With the increasing challenges in the healthcare industry and the rising need for more nurses, the demand for this profession seems perpetual. The healthcare sector is in dire need of nurses as frontline workers than ever before. In the wake of the pandemic, many realized the undeniable necessity of nurses in the healthcare industry.
However, to manage the frontline nurses, it is crucial to have a leader from among them. Someone who possesses the essential skills and qualities to represent them and lead them properly. The role of a nurse leader revolves around efficiently utilizing resources to provide the best healthcare services for their patients. They are also responsible for managing, guiding, and controlling their staff members. Nonetheless, becoming a nurse leader is no cakewalk as there are many requirements to fulfill and hurdles to overcome.
Therefore, if you are a registered nurse or a student looking for viable career options, here are some tips that can help you become a nurse leader.
Gain Relevant Higher Education
Undoubtedly, you cannot secure any leadership role without first completing the educational requirements of the job. In the nursing profession, climbing the ladder to leadership positions requires developing your academic credentials. You will need to pursue a specific career path to achieve leadership roles. It starts with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Then you will need to acquire the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. After completing the license and certification examinations, opt for the online DNP programs to earn your doctorate while practising as a nurse. Such online education options will allow you the flexibility to study and work and efficiently make it to top positions. Only after pursuing this educational path can you achieve your goal of acquiring leadership roles.
Photo by Ani Kolleshi on Unsplash
Develop Essential Leadership Skills
Working in leadership roles requires an individual to possess specific leadership skills and characteristics. These skills include exceptional communication skills, decision-making skills, critical thinking capabilities, the ability to solve complex problems, and so forth.
However, one of the most distinguishable traits of a leader is their ability to lead others through motivation instead of persuasion. Therefore, if you seek to develop leadership skills, you must start by polishing your people skills. For example, if you are hesitant to speak with others, hone your confidence and self-esteem.
However, the positive outlook is that if you are a practicing nurse, you already possess a few of these skills. Working as a nurse requires one to communicate with their colleagues and patients effectively. Nurses have to make immediate life-saving decisions on the spot and create strategies alongside doctors and physicians to decide a patient’s treatment plans. Therefore, if you are a practicing nurse, chances are you already possess essential leadership skills. However, for further growth and development, you need to sharpen the various leadership traits and capabilities.
Find A Mentor
If you are wondering how to amplify your leadership skills, then the art of imitation can be your answer. Imitating leaders you admire and trust can help you sharpen the hidden leadership skills you already possess. For this purpose, you must observe their skills and learn how they put them into practice.
You will have to note down the methods they used to engage their team, motivate them, and influence them. This would include their interactions with the people they supervise and their higher management as well. You can learn essential strategies by closely observing your mentor. You can monitor how they deal and manage different relationships and tasks in challenging situations. Additionally, the methods your mentor uses to resolve conflicts and provide feasible solutions are also noteworthy.
Most of all, rather than focusing on menial tasks, observe how your mentor performs and carries out their leadership roles and responsibilities.
Plunging to the deepest core of issues is necessary to deal with arising problems and challenges. For example, suppose nurses working under your supervision are overworking and operating round the clock.
In that case, their physical and emotional burnout can affect their health and performance. Therefore, it becomes your responsibility to consider their health and give them time to recover by providing breaks or breaking down their shifts.
Similarly, suppose someone on your team is going through a personal tragedy. In that case, you will have to understand the sentiments and show your concern at a level that builds trust. You will have to take an interest in the matter of other people and understand their situation; only then can you become a successful leader.
Understand the Operational Aspects
A leadership role asks for more than your expertise as a skilled nurse. You will need to have some level of understanding of the operational aspects of your organization. You can start by understanding your organization’s structure, the decision-making chain, the factors that influence these decisions, etc.
Furthermore, you will have to spend time analyzing the various functions of the healthcare sector and the challenges the industry faces in these aspects. Only then can you successfully understand the obstacles and hurdles you need to overcome to ensure operational efficiency. Consequently, you will have the expertise to create strategies to overcome these problems, which will make you the perfect choice for a leadership role.
Conclusion
Taking on a leadership role can be exceptionally rewarding and worthwhile but taxing at the same time. Every day and every hour in the healthcare industry comes with new challenges and emerging issues. Nurses have to be at the forefront battling various healthcare concerns and problems efficiently. Therefore, if you seek to climb the ladder to a leadership role, you’ve to master multiple skills, gain relevant education, and seek mentorship.
Who Is The Author?
Muhammad Abbas
Muhammad Abbas is an enthusiastic dreamer and a workaholic. He is a passionate writer, cricketer, researcher, and team leader.
Muhammad has contributed to many
reputed blogs and likes to help empower people with accurate, helpful information.
Who is an enthusiastic dreamer and a workaholic to achieve that. He is a passionate writer, Cricketer, researcher, and Team Leader. He has contributed to many
reputed blogs and is constantly on the lookout to reach authoritative blogs around.
