It is no secret that nurses play a vital role in the worldwide healthcare system. While a nursing career is demanding, it is also lucrative and gratifying. Advanced-level nurses are responsible for assisting patients and offering them the best quality care. Since the healthcare industry is continuously evolving, healthcare organizations need excellent nurse leaders to deliver quality care. Nurse leaders are in charge of supervising and motivating their fellow nurses to improve patient care and satisfaction. Simply put, nurse leaders can either sink or preserve the overall success of the healthcare organization.
The nursing sector is facing plenty of challenges in the present day. The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has already shown the shortage of nurses globally. Moreover, the mass retirement of registered nurse practitioners will cause significant concern in the coming years. However, it is important to note that despite countless warnings about the shortage of nurse leaders, healthcare facilities still fail to take any profound measures. Therefore, it is critical now more than ever for nurses to advance their knowledge and develop leadership skills to tackle these challenges.
Do you wish to become a nurse leader and serve the people? To do that, you need to acquire and polish the following skills to perform high-level jobs as Advanced-level nurses:
- DEDICATION TO LEARNING- Advanced-level nurses
It doesn’t matter where you are in your career; you must never stop yourself from learning ever. After all, learning is a life-long process. Moreover, the healthcare industry is ever-evolving. Therefore, continuing your education can help you stay abreast of the latest trends, information, and practices. For this reason, consider enrolling in an online MSN degree program to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to move forward in your career. Advanced education helps you strengthen your career foundation and become a better leader. The good thing about online education is you can study at a flexible schedule while maintaining a work-life balance.
In addition, you can’t be a good leader if you aren’t demonstrating professional development to your team. Therefore, you must advance your education, join professional groups, and attain certifications, so the young nurses can also follow in your footsteps and grow. This way, you can cultivate the culture of continual learning in your organization, enhancing the overall performance.
- COMMUNICATION- Advanced-level nurses
An essential quality in any good leader is effective communication. Nurses must have good communication skills, from noting the doctor’s prescription to writing down detailed notes and describing treatment plans for patients. However, communication skills take on a new dimension in a leadership role.
As a nurse, you will spend considerable time with the patient and their loved ones. In addition, you will serve as a mediator between patient, their family, and other healthcare providers. Unfortunately, even the slightest miscommunication can have a detrimental effect on a patient’s life. Thus, you must maintain clear and precise communication.
Nurse leaders should also have the ability to offer positive feedback to their team members to boost their confidence. It is safe to say that good communication skills can make it easier to share strategies and instructions with other fellow nurses and other health providers.
- EMPATHY
Let’s face it; you can’t be a good nurse if you aren’t compassionate and empathetic. Therefore, one crucial skill that nurses need to develop is being empathetic.
Empathy refers to putting yourself in other people’s shoes and understanding them. And while you might be showing kindness to your patients, take a step further, and show the same level of understanding for your teammates. After all, you have been in the same place in the past. So as a leader, you can understand the stress your fellow nurses face on the job.
Listen to their concerns, understand their problems and try to resolve them as effectively as possible. Only then can you create a healthy workplace environment.
- CONFLICT RESOLUTION
No matter the workplace, conflicts are nothing new. Even the best of teammates go through some conflicts once in a while. Yet, a leader’s role in solving those conflicts makes a significant difference. For example, conflict can occur between two nurses or a nurse and a physician. However, a nurse leader’s primary responsibility is to pay attention to a conflict and take necessary measures immediately.
Unresolved conflicts can adversely affect teamwork, productivity, and overall patient satisfaction. While disputes can occur anytime, it is your responsibility as a nurse leader to determine the nature of the conflict. If an argument is minor, let the parties involved solve the issue. However, there might be a time when you need to intervene as both parties have complex personalities. In that case, try to find common ground and work toward a solution that appeases all parties involved.
- ADAPTABILITY
Today, the healthcare industry is rapidly changing. Sometimes changes may have a direct impact on healthcare organizations or patients. Other times changes may cause stress and worry you. So, answer this. How do you expect yourself to be a good nurse leader if you aren’t accepting the change and coping with changes effectively? Thus, another essential quality a nurse leader must possess is adaptability.
Be ready for the unexpected changes to succeed in your nursing leadership role. Not only this, but you must also encourage and support your fellow nurses to embrace positive changes. Leaders with adaptability are inspirational and motivating. After all, leaders are examples for their fellow teammates. In addition, being adaptable can significantly affect the overall quality of work.
- DELEGATION
A true leader knows the strengths and weaknesses of their teammates. Being a nurse leader, you need to spend quality time with your team members and understand them. That way, leaders can delegate the tasks to the right person. Just because you are a leader does not mean you have to perform all the jobs yourself. Some people believe delegating tasks may portray leaders as lazy. However, the truth is far from it. Delegation doesn’t mean you are running away from your responsibilities. Instead, it is a great way to show your trust in your teammates.
If you delegate a task to your staff member, they will feel pride in knowing that you recognize their strength and talent. This way, your fellow nurses will try to take greater responsibilities, and their confidence will grow. Furthermore, good delegation can improve patient satisfaction and work efficiency.
CONCLUSION
While the nursing profession is dynamic, one thing remains unchanged – the field requires inspirational leaders to positively impact the organization’s performance. With the increase in the number of patients, the demand for talented nurse leaders has also significantly increased. Effective nurse leadership in healthcare settings can reduce employee turnover and improve patient outcomes. Therefore, you must polish your leadership skills and grab the opportunities to grow in your career.
