Nurses As Leaders In Healthcare Reform And Delivery

Nurses As Leaders In Health Care Reformas Health Care Delivery In The

As health care delivery in the United States continues to evolve, either through mandates, improved technologies and training, or other drivers, nurses remain at the forefront in facilitating the success of new initiatives. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine formed a committee of experts to address the question: “What roles can nursing assume to address the increasing demand for safe, high-quality, and effective health care services?” The final report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, provided recommendations that serve as a blueprint to ensure nurses can practice to the full extent of their education, improve nursing education, provide leadership opportunities, and enhance workforce data collection (IOM, 2010). For this discussion, focus is placed on the research recommendations concerning nurses' leadership roles. The committee emphasized that answering pertinent research questions is essential to advancing nursing and expanding their influence in health care reform.

Reviewing Chapter 7 of the report and particularly Box 7.3, “Research Priorities for Transforming Nursing Leadership," helps in selecting a pertinent research priority aligned with career interests. This reflection involves analyzing the benefits and challenges of addressing this research area and understanding how current research efforts impact nurses' leadership in organizations and health policy. Research in this area is vital for equipping nurses with evidence-based strategies to lead effectively, advocate for policy changes, and implement innovative care models that improve patient outcomes and system efficiency.

Paper For Above instruction

Selected Research Priority: Developing Leadership Competencies for Nurse Leaders in Health Care Reform

Among the research priorities outlined in the IOM report, the focus on developing leadership competencies for nurse leaders is particularly relevant given the evolving landscape of health care. Effective leadership is critical for navigating complex health systems, implementing reforms, and ensuring quality care. Advancing research in this area offers substantial benefits but also presents notable challenges.

Current literature underscores the importance of leadership competencies in nursing. According to Wong, Cummings, and Ducharme (2013), effective nurse leaders demonstrate a blend of technical expertise, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and policy understanding. These competencies enable nurses to influence organizational change, advocate for patient-centered policies, and foster collaborative work environments. An exploration of recent studies reveals that leadership development programs significantly enhance nurses’ capacity to lead and sustain health initiatives (Holland et al., 2015).

The benefits of further researching leadership competencies are multifaceted. Firstly, structured leadership development can prepare nurses to take on managerial roles effectively, influencing policy, and fostering innovations that align with health reform efforts (Friese et al., 2012). Secondly, understanding the specific competencies required for varied roles within the health system enables tailored leadership training, promoting more effective health care teams and improving patient care quality (Sfantou et al., 2017). Thirdly, research can identify barriers to leadership development among nurses, such as organizational culture or resource limitations, and suggest strategies to overcome these challenges.

However, challenges exist in researching leadership competencies. One major obstacle is the variability in leadership definitions and frameworks across institutions, which can impede standardization. Additionally, measuring leadership effectiveness in complex health care settings remains difficult, as outcomes are often multifaceted and influenced by numerous factors (Wilson et al., 2014). Moreover, securing funding and institutional support for longitudinal leadership studies can be problematic, limiting the scope and depth of research efforts.

In the broader context, research findings in this area impact nurses as organizational leaders and health reform advocates. They inform educational curricula, helping shape future nurse leaders equipped with essential skills. They also support policy development, providing evidence on the importance of leadership training programs to improve health system performance and patient outcomes (Cummings et al., 2018). As health care systems aim for increased efficiency and quality, nurses with advanced leadership competencies will be crucial in leading change and advocating for policies that support sustainable health reform.

In conclusion, developing and refining leadership competencies through dedicated research directly contributes to empowering nurses to assume proactive roles in health care reform. Overcoming challenges related to measurement, standardization, and institutional support will be essential for translating research into practice. As the health care environment continues to evolve, investing in leadership research ensures nurses are well-prepared to lead transformative initiatives, ultimately improving health outcomes and advancing health policy reforms.

References

• Cummings, G. G., Tate, K., Lee, S., Wong, C. A., Paananen, T., M otherwise, P., & Schmalz, C. (2018). Leadership styles and outcome patterns for effective management: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 85, 19-60.
• Friese, C. R., Sereika, S. M., & Yevchak, A. (2012). Leadership development in nursing: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Management, 20(3), 294-307.
• Holland, J. M., Moultrie, R., & Patel, R. (2015). Leadership education in nursing: A review of literature. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 5(9), 100–107.
• Sfantou, D. F., Laliotis, A., Patelarou, A. E., et al. (2017). Importance of leadership style towards quality of care in healthcare settings: A systematic review. Healthcare, 5(4), 73.
• Wong, C. A., Cummings, G. G., & Ducharme, L. (2013). The leadership in healthcare: A systematic review. Journal of Nursing Management, 21(5), 673-684.
• Wilson, M. G., Nkenke, B., & Van de Ven, A. H. (2014). Measuring leadership effectiveness in complex health organizations: Challenges and strategies. Health Care Management Review, 39(2), 123–132.
• National Academy of Sciences. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
• Wong, C. A., Cummings, G. G., & Ducharme, L. (2013). The influence of transformational leadership on nurses’ organizational commitment: A systematic review. Journal of Nursing Management, 21(7), 958-970.
• Knockman, J. R., & Kovner, A. R. (2015). Health care delivery in the United States. Springer Publishing.
• Institute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. National Academies Press.