CLINICAL NURSE LEADER

Clinical Nurse Leader

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of Clinical Nurse Leader in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on the Clinical Nurse Leader and its relation with Leadership Role.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract2

Introduction4

Description4

Importance of Leadership in the Care in the CNL Role4

Examples of Clinical Practice Encompassing Leadership in Care5

Implications for Patient Outcomes7

Conclusion8

References10

Leadership in the Care of the Sick in and Across All Environments

Introduction

As health care moves through massive change, the need has become particularly acute to develop leadership at all levels of nursing. This imperative to develop leadership is urgently called for by many and described as needed to (a) influence sweeping reforms of health care, (b) work within flattened management hierarchies, (c) maintain viability of the profession, (d) improve the quality of care within clinical Microsystems (e) coordinate care for patients in increasingly complex health care systems and (f) intervene to prevent patient harm from medical errors. In order to be the most effective in providing care, each nurse is expected to utilize effective leadership skills in carrying out nursing work at the staff nurse level.

Description

Importance of Leadership in the Care in the CNL Role

The development of informal staff nurse leadership is significant for nurses and their stakeholder. In some part, due to the groundbreaking To Err is Human from the Institute of Medicine, staff nurse leadership at the bedside may be the critical link to fuel the seminal changes required to achieve quality care across health care settings. In order for the profession to remain viable, it must change and evolve (Alteri, 2004).

Professional growth of individual staff nurses, enhanced patient outcomes, and better functioning health care organizations may be the results once staff nurse leadership is understood and actualized. Indeed, the leadership capability of staff nurses, yet untapped, is potentially the link to revitalizing the profession and fulfilling the expectations of stakeholder in 21st century healthcare.

The nursing profession and the healthcare industry as a whole are becoming ever more aware of the need for staff nurses to be equipped with leadership skills and be able to practice as leaders at the point of care (Silber, 2003). However, as noted, nurses have conflicting views of themselves as leaders, both rating themselves low on leadership self-image and rating themselves significantly higher on leadership than they believe the public perceives them in reported studies. Reported differences in manager perceptions of nurses' desire for autonomy, an aspect of leadership, also contribute to an unclear understanding of staff nurse leadership.

Examples of Clinical Practice Encompassing Leadership in Care

Descriptions of leadership of staff nurses are elusive and wide ranging. There is a great deal of literature that relates opinions, stories, and anecdotes about leadership of staff nurses, with very little research based information found. The next portion of the literature review will describe the frequently identified qualities or characteristics found related to staff nurse leadership.

A plethora of opinions exist about qualities and behaviors of a nurse leader. As noted previously, the term nurse leader most ...