowledge, as well as appropriate conduct in various situations. Such knowledge will be instrumental in shaping my conduct as a nurse leader, as well as the manner in which I handle situations I experience in my profession. Secondly, I will establish practical goals and continually change them when I meet a set objective. This will allow me to appreciate my present position and have an in-depth understanding of where I aim to be in a certain period. For instance, I am currently an RN team lead working in a 20 bed psych unit. My present goal is to attain my Bachelors degree in nursing towards the end of this year. After meeting this goal, I will endeavor to go on and attain a Masters degree in hospital administration. This form of education will effectively enhance my leadership capacity and provide for constant growth (Grossman & Valiga, 2012). My plan also entails constantly reminding myself to remain focused on my goals, as well as effective ways to attain these goals. I seek to avoid taking events too personally in order to remain objective in my judgment, decision making and leadership as a whole. My plan for becoming a nurse leader also entails sustaining my love for the fight, which entails recognizing resistance as an indication that I am making an impact and realizing appropriate results rather than an impediment to growth. The last element in my comprehensive plan to become a nurse leader is to cultivate gratitude by remembering that there are always positive things to attain even in the face of challenges. To me, nursing leadership entails the possession of numerous critical qualities. The first quality is self confidence, which allows nurses to appreciate what they need to and maintain their personal integrity and genuine self (Institute of Medicine, 2010). Courage is also essential in the enhancement of nursing leadership since it allows a nurse to take on well thought out risks rather than continually playing it safe. Taking well thought out risks enables the achievement of exemplary results, particularly in peculiar situations. In order for people to become nurse leaders, they must appreciate the importance of personal and professional growth. This essentially involves nursing professionals having the capacity to deal with unknown issues inherent in change instead of staying stuck. Additionally, nurse leaders should ensure that they are routinely moving forward and attaining notable growth. Nurse leaders should also have effectual communication capabilities. When providing leadership to others, it is critical that nurse leaders are capable of making their requests, thoughts and demands known through concise and clear articulation. Additionally, nurse leaders should appreciate the need to show appreciation. This appreciation centers not only on others, but the nurse leader, as well. Showing appreciation enhances teamwork amongst medical professionals under the leadership of nurses. In order to enhance my knowledge of nursing leadership, I will routinely participate in classes and take courses that teach on proper leadership within the nursing profession. Since most of these courses consist of practical lessons, I will effectively acquire leadership skills by tackling challenges posed in class (Grossman & Valiga, 2012). As mentioned earlier, I am presently an RN team leader working in a 20 bed, acute psych unit. While my current position affords me plenty of opportunities to exercise my leadership abilities, I am constantly seeking new opportunities to enhance not only my medical knowledge, but my leadership abilities, as well. I am also presently undertaking a Bachelors degree in nursing to enhance my knowledge of medicine, as well as leadership capabilities. I hope to receive my Bachelors degree at the end of this year. The hopes I have for my professional future include receiving a Masters degree in hospital administration. In terms of my professional future, receiving my Masters in hospital administration will enhance my knowledge of management and administration skills needed to run a hospital effectively, thereby enhancing my likelihood of becoming a hospital administrator. I aim at becoming a hospital administrator at least a year after receiving my Masters degree. With regard to the future of nursing, I hope that nurse, both informal and formal will be intently flexible with regard to their line of attack to patient care (Crawford & Kelly, 2007). I also hope that nurses will also become capable of integrating new ideas rather rapidly, and be collaborative in the implementation of viable ideas. I also hope that nurse leaders will be able to interact collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams and other medical stakeholders who possess vital information regarding a certain case. References Crawford, H., & Kelly, P. (2007). Nursing leadership and management. Michigan: Nelson College Indigenous Publishing. Grossman, P., & Valiga, T. (2012). The new leadership challenge: Creating the future of nursing. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company. Institute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health (4th ed.). Atlanta: National Academies Press. Parse, R. R. (1997). Leadership: The essentials. Nursing Science Quarterly 10, 109. 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