![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
A review of the literature shows that leadership succession planning is imperative in all areas of nursing. Beta Xi is able to reach nursing students in an effort to increase potential nurse leaders within the profession. It is imperative that today’s nurses prepare for the “next generation of nurse leaders” (Crosby & Shields, 2010, p. 363). Leadership extends to all areas of nursing and it is important to have a plan in place to have future nurses ready. There is currently a growing need for nurses in the work force. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) project that the nursing shortage will be over one million nurses by the year 2020 nationwide (HRSA, 2006). The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012) found that nursing jobs will increase by 26% from 2010 to 2020. Succession planning helps fill key leadership roles as well as helps with membership retention. It is important for current leaders to not view succession planning as a threat, but as a positive was to develop future leaders (Benjamin, Riskus, & Skalla, 2011).
Mentoring fosters professional and personnel growth and development, which is an essential piece to shape leaders in nursing. Beta Xi developed a Leadership Intern Program as a formal mentoring process that is mutually beneficial for the mentors, mentees, and the chapter. Potential interns who are newly inducted members must complete an application process. The Leadership Intern Program is monitored by our Leadership Succession committee. Beta Xi uses various mentoring modalities including face-to-face contact, emails, social networking, and telephone. Along with STTI, the vision of the Beta Xi Leadership Intern Program is to provide each intern with the opportunity to expand leadership skills, develop a relationship with a mentor, and nurture a lasting commitment to STTI.
The Leadership Intern Program has grown over the years as board members listen to needs and requests of the newly inducted members. In this effort, the Leadership Succession Program organizes Boot Camp Programs, but members, potential members, and Leader Interns volunteer their time, knowledge, and leadership at these events. The Beta Xi Chapter has hosted a Career Development Boot Camp for the past four years and as per members’ request, a Clinical Skills Boot Camp was added this year. These boot camps provide the Beta Xi Chapter an opportunity to share the mission and benefits of being a STTI active member.
The Beta Xi Career Development Boot Camp welcomes all senior nursing students (members and non-members) to assist with interviewing skills, dressing for success, resume development, and graduate school. Volunteers including, faculty, talent acquisition specialists from local hospitals, graduate students, new graduates, and clinicians from various areas of nursing. This boot camp is scheduled around the students’ classes and lasts for 2-3 hours. Senior nursing students are welcome to stop by to network with clinicians, revise their resume, and inquire about interviewing tips of the talent acquisition specialists. The senior nursing students also get to hear from recent graduates who are working and what it is like as a new graduate nurse. This event tends to be highly popular with about a 70% attendance rate.
This year new inductees volunteered to host a nursing skills Boot Camp for accelerated students prior to entering clinical. While this event is organized by the Leadership Succession Committee, new members are taking the lead with mentorship by board members. This event include nursing faculty, simulation faculty, and clinicians who are members. The senior nursing students have had the opportunity to enhance their clinical nursing skills through simulation and clinical experience. Various nursing stations were set up for students to rotate through each skill. Some of the nursing skills stations were health assessment, gastrointestinal tubes, chest tubes, safety, intravenous therapy, and proper documentation. Nursing skills Boot Camp benefited members and non-members and helped to increase membership engagement. This event provided members who are clinically skilled the opportunity to teach and share their knowledge and provide service to the Beta Xi Chapter. This event was very popular and received positive feedback with 100% participation from the accelerated nursing students.
To develop effective nurse leaders it is important to have mentoring relationships that foster professional goals and growth. There are stages to the mentoring relationship which include establishing goals and planning, life balance, structuring the relationship, professional socialization, and navigating uncharted territory (Hadidi, Lindquistm & Buckwater, 2013). It is important to develop a good mentor relationship to help nurses be successful in the future. This can be done through a “mutual investment of time, engagement, energy, personal support, and encouragement” (Hadidi, Lindquistm & Buckwater, 2013, pg. 162). Through the many programs of the Beta Xi chapter’s Leadership Succession Committee, members feel engaged and supported in their professional and personal life.