NURS 3002: Nursing Leadership & New Graduate Roles

Nursing Leadership, Transitioning to New Roles, & New Graduate Nurses

• The course is NURS 3002
• Dates are November 14 & 15, 2024

What is Leadership?

• Leadership is the process of pursuing and influencing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of others toward a specific goal.
• Leaders guide others through adversity, uncertainty, hardships, disruptions, transformations, and significant challenges, while aiming to challenge the status quo.
• A nursing leader is any nurse who has the courage to achieve goals related to delivering quality healthcare. Passion, rather than position, drives this courage.
• Leadership is a dimension of practice, encompassing all areas of nursing, not just formal leadership roles.

Nursing Leadership & Management

• A nursing leader can be any nurse who demonstrates the courage to fulfill a vision focused on achieving quality healthcare goals.
• This courage stems from passion, not just from a position of authority.
• Nurses are leaders in client care, regardless of their formal position.

Nursing Leadership Theories

• Three main categories exist:
  • Behavioral, where leaders are developed and learn their approach.
  • Situational, where leadership adapts to the specific situation.
  • Contemporary, focusing on building relationships.

Various Nursing Leadership Styles and Theories in Practice

• Transformational Leadership Theory: Leaders use vision to drive goal accomplishment.
• Transactional Leadership Theory: Leaders expect adherence to regulations.
• Situational Leadership Theory: Different situations require different leadership approaches.
• Democratic Leadership Style: Members collaborate to make decisions.
• Autocratic Leadership Style: Leader holds decision-making power.
• Participative Leadership Style: All members contribute to decision-making.
• Servant Leadership Style: Leaders prioritize the needs of others to help them reach their full potential.
• Authentic Leadership: This highlights strengths, fosters a positive work environment, and promotes caring attitudes.

Authentic Leadership and New Graduate Nurses

• Retaining new grad nurses (NGNs) is vital for addressing nursing shortages.
• NGNs often leave for various reasons, including lack of support, stress, and incivility.
• Authentic leadership plays a key role in job satisfaction and reducing NGN turnover.
• This style helps reduce incivility, emotional exhaustion, and enhances role clarity and social acceptance.
• Authentic leadership is essential to supportive work environments for NGNs.

Transition to Professional Practice

• Stages in the transition process include orientation, doing, being, and knowing, often encompassing shock, crisis, and transition.
• These are often categorized by months.

New Graduate Nurses (NGN) in Transition

• NGNs face significant challenges during their transition.
• This includes increased awareness of professional responsibility and demands of the university program.

RPN to RN Role Transition

• A qualitative study in Ontario examined RPN transitions to RN.
• RPNs often feel unprepared for the demands of a university program and for increased professional responsibility.
• Transition takes time and requires knowledge and skills learned through both BScN and work experience.
• Increased self-esteem, confidence, and feelings of accomplishment are part of successful transitions.

Emotional Intelligence

• Emotional intelligence of leaders is a key trait in nursing.
• Managers with strong emotional intelligence help nurses feel that their work is meaningful, allowing them to influence and improve their work environment.
• Emotional intelligence includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.

Promoting Healthy Work Environments

• Structural empowerment includes support, knowledge, resources, and learning opportunities.
• Spirit at work fosters a sense of community and contribution to something larger than oneself.
• Resonant leadership emphasizes relationships, building relationships, and managing emotions in the workplace.
• Healthy workplace environments are crucial for nurse job satisfaction, organizational commitment, psychological empowerment, and promoting nurse retention.

Group Discussion

• Strengths and advantages of leadership styles.
• Circumstances where leadership styles thrive.
• Suitable group roles.
• Conflict resolution strategies with diverse leadership styles.
• Integrating different leadership styles.