Nurses in a Leadership Role

Nursing is a dynamic and demanding profession that warrants inspiring leaders.¹ Nurses play a pivotal part in achieving the healthcare goals by being the most important link in the process of healthcare delivery.² Nurses have a prime responsibility of rendering effective nursing care, providing evidence-based nursing care, and working toward optimum quality standards at all times. Strong leadership is critical if the vision of a transformed healthcare system is to be realized. Effective leadership in nursing practices has immensely contributed to the growth of the organization.³ Of late, Huston has mentioned eight essential nurse leader competencies (2020) to meet the organizational goals. They include:

• A global perspective or mindset regarding healthcare and changes in the nursing profession.
• Technology skills that would impact patient care.
• Expert decision-making skills.
• The skill to create organizational cultures that infuse quality healthcare and ensures patient and employee safety.
• The ability to comprehend and appropriately intervene in political processes.
• Improve patient outcomes through effective collaboration and inter-professional cooperation.
• The ability to balance authenticity and performance expectations.
• The ability to respond immediately to the changes and adapt to the situation.⁴

Over the last few decades, nurses have gradually adopted greater responsibilities. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a stark reminder of the vital role the nurses have contributed and the potential that nurses possess, to address big healthcare challenges. Nurses in leadership roles have greatly contributed to a high-quality work environment.⁵ They create a professional environment and foster a culture where all healthcare professionals significantly aid in the patient outcome.⁶ They also serve as change agents and continually look for ways that impact the healthcare system.

CONCLUSION

Nursing leaders innovate and create a vibrant, exciting practice setting in which nurses deliver safe, accessible, timely, and high-quality care for the patients.

REFERENCES

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26775531.

2. https://www.healthcareradius.in/clinical/26006-role-of-nursing-in-covid-19-management.

3. https://www.relias.com/blog/nursing-leadershipaccessed on April 15, 2021.

4. https://leadershipandinfluencingchangeinnursing.pressbooks.com/chapter/chapter-12-responsibility-and-authority-of-nurse-leaders/.

5. https://rnbsnonline.unm.edu/articles/importance-leadership-in-nursing.aspx.

6. https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/blog/roles-nurse-manager-leading-nursing-profession-future/.