As a registered nurse (RN), you must be familiar with your healthcare setting, patient volume, challenges, and changes around. Your team must be working in harmony as guided by a nursing manager or someone equivalent in the leadership role.
The concept of nursing leadership made significant strides during the Crimean War under Florence Nightingale. Her structured approach to nursing, emphasising organised patient care, is seen as a turning point. It laid the foundations for modern-day nursing.
Today, this role is not just about patient care but also about advocating for their rights and participating in policy-making.
Are you interested in moving beyond an RN to a more influential nursing position? If your answer is yes, then this article will help. Keep reading to know why nursing leaders are needed and how you can become one.
The Rising Need for Nursing Leaders
Nursing is a field that is still grappling with the challenges of staff shortages. As per the US Chamber of Commerce, 42 out of 50 states are expected to experience an acute nursing staff shortage by 2030.
When it comes to nursing leaders, the problem becomes even worse. The American Nurses Association states that strong nursing leaders are crucial for navigating the constantly evolving healthcare landscape. Some of the top qualities these professionals must have include communication, assertiveness, decisiveness, collaboration, and resource utilisation.
The nursing leader is responsible for driving positive changes within the organisation. They aim to create a workplace culture where other nurses experience higher job satisfaction while the patients receive top-quality care. These, when combined, move the organisation towards new levels of growth.
A shortage of nursing leaders directly impacts the healthcare unit’s work culture. Without an efficient healthcare environment, it is not possible to produce better patient outcomes. Nursing leaders can be considered an organisation’s pillars, and if you want to become one, now is the best time to take action.
3 Tips to Pursue Leadership Roles in Nursing
We just saw why there will be a steady rise in the demand for leadership roles in nursing. Some of the positions you can aim at include Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Nursing, and Clinical Nurse Manager.
The question is how to go about it. Since you are already an RN, the way forward should not be too difficult to carve. Here are three practical tips that will help you realise your dreams.
Get an Advanced Nursing Degree
The first step is undoubtedly to get back to school. Nursing leadership roles focus on bringing about massive changes in policies, healthcare institutions, and communities.
Unless you have the required skill sets, thinking capabilities, and advanced clinical expertise, this can be a challenge. In formal terms, it may even be impossible to achieve across US states.
Many programs are available, and you can choose one based on your preferences. For instance, if you wish to address the complexities within the healthcare industry, consider pursuing an MSN-MBA dual degree. By combining the knowledge of a Master’s in Nursing and Business Administration, this course will prepare you to deal with contemporary issues in healthcare management, policy, and economics.
Spring Arbor University believes students can communicate effectively in a corporate environment, lead a human resources department, and influence organisational behaviours.
As a pro tip, we recommend you work your way backwards. In other words, choose a leadership role you wish to pursue and then select a course accordingly. You can even seek the help of a counsellor or mentor to understand the in-person or online educational path you must take.
Join a Relevant Community
Our next tip to help you land a leadership role in nursing is to join a relevant community of professionals. By joining nursing associations or organisations like the American Nurses Association or Sigma, you will get to meet new people.
They will also provide new opportunities to understand the best current leadership practices. Just make sure you join a group relevant to your speciality. Examples include the Emergency Nursing Association and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
Our pro tip here is to choose an association in the state where you’re licensed.
Network
In nursing, continuing education is a crucial aspect of keeping the career flame bright. Especially for leadership roles, employers want to know that candidates are committed to learning and growing.
There is no dearth of seminars/webinars, conferences, and other events at the national and international levels. Choose a few events that interest you and attend them in person or online. They allow you to ask the nursing leaders questions directly. Not only that, but you could gather insider information in your field.
Such events are also popular spots for recruiters to find their ideal candidates. Approach a few headhunters and talk to them to see where things may go. Some good events include the Nursing Leadership Summit and the Annual Conference of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL).
Our pro tip is to work as a volunteer alongside existing nursing leaders whenever possible. We understand that it can be challenging to do so with a job on the side. However, there are plenty of great rewards to be enjoyed, like valuable references, career opportunities, and useful connections.
We hope this article has strengthened your resolve to pursue a leadership role in nursing. A recent survey found that 81% of nursing leaders were involved in their facility’s strategic mission.
Burnout is the most common of the top three challenges these professionals face, which occurs mainly due to labour shortages. How about you fill the gap? You are needed in this field now more than ever, so take the plunge!
