Compassionate, flexible, and competent are only a few of the many characteristics needed to become a nurse, but what about influential? The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines influential as “1) having influence and 2) having the power to cause change” (Merriam-Webster, 2014). So why should nurses have the power to cause change? What barriers and facilitators will nurses encounter on the way? How does the image of nursing affect the influence nurses have? And how does influence relate to personal and professional growth? These are just a few of the questions that nurses should consider before deciding to start their career.
A Need for Becoming Influential
So why should nurses be influential? Nurses have a larger goal—one beyond themselves—which is to be more effective in what they do and to influence health care. Improved patient care, better working conditions for nurses, and better health for people are just a few of the reasons for nurses to develop their skill of influence (Sullivan, 2004, p. 7). Gallup polls for the last eleven years straight have ranked nursing as the most trusted profession. As nurses, our opinions and voices have the power to shape safe and high quality care for our patients (Kronenbitter, 2012).
Why Should Nurses Become Influential
The first step to becoming influential is to consider the way you present yourself (Sullivan, 2004, p. 7). This includes your appearance, as well as your behavior. Nurses should always dress and behave in a professional manner. You won’t be able to influence others if no one can take you seriously. The next step is to evaluate your current ability to be influential (Sullivan, 2004, p. 7). What do others think of you? Do you get positive feedback fr...
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...t my career as an influential, professional nurse. I feel more comfortable knowing what barriers I will face during my journey of rising to the top. Overall, I feel I have grown vastly from reading this book, and I am grateful for the lessons I have learned.
Conclusion
Influence cannot be purchased, sold, exchanged, or even thrown away. It cannot be held in your hand, put up on a wall, or hidden under anything. It can be earned through effort; most important, the skills of influence can be taught and learned, not unlike the way we learn clinical skills. Making a decision to become influential is the first, necessary step to gaining influence (Sullivan, 2004, p. 4). By becoming influential, nurses will be able to provide better care to their patients, educate their successors, interact with superiors and coworkers, and contribute to the nursing profession.
They care and nurture patients back to health so they can develop and perform as highly as possible. Nurses must be willing to take the time to listen carefully to other staff members and patients for mutual respect and trust to evolve. Nursing leaders influence and motivate subordinates by building relationships and further developing the practice skills of individual team members. A Servant Leader makes sure the needs of the individual team members are addressed and any conflicts are dealt in way that enhances professional competency among nurses. Recognition that servant leadership advocates a more group-oriented approach to analysis and decision making helps to strengthen the organization and improve the healthcare community (Murphy,
Healthcare is a continuous emerging industry across the world. With our ever changing life styles and the increased levels of pollution across the world more and more people are suffering from various health issues. Nursing is an extremely diverse profession and among the highest educated with several levels ranging from a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to a registered nurse (RN) on up to a Doctorate in Nursing. Diane Viens (2003) states that ‘The NP is a critical member of the workforce to assume the leadership roles within practice, education, research, health systems, and health policy’.
My background could not be further from the typical Yale student. My academic achievements in high school were not outstanding. I didn't pay attention and had no dreams or aspirations about my future. It wasn't long after graduation that I realized I didn't want to be “average”. It was after that very moment I realized I must change my thinking. Ever since then, my search for knowledge and new concepts began to grow. I entered nursing working very hard and continued to push my personal development to new heights. While attending Penn State University and La Roche College, I earned several academic awards, from inclusion on the Dean's list regularly, induction to Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Sigma Lambda the honor societies as well as my recent membership to the American College of Healthcare Executives. One of my very best accomplishments was becoming Board-Certified as a Nurse Executive. This together with my Masters degree in Nursing Administration and Leadership gives me the credentials needed to affect exemplary professional practi...
Nursing is a field of work that so many people find themselves fascinated with, as well as harboring a degree of respect. We look to nurses with a sense of admiration and reverence, and look to them for security in times of need. What makes nursing such a desirable and enthralling field to other people? Despite the fact that doctors are normally under the spotlight, nursing is of profound importance in American culture. Nurses provide comfort and security, as well as a knowledge of medical aid. The field of nursing has the benefit of coming from a field that is ancient, yet timeless and has blossomed throughout history to make a large impact on our culture today.
Being a nurse means being a leader. Nurses make decisions, delegate responsibly, critically think, and act ethically with empathy and integrity. Leaders work to motivate others to reach a common goal. As a nurse, our goal is to advocate for and
A myriad of challenges are faced in healthcare today. From over-crowding and long waiting lists to staff shortages which have knock on effects resulting in inadequate skills mix and unacceptable nurse-patient ratios. An aging population, high birth rates and an increase in chronic diseases also puts pressure on the healthcare system. The nursing role has had to evolve in response to changing societal needs and the challenges in the healthcare system today. (McCurry et al. 2009). This can bring additional challenges to nurses’ professional identity. ??
Nursing has always been a key career in the health care system. Although it is not often focused on media and stories surrounding health care, nursing is a career of great importance. If any patient was asked about their experience at a hospital or a care center, many would mention the capability and care that they received from the nurses. The health care system could not function efficiently, if at all, if nurses were not present to perform their part. Nurses are more than just physicians, support staff.
Sullivan, E. J. (2004). Becoming influential: A guide for nurses. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall.
In healthcare it is very important to have strong leaders, especially in the nursing profession. A nurse leader typically uses several styles of leadership depending on the situation presented; this is known as situational leadership. It is important that the professional nurse choose the right style of leadership for any given situation to ensure their employees are performing at their highest potential. Depending on which leadership style a nurse leader uses, it can affect staff retention and the morale of the employees as well as nurse job satisfaction (Azaare & Gross, 2011.) “Nursing leaders have the responsibility to create and maintain a work environment which not only promotes positive patient outcomes but also positively influences teams and individual nurses” (Malloy & Penprase, 2010.) Let’s explore two different leadership styles and discuss how they can enhance or diminish the nursing process.
In Nursing, there will always be instances where the patient's nurse needs to advocate for their patient. There are numerous reasons why a nurse would advocate for their patient ranging from getting the doctor to change the patient’s orders, helping the patient’s treatment team understand what it is the patient is requiring for the day, to expressing the patient’s last wishes before death. In every situation, the nurse should do what is in the patient’s best interest. Tomajan (2012), “Advocacy skills are the ability to successfully support a cause or interest on one’s own behalf or that of another. Advocacy requires a set of skills that include problem solving, communication, influence, and collaboration”(p. 2). With those skills, the nursing staff will be able to work together to advocate for their patients. Along with those skills, nurses need to keep in mind the three core attributes that are: safeguarding patients’ autonomy; acting on behalf of patients; and championing social justice in the provision of health care. (Bu & Jezewski, 2006)
Worldwide, nurses have developed themselves into professionals with a great deal of knowledge. Despite these developments towards professionalism, nurses are still portrayed in a misleading and inaccurate way and are not given the recognition for the skills they have acquired. The essence of nursing is not always clear and nurses still suffer from stereotypes (Hoeve,2014). A stereotype can be defined as “a cognitive representation or impression of a social group that people form by associating particular characteristics and emotions with a group” (Smith and Mackie, 2007). Of the many types of nursing, a very popular stereotype that is depicted of nurses is being doctor’s handmaiden and only performing repetitive and simple tasks (Hoeve,2014.) This public image of nursing does not match their professional images, in fact, it is quite the opposite. Nurses are strong independent individuals that play just as big a role in the hospital as due the doctors or surgeons. The problem is nurses are not depicted as professionals and the public is not aware that nursing today is very theory-based oriented and a scholarly profession. Over the last few decades, nursing gone through extensive and important
Nurses are uniquely qualified to fill a demand for change through leadership. Unlike business minded individuals whose primary outcome concern is monetary, a nurses’ primary concern is organic: a living, breathing, tangible being. In a leadership role, a nurse might consider an organization as if it were a grouping of patients, or perhaps an individual patient, each limb with its own characteristics and distinct concerns. They can effectively categorize and prioritize important personal and professional matters and are therefore ideally positioned to lead change efforts. Perhaps most importantly, effective nurse leaders can provide clarity to the common goal and empower others to see their self-interests served by a better common good (Yancer, 2012).
In today’s society, leadership is a common yet useful trait used in every aspect of life and how we use this trait depends on our role. What defines leadership is when someone has the capability to lead an organization or a group of people. There are many examples that display a great sense of leadership such being an educator in health, a parent to their child, or even a nurse. In the medical field, leadership is highly used among nurses, doctors, nurse managers, director of nursing, and even the vice president of patient care services. Among the many positions in the nursing field, one who is a nurse manager shows great leadership. The reason why nurse manager plays an important role in patient care is because it is known to be the most difficult position. As a nurse manager, one must deal with many patient care issues, relationships with medical staff, staff concerns, supplies, as well as maintaining work-life balance. Also, a nurse manager represents leadership by being accountable for the many responsibilities he or she holds. Furthermore, this position is a collaborative yet vital role because they provide the connection between nursing staff and higher level superiors, as well as giving direction and organization to accomplish tasks and goals. In addition, nurse managers provide nurse-patient ratios and the amount of workload nursing staff has. It is their responsibility to make sure that nursing staff is productive and well balanced between their work and personal lives.
The Future of Nursing Being a registered nurse affords one the option of working in many diverse healthcare settings. In any practice setting, the climate of health care change is evident. There are diverse entities involved in the implementation and recommendation of these practice changes. These are led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), nursing campaign for action initiatives, as well as individual state-based action coalitions. Nurses need to be prepared and cognizant of the transformations occurring in health care settings, as well as the plans that put them at the forefront of the future.
Power can be defined in many different ways and can have both a negative or positive connotation. A nurse’s power lies in his or her ability to apply the knowledge, skills and expertise in patient care. Additionally, it is essential for nurses to identify their own power and have the ability to influence or encourage patients, families and the interdisciplinary team members. Therefore, after reading chapter thirteen (13) of the text “Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing” by Marquis and Huston (2017), I realized that at this stage in my nursing career and as a novice nurse, I would like to associate myself with nurses who are good role models or mentors who places high value to quality patient care. Therefore, I believe that