Professional Nursing Practice and Leadership

What does it have to do with leadership? Being a professional nurse involves leadership behaviors Nurses exhibit professional behaviors to demonstrate their value to the organization and to foster a positive work climate (Adams, Miller, & Beck, 1996)

The Manager’s role in Professional Nursing Practice Nurse managers often deal with issues of both professional autonomy and job autonomy Professional and organizational values may mesh or may clash with one another (Hall, 1968) Varcoe, (2002) discusses issues related to the moral distress experienced by nurses

Professional Standards of Nursing Practice, CNO The College expects each nurse to “demonstrate her/his leadership by providing, facilitating and promoting the best possible care /service to the public” CNO, Professional Standards, (revised 2002)

Leadership: CNO Leadership requires self-knowledge (understanding one’s own beliefs and values, and being aware of how one’s behavior impacts others), respect, trust, integrity, shared vision, learning, participation, good communication techniques and the ability to be a change facilitator. Professional Standards, 2002

The Ethical Framework: CNO The ethical framework for nurses also identifies expectations for our role as leaders, regardless of position Specifically, this framework identifies our obligations to maintaining commitments to: clients, to ourselves, to our nursing colleagues, to the nursing profession, to other health team members/colleagues, and to quality practice settings

Environments for Professional Nursing Practice The environment for any setting provides the foundation for the 4 domains of professional nursing: clinical practice, administration, education and research. Nurses and nursing leadership create the environment that serves as the foundation for supporting all domains of practice

The Accountability Framework Nurses provide 75% of healthcare in Canada: makes a formidable force Solutions to current issues need a multifaceted approach We can and must be part of the solution

Accountability Implies that we are answerable to the public for professional standards and ethics Also need to hold ourselves accountable for our thoughts and actions Miller – Accountability Framework that can be used by nurses

Components: 1. The explicit use of “what” or “how” statements 2. Avoidance of “why”, “when” or “who” questions 3. Use of “I” statements 4. A focus on taking action

“I” Statements Use of “I” statements expresses the true spirit of personal accountablity Implies ownership and personal commitment to one’s career and work situation Focus on those things that we can change vs. those we can’t

The Canadian Goose Story An example of leadership, followership and working together to achieve a common goal

It behooves all of us, regardless of domain of practice, of position, of sector; to work together to achieve the common goal of developing and sustaining the community of nursing, creating quality environments that support professional nursing practice