| Learning Objective #1: decribe three reasons why The Leadership Competency Checklist can be useful in assisting individuals to increase leadership skills in one's own institution. | |||
| Learning Objective #2: identify three rationales for adapting The Leadership Competency Checklist as a measurement tool for staff or student nurses working on leadership development |
Development of The Leadership Competency Checklist for Nurses
Purpose: If there was ever a need for nurses to be creative, flexible, and able to empower others to also be flexible and creative, the time is now. With the universal nursing shortage, greater number of uninsured, changes in reimbursement, higher patient acuity, increase in global infectious diseases, highly diverse patient demographics, and the added challenges during the current terrorist environment, nurses need to be more effective leaders in health care. Delivering quality and cost effective patient outcomes have become the primary goals of all tasks accomplished by nurses. Consequently, just as nurses need to develop skills to perform nursing interventions, they must practice and attain leadership ability (Grossman & Valiga, 2005).
Methodology: The Leadership Competency Checklist (Grossman, in press, 2006) was developed using the researcher’s clinical, administrative, and teaching expertise; data collected from conducting a concept analysis of leadership; information learned from developing a tool for assessing leadership development; and data obtained from a study that analyzed logs written by students in a leadership mentorship rotation. Content validity was established by two hospital level - three staff nurses.
Findings: The Leadership Competency Checklist consists of nine categories [communication, collaboration, decision making, unit vision/research development, risk management, image & professional role, unit management, team building, and personal goals] with sub-objectives that allows the nurse/student to determine the skills and activities they need to gain leadership competency.
Conclusion: Until the nursing profession realizes that nurses, from entry level to the chief executive, need leadership skills as much as patient care and management skills, patients will not receive optimum care in the present health care delivery system.
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