Nursing Leadership
ANSWERS
Nursing leadership is one of the most critical factors in motivating and inspiring nurses (who constitute the vast majority of the healthcare workforce) to practice at the highest level of their licensure. A nurse leader is defined as “a nurse who is interested in excelling in a career path, a leader within a healthcare organization who represents the interests of the nursing profession, a seasoned nurse or healthcare administrator interested in refining skills to differentiate themselves from the competition or to advance to the next level of leadership” by the American Nurses Association Leadership Institute. Nursing leadership and management are most effective when the entire team succeeds. While the definition of nursing leadership frequently includes qualities such as encouraging, inspiring, and supportive — genuinely successful nursing leadership must be prepared to evolve as the nursing industry undergoes ongoing change and shifts. This nursing leadership style has been linked to better patient outcomes, fewer medical errors, and higher staff retention, all of which benefit the healthcare workplace. Understanding how to incorporate steps for strategic, long-term success into day-to-day practice is critical as nurse leaders become more aware of the correlation between a stronger team and more robust patient quality and safety achievements. A nurse leader will solve problems related to bedside care, patient safety, budget constraints, and staffing shortages on any given day. Even the most experienced nurse leader will find it difficult to perform well under pressure and balance the myriad of daily challenges. A nurse leader must focus on their people in addition to analyzing reports and dashboards (quality metrics, data, and finances). The nurse leader and the organization will suffer if they do not have a team that feels supported, motivated, and inspired. A good nurse leader will incorporate a healthy balance of managing people and processes into their daily routines by ensuring that staff is recognized for quality improvements, that feedback is encouraged to promote continued success in improving patient care, and that a physical presence (onsite visits, rounding, or huddles) is maintained to demonstrate support and appreciation.
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