The Need for Leadership in Nursing Practice
Due to the challenges and complexity of healthcare systems, effective leadership is an indispensable component that directly influences the quality of patient care and the attainment of positive outcomes. Leadership encompasses the elaborate process of setting goals and strategies, enhancing the commitment and compliance of the followers to the defined objectives, and promoting a culture of innovation, development, and teamwork. It involves the practice of envisioning and steering quality improvement initiatives as well. However, the absence of effective leadership impedes the attainment of these goals, which undermines the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare systems and organizations. For instance, poor leadership in nursing has been associated with inappropriate staffing and imprudent deployment of resources, thereby hampering the attainment of safer and optimal patient outcomes. Similarly, leadership is integral in building and sharing a patient-oriented culture that enhances the teamwork, focus, and collaboration required to deliver quality care. Although nurses’ ultimate goal is to provide the best care and positive outcomes to their patients, the attainment of these objectives cannot be realized without effective leadership.
Effective leadership is an integral factor in delivering safe, quality, and patient-focused care. It directly influences the effectiveness, functionality, and efficiency of the healthcare systems. Ghiasipour et al. (2017) contend that the provision of high-quality care, positive patient outcomes, and continuous improvement of processes are contingent on capable leadership. For instance, leadership is responsible for establishing an organizational culture, setting goals, and motivating the teams to work towards the defined ideals. Figueroa et al. (2019) corroborate this view and assert that leaders are required to improve efficiency, enhance organizational effectiveness, motivate commitment to quality, and reduce conflicts. These aspirations can only be achieved through such deliberate initiatives as ensuring appropriate staffing and prudent utilization of resources.
Additionally, nurse leaders are required to create an effective work environment by means of which they can influence, motivate, and inspire teams to synergistically work to deliver quality care and positive patient outcomes. For instance, authentic nurse leaders utilize their skilled communication abilities to articulate expectations and goals, create buy-in for their vision, and achieve genuine collaboration across the entire continuum of care (Giordano-Mulligan & Eckardt, 2019). A healthy work environment promotes nurse engagement, which correlates directly with positive patient outcomes and quality of care (Dempsey & Assi, 2018). For instance, healthcare facilities with a healthy work environment and high nurse engagement record reduced medication errors, minimized patient falls, and diminished hospital-acquired infections. From this perspective, nurse leadership is a critical component in providing quality care and positive patient outcomes.
Professional Goals for the Next 5-10 Years
As a DNP graduate, my professional goals are to utilize my knowledge, skills, and competencies, particularly in acute care and psychiatric practice, to deliver quality services to patients. Additionally, as a practitioner at the most advanced level of nursing, I will improve clinical practice by creating evidence-based healthcare practices by applying the acquired knowledge in my everyday work. Another professional goal is to develop as a leader in the healthcare system and enhance my leadership abilities to positively influence healthcare policies and contribute to the existing nursing knowledge.
The DNP degree will help me attain these goals since it has deepened my understanding of the multiple aspects of healthcare. Such a broad comprehension of the system equips me with the essential knowledge of collaborating with other professionals to develop industry-shaping policies and strategies geared to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the degree will help me accomplish the goals by utilizing my professional knowledge, facilitating interprofessional collaboration, and advocating for policy change.
Conclusively, nurse leadership is a critical pillar in delivering quality care and the realization of positive patient outcomes. It encompasses various processes, including creating a healthy work environment, steering innovation, promoting commitment and compliance to the established standards, and leading quality improvement initiatives. Additionally, it ensures sufficient staffing, the development of the appropriate culture, and prudent utilization of resources. Cumulatively, these strategies enhance healthcare systems’ effectiveness, functionality, and efficiency, which ultimately translates to high-quality care and positive patient outcomes.
References
Dempsey, C., & Assi, M. J. (2018). The impact of nurse engagement on quality, safety, and the experience of care: What nurse leaders should know. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 42(3), 278–283. Web.
Figueroa, C. A., Harrison, R., Chauhan, A., & Meyer, L. (2019). Priorities and challenges for health leadership and workforce management globally: A rapid review. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1), 1-11. Web.
Ghiasipour, M., Mosadeghrad, A. M., Arab, M., & Jaafaripooyan, E. (2017). Leadership challenges in health care organizations: The case of Iranian hospitals. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 31, 1-8. Web.
Giordano-Mulligan, M., & Eckardt, S. (2019). Authentic nurse leadership conceptual framework: Nurses’ perception of authentic nurse leader attributes. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 43(2), 164–174. Web.