The project identified for the Experienced Nurse Leadership Academy was to lead Methodist College in preparing an application for the National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Teaching Excellence. Early in the process, when the idea of moving forward in evaluating the nursing program was discussed with nursing faculty, there seemed to be a lack of clarity in the steps to move forward. As the leader of the project, and through discussions with my mentor, it was identified that a collective vision was missing and was needed in order to move forward with the project. To address the situation, a group of faculty who were seen as leaders gathered together and had an open dialogue as to their thoughts in approaching the work of writing the application for the National League for Nursing Center of Teaching Excellence designation. During this discussion a collective vision was developed and a workable timeline was determined. This collective vision centered on the passion of the faculty and institution to highlight the unique learning experiences provided by the faculty, support services, and staff at the college. The overall goal was to distinguish the nursing program as an institution that provided a place where the learning experiences had a powerful impact on the students. This was a powerful moment for the team and allowed for the project to move forward with enthusiasm and collaboration between all parties.
The journey through the leadership project has helped to understand how to navigate a system while building confidence in myself. It has allowed me to better understand my role as a leader and to better assess the needs of others I lead. An important take way is that the role of the leader is about guiding the work and creating an atmosphere and culture where faculty can grow, develop, and find their own passion for the work they are doing.