Finding the Balance in Nursing Education Management Dr Sharon Vasuthevan NEA Conference NMMU – 15 November 2006

Change, Change and more Change!!!! Legislation Legislation Workplace practices Workplace practices Human resources Human resources Technology Technology Funding Funding

Definition of major change PERSONAL shifts in values, aspirations and behaviours Usually accompanied by: ORGANISATIONAL shifts in processes, strategies, practices and systems

Change is disruptive Control becomes an issue Fears are raised Opportunities seen Future way of working The way people work now Current State Future State

And challenging Threatens/Disrupts person’s: Competence Confidence Comfort Control Capacity

Legislation South African Qualifications Authority Act South African Qualifications Authority Act Skills Development Act Skills Development Act Employment Equity Act Employment Equity Act Higher Education Act Higher Education Act General & Further Education & Training Act General & Further Education & Training Act Nursing Act Nursing Act

Strategies Higher Education Plan Higher Education Plan Skills Development Strategy Skills Development Strategy Human Resource Development Strategy Human Resource Development Strategy Further Education & Training Certificate Further Education & Training Certificate General Education & Training Certificate General Education & Training Certificate

"The best of times and the worst of times". Employers are being sold on training due the skills shortage in the country. Employers are being sold on training due the skills shortage in the country. Virtual consensus amongst executives that learning must be a major factor in their ongoing strategies for business success Virtual consensus amongst executives that learning must be a major factor in their ongoing strategies for business success

Focus on the solution Quality of Solution Quality of Implementation Success

Times - Nursing Education Past Nursing Education Current Future Highly regulated Predictable Standardized Single ETQA New legislation Multiple ETQAs Disorganized Unpredictable Challenging ?

Balancing Act for Managers Staff Learners Programmes Regulating Authorities Employer needs Legislation Human resources demands Research Financial control Physical Resources Clinical resources

Focus Focus on what you are doing in your present job - Passion will shine through Focus on what you are doing in your present job - Passion will shine through Your performance will lead you to your next job - Don’t think about your next job Your performance will lead you to your next job - Don’t think about your next job People will want to take a chance on you because of your performance People will want to take a chance on you because of your performance

Leader versus Manager Leader Creates something new Creates something new Sees what others don’t see Sees what others don’t see See possibilities/take risks See possibilities/take risks Manager Organize Process Work hard Mitigate risks

21 st Century Leadership Changes Information is no longer power. Information is no longer power. No longer barriers of time, access and wealth No longer barriers of time, access and wealth Technology can unlock human potential – empower people Technology can unlock human potential – empower people Once every process becomes digital, virtual, mobile and personal – anyone can lead Once every process becomes digital, virtual, mobile and personal – anyone can lead Role of authority is different Role of authority is different

Leadership 1. Requires moving beyond subject matter experts Leaders can access SMEs to figure it out Leaders can access SMEs to figure it out Most SMEs like to share their knowledge and opinions – Ask for help Most SMEs like to share their knowledge and opinions – Ask for help 2. Requires understanding that common sense and logic are important – Never underestimate the power of the right question, common sense and logic Never underestimate the power of the right question, common sense and logic

Leadership (cont) 3. The ability to provide a suitable alternative Criticism, problem identification are easier Criticism, problem identification are easier Suggesting alternatives and solutions are difficult Suggesting alternatives and solutions are difficult 4. Overcoming FEAR Scary to lead – risk taking Scary to lead – risk taking Many people have the potential to lead – few take it – most of them are afraid to take a risk or make a stand Many people have the potential to lead – few take it – most of them are afraid to take a risk or make a stand Leadership happens in big ways and small ways - in a family, community, city, country, field of work Leadership happens in big ways and small ways - in a family, community, city, country, field of work

Leadership (cont) 5. Leadership requires TRUST People you are leading put their trust in you People you are leading put their trust in you Leadership cannot happen alone Leadership cannot happen alone When you trust people, they can succeed you, betray you or assist you. When you trust people, they can succeed you, betray you or assist you. Trust determines success or failure Trust determines success or failure 6.Requires BALANCE Balance is the art of leadership Balance is the art of leadership Not valued very much –swing between the extremes Not valued very much –swing between the extremes Balance between profit and growth – business Balance between profit and growth – business

Universal Balance Points 1. Optimism and realism Leaders have to be optimistic Leaders have to be optimistic Ability to know that things will change for the better Ability to know that things will change for the better Opposites – Pessimists(worse), Cynics(no faith), Sceptics( fence sitters) Opposites – Pessimists(worse), Cynics(no faith), Sceptics( fence sitters) Reaism is understanding the barriers, SWOT, difficulties Reaism is understanding the barriers, SWOT, difficulties Unrealistic leaders will not succeed or achieve the goal Unrealistic leaders will not succeed or achieve the goal

Universal Balance Points 2. Consistency & Flexibility Consistency is about predicatability,people know what the leader believes in and wants to achieve Consistency is about predicatability,people know what the leader believes in and wants to achieve Goals do not change frequently Goals do not change frequently Flexibility – things happen e.g. sailing, you do not sail in a straight line, we tack. Flexibility – things happen e.g. sailing, you do not sail in a straight line, we tack. Leaders can change the path or change the tactics Leaders can change the path or change the tactics

Universal Balance Points 3. Confidence & humility Confidence that you can make a difference – take a risk Confidence that you can make a difference – take a risk Humility – you cannot do it alone Humility – you cannot do it alone Leaders don’t know everything. Know what you know and what you don’t know. Leaders don’t know everything. Know what you know and what you don’t know. Best leaders are those who surround themselves with people who are different to themselves – complicated – but there will be a better outcome – different thinking! Best leaders are those who surround themselves with people who are different to themselves – complicated – but there will be a better outcome – different thinking!

Leaders are Present Effective leaders bring all of themselves to the job Effective leaders bring all of themselves to the job Understand the big picture and the detail Understand the big picture and the detail Cannot have big picture but not understand the detail Cannot have big picture but not understand the detail Execution without strategy is problematic Execution without strategy is problematic Strategy without execution is futile Strategy without execution is futile

Leadership requires an Internal Compass Never sell your soul. No one can pay you back! Never sell your soul. No one can pay you back! There will be many things to throw you off course There will be many things to throw you off course Leaders get lots of advice, but take decisions alone Leaders get lots of advice, but take decisions alone Know who you are and what you believe in Know who you are and what you believe in Don’t make choices or trade offs that don’t feel right Don’t make choices or trade offs that don’t feel right

Leadership & Authenticity Leadership is not about style – all leadership styles work in different situations Leadership is not about style – all leadership styles work in different situations Cannot fake it Cannot fake it Use your head, listen to your gut and heart Use your head, listen to your gut and heart Ask the same of your followers Ask the same of your followers Be present in all of your job or tasks Be present in all of your job or tasks

Leadership is a Choice Leadership is not about power, titles, pay cheques etc Leadership is not about power, titles, pay cheques etc It is a CHOICE that anyone can make It is a CHOICE that anyone can make It is about raising people’s sights, making them see what they could not see and helping the achieve more than they thought possible It is about raising people’s sights, making them see what they could not see and helping the achieve more than they thought possible

Leadership is…. Focussing on possibilities Focussing on possibilities Capability Capability Collaboration Collaboration Character Character

Circle of Influence Future Nurses

If life is an auditorium, where are you sitting?

Seating Front row – participating Front row – participating Back row – detached Back row – detached Middle row – sitting on the fence Middle row – sitting on the fence

Only the crazy will survive…… IQ + EQ + HUGG = MaD Intelligence + Emotional Intelligence + Huge Unbelievably Great Goals = Making a difference In this generation of nursing education managers……..

Nursing Education – from…… What is inside the box? Good or OK Future Nursing Education Attitude Confidence Will power Commitment Perceptions of yourself Expectations Perseverance Goals Current Nursing Education Great

Which room are you in? Complacency Regeneration Denial Chaos Basement (or death)

BIG 5 Choose a positive attitude Choose a positive attitude Understand the impact Understand the impact Set HUGGS Set HUGGS Develop resilience Develop resilience Take personal responsibility Take personal responsibility

Get Organized Information is power!

Create a forum for networking Share current information Share current information Lobby on nursing education issues Lobby on nursing education issues Establish your own professional website Establish your own professional website Make representations to top level persons Make representations to top level persons Protect your interest Protect your interest Encourage participation Encourage participation

Be at the cutting edge!

Get involved

Present papers Present papers Write about your experiences Write about your experiences Set high standards for yourself Set high standards for yourself Share success stories Share success stories Engage in research Engage in research

Nursing: The Backbone of Healthcare We make the difference!

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