Effectiveness of Clinical Nursing Leadership

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Table of Contents

Introduction
How Clinical Nursing Leadership Effectively Enhances Staff and Patient Outcomes
How, Where and Why A new Graduate Nurse May Apply Clinical Nursing Leadership
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

This assignment is a discussion on the topic of clinical nursing leadership, which is a new role developed by nurses in collaboration with other partners in the healthcare fraternity. The discussion is about the effectiveness of clinical nursing leadership, both on patient and staff outcomes. It also outlines how, why and where I can apply clinical nursing leadership as a new graduate registered nurse in the clinical practice environment. The discussion begins with some background information about the nature of clinical nursing leadership, its scope and how effective it is on patients and staff outcomes followed by a discussion of how, why and where I can apply clinical nursing leadership.

What Is Clinical Nursing Leadership?

Clinical nursing leadership is a new role in the paradigm of nursing developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) mainly to prepare nurses with the necessary knowledge, skills and competences to operate in the contemporary healthcare system which keeps on changing (Thompson, Patricia and Kevin 429-431). Clinical nursing leadership was also aimed at improving the quality of care given to patients. The role emerged following the shocking details contained in a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1999 which showed that the deaths caused by medical errors in the United States far exceeded those caused by HIV/AIDS and road accidents (Bowcutt, Marilyn, Wall, Jane, Goolsby and Mary 156-161).

The rationale behind the establishment of the role was to reduce these deaths, which were attributed to the big ratio of nurses to patients as well as to the lack of good leadership in the nursing fraternity and the general healthcare system. In other words, the clinical nurse leader role was introduced to act as a generalist clinician equipped with an all-round knowhow of healthcare (Hix, Carolyn, McKeon, Leslie, Walters and Sandra 71-76).

How Clinical Nursing Leadership Effectively Enhances Staff and Patient Outcomes

Effectiveness of clinical nursing leadership on patient and staff outcomes implies the realization of good results in the healthcare sector as a result of good leadership provided by the clinical nurse leader. The clinical nurse leader is trained on general nursing roles at undergraduate level, after which he or she enrols for a master’s degree with a major in nursing. This gives him or her general knowledge and competences on the field of healthcare (Jolene, Fache and Judith 608-613).

The effectiveness of clinical nursing leadership may be evaluated or measured by observing various trends and indicators in healthcare. Since the clinical nurse is a leader by his or her right, he or she is supposed to be evaluated on the criteria of the outcomes in the healthcare sector. On part of patients, the effectiveness of clinical nursing leadership could be evaluated on criteria such as increased levels of health education in various communities, the reduction of recidivism among patients who find themselves on the wrong side of the law, increased access of prenatal and postnatal care by women, diminishing rates of deaths among the elderly and a more empowered society on health issues like reproductive health and good diet (Joan, Jane, Jesse and Susan 614-622).

Given that the clinical nurse leader is an advocate of the nursing profession, he or she should be in the fore front in working with governments to prioritize healthcare. He or she should be in a position to show the government the rationale behind having sound healthcare polices, which should be developed in collaboration with key stakeholders like ministries of finance and planning. To this regard, the effectiveness of clinical nursing leadership may be measured by the presence of good and sound policies of healthcare which are integrated with all other key sectors of a countries’ economy (Hartranft, Susan, Garcia, Tamela, Adams and Nancy 261-263).

On staff outcomes, the effectiveness of clinical nursing leadership may be evaluated by assessing the degree to which the key players in healthcare work together, not as individuals, but as teams. For instance, social workers should be seen to work hand in hand with physicians, licensed nurses and various therapists. This cannot just happen by itself, but requires the input of the clinical nurse leader, who should work to bring harmony among all key players in healthcare. The clinical nurse leader should therefore be in a position to stand for the rights and privileges of the patients and the staff. The staff should be in a position to take up the roles delegated to them by the clinical nurse leader especially the dissemination of crucial information on healthcare to the relevant populations, the collection of data on healthcare issues and analysis and interpretation of such data so as to inform policy formulation for the enhancement of healthcare in general (Harris, Tornabeni, Jolene, Walters and Sandra 446-449).

How, Where and Why A new Graduate Nurse May Apply Clinical Nursing Leadership

As a new graduate registered nurse in the clinical practice environment, I can apply effective nursing leadership by working with various stakeholders in the healthcare sector. I can advocate for the provision of healthcare especially among the less fortunate like the elderly, the less privileged in the society and those who are in difficulty situations like the poor and the marginalized. I can also apply it by working with the key stakeholders in healthcare provision to come up with the latest information regarding the status of healthcare in the society and use the data to inform policies formulated and implemented by the national government. I can also apply it by promoting preventive healthcare as well as risk anticipation of diseases which come with changes in lifestyles, diet and information technology (Begun, Tornabeni and White 19-25).

The reason for applying clinical nursing leadership is that I would be working as an advocate of healthcare especially for those people who are not able to speak for themselves. I would be moved by the knowledge and experience in various fields like health, environmental issues, technology and globalisation among others in my application of clinical nursing leadership. The other motivation for applying effective clinical nursing leadership is that it is essential in the improvement of preventive healthcare, which in turn reduces the rates of deaths caused by diseases which are preventable (Smith, Sharon, Manfredi, Tanya and Hagos 29-33).

There are many areas where I can apply effective clinical nursing leadership. One such area is risk reduction especially among the most at risk populations like drug abusers, prostitutes and those who are faced with lifestyle and opportunistic infections. Another area is the customization of healthcare which is based on the assumption that healthcare operates in a microsystem and that different clients have different healthcare needs and priorities (Smith and Dabbs 157-160).

I can also apply it in educating communities about the importance of committing themselves to preventive healthcare. I could be in the frontline in designing and implementing community health programs on important health issues like good diet, good health seeking behaviour, the relationship between health and the environment as well as how communities should take care of the sick at their homes and the negative effects of stigma to the sick (Smith and Dabbs 157-160).

I may also apply it in the area of information technology through the use of social media sites like Facebook, Google, yahoo and twitter to keep in touch with clients and key stakeholders in healthcare. I would have virtual online interactive programs where by people would be having an opportunity to forward their views or any news or information about any healthcare issue. This information would be disseminated to the public through a website, which would be accessible by anyone who is interested. I would also ensure that I become accountable for the evaluation, supervision and enhancement of healthcare outcomes at the point of care as well as the anticipation of risks among various populations in the society (Smith and Dabbs 157-160).

Conclusion

Clinical nursing leadership is a new role in the nursing profession whose aim is to display leadership in the profession. The role emerged following increased deaths of patients which were occasioned by the inadequate leadership in the profession. Clinical nursing leadership portrays leadership in the management, designing and evaluation of health care provided to patients by care providers. It aspires to foster good relationship among all the stake holders so as to improve the services provided to patients. A new nurse leader may apply the knowledge of clinical nursing leadership in community sensitization, policy making and the creation of harmony and team work among all the stake holders in the health care sector including physicians, licenced nurses, social workers and therapists.

Works Cited

Begun, Tornabeni, and White. Opportunities for improving patient care through lateral integration: the clinical nurse leader. Division of Health Services Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. Jan-Feb 2006;51(1):19-25.

Bowcutt, Marilyn, Wall, Jane,Goolsby and Mary. The Clinical Nurse Leader: Promoting Patient-centred Outcomes. Nursing Administration Quarterly:April–June 2006 – Volume 30 – Issue 2 – :156-161.

Harris James, Tornabeni, Jolene, Walters, and Sandra. The Clinical Nurse Leader: A Valued Member of the Healthcare Team. Journal of Nursing Administration: October 2006 – Volume 36 – Issue 10 – :446-449.

Hartranft, Susan,Garcia, Tamela, Adams and Nancy. Realizing the Anticipated Effects of the Clinical Nurse Leader. Journal of Nursing Administration:June 2007 – Volume 37 – Issue 6 – :261-263.

Hix, Carolyn, McKeon, Leslie, Walters and Sandra. Clinical Nurse Leader Impact on Clinical Microsystems Outcomes. Journal of Nursing Administration: February 2009 – Volume 39 – Issue 2 –:71-76.

Joan Stanley, Jane Gannon, Jesse Gabuat Msn, and Susan Hartranft. The clinical nurse leader: a catalyst for improving quality and patient safety. Journal of Nursing Management. July 2008- Volume 16, Issue 5, :614–622.

Jolene Tornabeni, Fache, and Judith Fitzgerald Miller. The power of partnership to shape the future of nursing: the evolution of the clinical nurse leader. Journal of Nursing Management. July 2008-Volume 16, Issue 5 : 608–613.

Smith Deborah ,and Dabbs Mark. Transforming the Care Delivery Model in Preparation for the Clinical Nurse Leader. Journal of Nursing Administration:April 2007 – Volume 37 – Issue 4 – :157-160.

Smith, Sharon,Manfredi, Tanya and Hagos. Application of the Clinical Nurse Leader Role in an Acute Care Delivery Model. Journal of Nursing Administration.January 2006 – Volume 36 – Issue 1 –:29-33.

Thompson, Patricia Lulham,and Kevin. Clinical Nurse Leader and Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Delineation in the Acute Care Setting. Journal of Nursing Administration: October 2007 – Volume 37 – Issue 10 –: 429-431.

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