Learning Objective #1: Describe how the use of a clinical nursing leadership development academy can promote the growth/networking potential of nurse leaders within a healthcare organization

Learning Objective #2: Identify how annual enrichment sessions enhance the ongoing development of academy alumni within a healthcare organization

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The Clinical Nursing Leadership Development Academy (CNLDA) is a joint collaboration between the University of Iowa College of Nursing (CON) and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) developed in 2001 in response to the need for nursing-specific leadership development. A focus group of CON faculty and UIHC nursing educators and leaders developed a CNLDA curriculum that would give nurse leaders new ideas, a better grasp on business, clinical, and political decisions that impact the workplace, and tools to problem solve role and job challenges.

CNLDA has been offered six times as 7 one-day sessions spread across a semester. Any UIHC nurse leader is eligible to apply for a cohort slot. Cohorts are limited to 25 participants. Continuing education units are offered and no fee is asessed. Each of the seven sessions run for 4 to 6 hours. Each day has a theme: The Big Picture (overview of nursing's role locally/community-wise/globally, the meaning of sustaining Magnet Hospital designation); Money Matters (mananging nursing in a financial world, benchmarking strategies); People Matters I and II (retention, recruitment, succession planning, generational culture, labor relations, motivating personnel); Clinical Excellence (creating healing environments, entrepreneurialship, patient safety); Quality Counts (quality management, evidence-based practice, educating nursing students); Silence to Voice (media relations, retaining leaders, promoting nursing, the future of nursing). Sessions are taught by persons with primary topic knowledge from within the university or region. Evaluations have been favorable for improvement of knowledge and new ongoing opportunities to network with attendee peers. Over 125 leaders have attended so far.

A spin-off enrichment course called CNLDA Alumni Days evolved in 2004. CNLDA alums choose to attend one or two of 4 sessions that run half days. Fifty alums have attended.