Abstract
A Chief Nursing Officer can only transform an organization’s vision using strong leadership skills. From bedside roles, nurses can grow into responsible boardroom partners tasked with the delivery of high-quality care. I have learned that strong leadership skills can help CNOs realize their vision for a care organization. With nurses increasingly linked to positive care outcomes, care systems can incorporate their efforts into improving care quality.
Introduction
The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) ranks high in the hierarchy of administrative nurses in a clinical setting (DeNisco & Barker, 2012). The CNO makes sure that consistent nursing practice standards exist across all settings that create a nursing environment that values collaboration and excellent clinical care. According to Harris & Roussel (2010), a CNO has to make sure that the nursing profession advances along with an articulated vision. Additionally, the CNO is the most senior nursing spokesperson, tasked with achieving the organization’s missions and values (DeNisco & Barker, 2012). This essay details my experience with a CNO and my understanding of the responsibilities associated with this position.
Inspiring role of a CNO
During a presentation at the ANCC magnet conference with my CNO, I learned many responsibilities associated with this position. I realized that CNOs remain inspiring role models in clinical settings. My CNO’s equal devotion to representing the nursing community in multi-professional settings makes her an outstanding leader. In addition, her clinical expertise in addressing the quality of life in patients is extraordinary. These roles inspire those around her, contributing much to the high quality of care delivery.
CNO’s as role models
The CNO plays a unique role as a model for nurses and serves as an example of a dedicated and committed true patient advocate (Harris & Roussel, 2010). Transitioning from a bedside nurse to a CNO allows one to influence other nurses as a mentor. Influencing others through one’s decisions and examples brings joy in knowing that a CNO helped actualize the dreams of nurses. As a role models, CNO’s have to recognize the unique experiences as well as needs of every nurse. A CNO needs to relate to the experiences of his or her team to connect with nurses and to make significant impacts on their lives (Harris & Roussel, 2010). Chief Nursing Officers, who once were bedside nurses, sit with business or finance peers to represent clinical practice in boardrooms. Understanding the bedside nurses’ needs remain an important part of a CNO’s role as a true patient advocate.
Conclusion
The role of a Chief Nursing Officer is the most fulfilling role in the nursing profession. This role gives a nurse several opportunities of being creative, build relationships, work with colleagues, and make an impact on care delivery. A Chief Nursing Officer can transform an organization’s vision using strong leadership skills. From bedside roles, nurses can grow into responsible boardroom partners tasked with the delivery of high-quality care. I have learned that strong leadership skills can help CNOs realize their vision for a care organization. With nurses increasingly linked to positive care outcomes, care systems can contribute significantly towards improving care quality.
References
DeNisco, S., & Barker, A. (2012). Advanced Practice Nursing: Evolving Roles for the Transformation of the Profession. Massachusetts, US: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Harris, J.L. & Roussel, L.A. (2010). Initiating and Sustaining the Clinical Nurse Leader Role: A Practical Guide. India: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.