Combining Nurse Leader With Advocacy

combining Nurse Leader With Advocacy

Combine the roles of nurse leader with advocacy, analyzing strengths and weaknesses, discussing current leadership skills for workplace change, and planning personal leadership growth and development.

Paper For Above instruction

The role of nurse leaders extends beyond administrative duties to include advocacy for patients, staff, and broader health system improvements. Effective nurse leadership combined with advocacy fosters positive change, improves patient outcomes, and promotes ethical nursing practice. In this paper, I will analyze the strengths and weaknesses related to key content areas of nurse leadership and advocacy, discuss how current leadership skills can be employed to advocate for change within the workplace, and reflect on personal goals for leadership development along with an implementation plan.

Strengths and Weaknesses in Nurse Leadership and Advocacy

One notable strength of nurse leaders is their capacity for effective communication. This skill enables them to advocate convincingly for patient needs, influence policy changes, and foster a collaborative environment among healthcare teams (Cummings et al., 2018). Furthermore, nurse leaders often demonstrate resilience and adaptability, essential for navigating complex healthcare environments and championing change (Cassarett et al., 2019). Their ethical grounding and commitment to patient-centered care serve as foundational strengths that reinforce their advocacy roles (ANA, 2021).

Conversely, a significant weakness can be a lack of authority or organizational support, which hampers a nurse leader's ability to implement change effectively (Kramer & Schmalenberg, 2019). Additionally, some nurse leaders may lack sufficient political savvy or awareness of policy processes necessary for systemic advocacy efforts (Shirey, 2018). This deficiency can limit their influence on crucial healthcare reforms. Another weakness involves time constraints and heavy workloads, which diminish opportunities for engagement in advocacy activities beyond routine responsibilities (Fitzgerald & Shirley, 2020).

Using Leadership Skills to Advocate for Workplace Change

Current leadership skills such as strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and effective communication are pivotal in advocating for change within the workplace. Strategic thinking allows nurse leaders to identify areas for improvement, develop actionable plans, and garner stakeholder support (Wheeldon & Gorham, 2019). Emotional intelligence fosters empathy and relationship-building, which are critical when persuading colleagues and administrators to embrace change (Goleman, 2018).

For example, a nurse leader noticing high patient fall rates might utilize data-driven advocacy to persuade leadership to invest in safety protocols. By presenting evidence, aligning the proposed change with institutional goals, and demonstrating empathy for staff concerns, the leader can advocate effectively (Koppel et al., 2020). Additionally, leveraging conflict resolution and negotiation skills ensures broader consensus and facilitates successful implementation of change (Githens & Knelman, 2021). Overall, a combination of these leadership skills enhances a nurse's ability to serve as an effective advocate for necessary workplace improvements.

Personal Leadership Growth and Development Plan

My personal goal for leadership growth is to develop stronger political acumen to influence healthcare policy changes more effectively. To attain this, I will pursue continuing education courses focused on health policy and legislative advocacy. Additionally, I plan to engage in professional organizations and attend policy forums to network with stakeholders and understand legislative processes better (Buresh & Gordon, 2019).

The development plan includes setting specific milestones: completing a health policy course within six months, participating in at least two advocacy initiatives annually, and seeking mentorship from experienced nurse advocates. Regular self-assessment and feedback from peers will guide my progress. Reflecting on areas for growth, I recognize the importance of enhancing strategic communication skills through workshops and practice to better articulate and champion proposed changes.

This structured approach aims to equip me with the necessary skills and experience to become a more influential nurse leader and advocate, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and nursing practice standards (Fitzgerald & Shirley, 2020).

Conclusion

Combining nurse leadership with advocacy is vital for advancing health care quality and ethical practice. Recognizing strengths such as communication and resilience and addressing weaknesses like organizational barriers can empower nurse leaders to advocate effectively. Employing current leadership skills such as strategic thinking and emotional intelligence is essential when driving change. Developing a targeted personal growth plan to enhance political acumen and advocacy skills will support me in becoming a more effective leader and advocate in my workplace. These efforts collectively will enhance the impact of nursing leadership on health system improvements and patient outcomes.

References

• American Nurses Association (ANA). (2021). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. ANA.
• Buresh, B., & Gordon, S. (2019). From silence to voice: what nurses know and must communicate to the public. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 23(2), 59-61.
• Cassarett, P., et al. (2019). Building resilient nursing leadership. Nursing Management, 50(3), 33-39.
• Cummings, G. G., et al. (2018). Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 85, 19-60.
• Fitzgerald, L., & Shirley, P. (2020). Leadership development in nursing: Illuminating pathways to success. Journal of Nursing Leadership, 33(2), 75-85.
• Githens, P., & Knelman, J. (2021). Negotiation skills for nurse leaders. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(4), 663-670.
• Goleman, D. (2018). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. Bantam.
• Koppel, S., et al. (2020). Improving patient safety through effective nurse leadership and advocacy. Nursing Outlook, 68(4), 454-461.
• Kramer, M., & Schmalenberg, C. (2019). Magnet hospital nurses describe their work environment. Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(1), 22-27.
• Shirey, M. R. (2018). Evidence-based leadership and management practices. Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(7/8), 391-397.
• Wheeldon, J., & Gorham, B. (2019). Strategic leadership in nursing: master the essentials. Nursing Management, 50(4), 30-37.