The healthcare system is currently undergoing a series of transformations that are affecting all the aspects of care. These transformations have fuelled the identification of the important role of nurses in healthcare. In the past, nurses have been sidelined as assistants to physicians, rather than partners in care with other health care professionals (The National Academies Press, 2010). A report by the IOM and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed that if the nurses are allowed to practice to the full extent of their training and expertise, they could offer pertinent expertise needed to sustain the current changes in healthcare. Nurse managerial roles have been identified as vital nursing roles that can facilitate healthcare transformation. It is important, therefore, that nurses identify their own strengths and weaknesses related to nurse managerial roles. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reflection on the weaknesses and strengths as identified using the “Nurse Manager Skills Inventory”.
Personal and Professional Accountability
The ANA code of ethics acknowledges that nurses bear responsibility to patients and to self (Olson & Stokes, 2016). My overall personal and professional accountability can be rated as competent. Engagement in personal growth and development has been achieved by not only advancing education in classroom setting, but also by actively taking part in seminars and workshops that enhance clinical experience. The IOM in their report acknowledged the importance of continued personal development among nurses in upholding the quality of care services. Participating in career development fairs has also been part of my personal growth and development.
In support of personal and professional accountability, ethical behavior is achieved by adhering to the ethical standards set by the nursing professional boards and the organization. Membership to various professional associations has also facilitated the achievement of personal and professional accountability. Memberships not only enhance the network with other professionals, but it also helps nurses to keep up to date with the dynamic nursing profession. In addition to the professional association, certification is also crucial for nurse managers. Certification adds to the qualifications of a nurse as it validates that a nurse possesses certain competencies and skills in certain clinical practice areas. My level of certification, however, can be described as novice, as I am yet to acquire many relevant certifications. This is a weakness to my personal and professional accountability.
Career Planning
Career planning involves understanding ones roles and the relevant or related responsibilities, planning for the future of career, and engaging in activities that facilitates positioning into the job market. My current level of career planning can be rated as competent because despite understanding the current job requirements and planning for my career path, I am yet to understand the dynamics of the market and the best way to position myself for career development.
The nursing profession is dynamic and demands that nurses upgrade their skills and competencies frequently so as to fit into the job market. A plan for future career can also be thwarted as a result of major changes occurring in the nursing profession. Positioning in terms of career development is therefore a weakness due to the frequent changes affecting the nursing profession.
Personal Journey Disciplines
Alignment of personal journey to the professional path is crucial in avoiding professional and personal collision of roles. Personal journey disciplines helps nurses to develop individual strengths as leaders. According to American Organization of Nurse Executives (2006), the personal journey disciplines involve shared leadership management, action learning, and reflective practice. Action learning and the reflective practice aspects of personal journey discipline can be rated as expert practice. However, shared leadership/council management is still at novice level.
Shared leadership/council management reflects a nurse’s “knowledge of, and skill in, managing councils that promote shared leadership” (American Organization of Nurse Executives, 2006). This aspect of personal journey practice remains a weakness as I am yet to acquire knowledge and skills for managing councils that promote shared leadership.
Reflective Practice Reference Behaviors/Tenets
Reflective practice involves application of a set of guidelines and principles that can either be individually developed or based on models that are developed by other professionals (American Organization of Nurse Executives, 2006). The set of guidelines emphasize on aspects such as truth, appreciation of ambiguity, diversity, holding different perspective without judgment, quest for learning, and commitment, among other aspects. Keeping commitments to myself is a weakness related to this content area that I have encountered. This requires creating a balance that facilitates regeneration and renewal of the body and spirit. Achieving this balance is a challenge due to the demanding requirements of the job.
Leadership skill set is a useful tool in promoting change in workplace. I will utilize the personal and professional accountability skill set to advocate for change in practice. I will utilize the skill set to promote education advancement and annual self-assessment plans among nurses, as this will improve the quality of services that the nurses render to patients. My personal goal for leadership growth is to engage more in leadership activities at organizational level, so as to acquire more experience in leadership. To achieve this goal, I will cooperate with more experienced colleagues, in addition to collaborating with a mentor who can act as a guide till the goal is achieved.
References
American Organization of Nurses Executives. (2006). Nurse manager skills inventory.
Retrieved from http://www.aone.org/resources/nurse-manager-skills-inventory.pdf
Olson, L. L., & Stokes, F. (2016). The ANA code of ethics for nurses with interpretive
statements: Resource for nursing regulation. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 7(2), 9-20.
The National Academies Press. (2010). Transforming leadership. Retrieved from
https://www.nap.edu/read/12956/chapter/10
