Strong nursing leadership is essential for enhancing patient outcomes in addition to motivating, assisting, and overseeing a workforce that is still reeling from the strain of the previous few years. Although you might think of your nursing leader as your assistant nurse unit manager (ANUM), they are not the only ones who can fill this position. At all levels, including those employed by a nursing organisation like NNA, nursing leaders can be found in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
Leadership in Nurses : Factors
Building a healthy work atmosphere, managing the hiring and retention of a talented team, regularly hitting key performance indicators (KPIs), and upholding a high standard of patient care in the face of shifting demands all depend on nursing leaders. Let’s look at why accepting a leadership role is your ideal next move.
Why Nursing Leaders Are Necessary
1. Emerging technologies
It is becoming increasingly uncommon to get handwritten notes, page a staff member, send
a fax, or even schedule an appointment with a patient in person. The electronic medical
record, surgical robotics, patient portals, telemedicine, electronic scheduling, and digital
communication tools are examples of new innovations in healthcare technology that are
inventive and exciting but can also cause anxiety and worry.
To demonstrate to all care groups how new technologies may enhance patient outcomes
and staff satisfaction, nursing leadership is more important than ever. They play a crucial
role in providing reporting and analytics, implementing safety measures, ensuring document
transparency, and enabling real-time patient monitoring that can be viewed from a distance.
Nursing leaders contribute to the development, organisation, and facilitation of instructional
materials and opportunities for staff to train in and build proficiency in the digital
environment. Leaders demonstrate poise, compassion, and empathy, especially with senior
nursing staff who have seen considerable changes in the nursing profession over the course
of their careers and are hesitant to undergo significant change. They comprehend the
current objectives and strategic priorities of their organisation in order to analyse how
technology is expected to deliver the desired results.
2. Nursing specialist positions
The Australian community depends on the healthcare sector to be able to give knowledge,
regardless of how complex the case is, as a substantial section of Australia’s population is
ageing. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the nursing profession accounts for more
than 50% of the healthcare sector. As a result, nursing leaders must have the expertise and
knowledge in specialised fields to promote evidence-based care and ensure that
communication barriers are addressed and removed.
In order to ensure the endurance and depth of the healthcare system, it is essential to
pursue further education and take part in short courses or skills workshops, like those
offered by our partner Australian Healthcare Academy.
Junior nurses and other healthcare workers largely rely on the expertise of highly competent
nurses who have specialised abilities in a particular field since they serve as a backbone.
They can help our community’s often-complex ageing population, actively take part in
urgently needed scientific investigations, and care for persons with chronic illnesses and
mental health issues. A skilled nursing staff in specialised professions encourages and
inspires others to pursue a similar career path, which benefits the overburdened public
healthcare system.
3. Broader perspective
The healthcare sector needs leaders that proactively identify problems, produce significant
solutions through research and communication, and then put these ideas into practise to
provide a more efficient, safer environment for healthcare. They welcome change and exhort
others to face uncertainty without fear.
Nursing leaders passionately manage their team by analysing data, controlling spending,
reviewing, and implementing policy and procedure while juggling staff schedules and
obligations, both personal and professional.
To ensure that all parties feel heard and appreciated, they resolve conflicts that may arise
between staff members, members of the public, or healthcare providers. Nursing leaders can
manage these difficult clinical problems and/or managerial decisions since they are aware of
the risks and anticipated consequences from years of experience in a range of healthcare
settings.
How can a nurse develop leadership skills?
Any nurse can develop into a capable leader who is admired by their colleagues and the
community. Even while some nursing leaders have done extensive research, this is not the
route you need to go down to bring about change. Start by talking with a nursing leader you
look up to about how you can become more active.
Consider enrolling in a workshop or taking a course to hone your leadership abilities. You’ll start to welcome new opportunities and start wondering why things are done a certain way and how we can improve the healthcare experience for everyone if you feel confident and equipped.
