Learning Objective #1: Define attributes of an innovative leader in today's nursing management

Learning Objective #2: Recognize the important roles of responsibility, effectiveness, and accountability

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In an attempt to retain nurses that we have and to attract others, our relatively new management team, here at the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, embarked upon an innovative leadership style. Together, our team committed to build a solid foundation of leadership that would engage each nurse in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ( NICU). While overall staff morale and positive attitudes have shown a significant increase, we continue to build upon that early foundation as we grow even further and faster than first anticipated. Our most valuable strategy has been formal and informal staff recognition.

We found that new programs and more FTEs were not necessarily the best remedy for staff. Instead, we found that a real connection between each staff nurse and a member of the management team offered much more value. Examples of our innovative styles and leadership are explored.

Key to our success has been our own enthusiasm, coupled with communication techniques and imaginative leadership.