Transformative Leadership: The Journey of One Scholar in the NFMLD Program

Rutherford-Hemming, Tonya

Saturday, 29 October 2011

Tonya Rutherford-Hemming, RN, ANP-BC
School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Jeanette Rossetti, EdD, RN
School of Nursing, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Judy K. Anderson, PhD, CNE
School of Nursing, Viterbo University, LaCrosse, WI

Learning Objective 1: describe the steps the scholar took towards leadership in the NFMLD program.

Learning Objective 2: identify two ways in which the scholar advanced simulation in nursing education.

The scholar’s leadership journey will be discussed and the interaction of the scholar, mentor, and expert faculty will be highlighted. In addition, the impact of the scholar’s leadership journey on students, faculty, and the organization will be shared. The scholar’s transformation as a leader will be chronicled. Goals met during the Nurse Faculty Mentored Leadership Development (NFMLD) program include 1) maximizing and improving leadership abilities in the academic environment, 2) increasing student opportunities for learning related to evidence based findings in simulation, 3) broadening the knowledge and scope of simulation in nursing education, 4) disseminating findings of the research project related to simulation, and 5)increasing contributions to Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI).

During this leadership journey, the scholar’s project was in the area of simulation and nursing education. A study investigated the issue of transfer of learning of knowledge and skills from the simulation laboratory to the clinical setting. Fourteen acute care practitioner students participated in the study. Students were observed collecting a history and performing a physical examination on a patient twice in the study- once in the simulation laboratory with standardized patients, and again, in the clinical setting with actual patients. Results showed that, on average, participants showed significant and substantial growth in overall competency. This study served as a vehicle for the scholar to exhibit leadership in an area of nursing scholarship which has not been explored.

The scholar’s view of leadership transformed during the course of the NFMLD journey. The scholar has gained leadership traits, such as confidence, assertiveness, and initiative to seek out scholarly opportunities. Specifics related to this leadership journey will be emphasized.

See more of: Poster Session I - Nurse Faculty Mentored Leadership Development Program Invited Posters
See more of: Invited Posters