What do current ivory tower types mean when they talk about "nursing leaders"

mydesygn · Dec 11, 2005

Was watching C Span doing a broadcast from John Hopkins School of Nursing. It was an interesting show but the Dean kept saying, "John Hopkins is producing tomorrows nursing leaders". I kept thinking, we don't need more managers we need more bedside nurses. One thing that is not mentioned when people talk about nursing shortage is that every position that takes people away from bedside gets 20 applicants when it comes open. We already have tons of people at the top heavy managment positions. These people would faint if someone told them they would have to go back to the feces, blood, sputumn and vomit. One of my previous managers mentioned off handedly that one of her BSN classes has a lot of desk nurses in it and that they were quaking in their boots because this particular class required some bedside hours. But perhaps I misunderstand. Perhaps when this dean at John Hopkins talks about leadership she means nurses that will stand up for what is good for the patients no matter what the consequences. In that case my hat is off to her. I have to say that if that be so a lot of people in high places will be very unhappy. What they want from their nursing leaders is someone like a puppet with the big bosses having their hands in the puppet's head making it repeat whatever high levels of managment wish. What do you think?

As a manager, what I think of as nursing leaders are the indivuals who have a strong professional stake in the operations of the unit. The leaders are the ones who make sure that the float nurse has proper information and is not left stranded, they take the time to teach the new nurse instead of complain about what she didn't do, they go the extra mile and are proactive for the patients rather than blindly follow physcians order, they work with management to bring about change instead of merely complaing about what needs to be done. Nursing Leaders "walk the walk". They aren't the official chief but they are the most respected indiviual on the unit.

I can't say I blame the nurses for wanting to get away from the bedside, I think there is a general lack of courtesy and respect for bedside nurses but not from administration but from each other. The bitter complaining, back-stabbing, "nurse eating their young" enviroment drives good nurses away. One of my good friends left bedside nursing to become a school nurse, one of the reasons she cited was "that at the school, I am the professional. My opinion is valued and my job is respected. No teacher will ever run to my supervisor to me and criticize how I do my job anymore than I would tell them how to do theirs".

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 11, 2005

I think the issues are much more complicated than a "good guys vs bad guys" ... "bedside vs non-bedside" ... mentality will ever comprehend.

The original poster is trying to explore beyond that over-simplified view of the world -- and I applaud her for that. Unfortunately, many nurses never do that. Their views are too simplistic and too biased to be of much help to the profession in trying to work out the many tough problems that we face as nurses and as a society.

The low level of most discussions is disheartening.

llg

nursemaa · Dec 11, 2005

I think nursing leaders are those individuals (could be nurses at the bedside or nurses in teaching or management roles) that demonstrate commitment to the profession. Meaning they mentor novice nurses, support research, help the public and other healthcare professionals to understand the role of the professional nurse, promote nursing as a career, and behave in a very professional manner towards patients, families, and each other. Often these individuals do move into management positions, but not always. Leaders have a vision for the future of nursing and do what they can to promote that vision. They are spokespersons for the profession, from both conversations with individuals, professional writing and speaking, and sometimes political action.

SharonH, RN · Dec 12, 2005

I think nursing leaders are those individuals (could be nurses at the bedside or nurses in teaching or management roles) that demonstrate commitment to the profession. Meaning they mentor novice nurses, support research, help the public and other healthcare professionals to understand the role of the professional nurse, promote nursing as a career, and behave in a very professional manner towards patients, families, and each other. Often these individuals do move into management positions, but not always. Leaders have a vision for the future of nursing and do what they can to promote that vision. They are spokespersons for the profession, from both conversations with individuals, professional writing and speaking, and sometimes political action.

Oh that's wonderful! I agree with every word. Leaders promote the nursing and seek to advance the profession and patient care through many ways whether it is improving their own professional practice with more education and training or whether it is through research and work with systems and organizations.

nursemaa · Dec 12, 2005

I can't say I blame the nurses for wanting to get away from the bedside, I think there is a general lack of courtesy and respect for bedside nurses but not from administration but from each other. The bitter complaining, back-stabbing, "nurse eating their young" enviroment drives good nurses away.

I agree, and quite frankly I'm sick of it!! It's easy to sit back and blame management for all of the problems, but until we start to respect each other, teach and forgive instead of blaming and trying to get someone else in trouble, it will be very hard to get others to respect us. We need to always behave like the college-educated, professional adults that we claim to be. New nurses come to us excited and expectant, and we have a tendency to kill that spark instead of nurturing it. So they leave.

End of sermon.

oramar · Dec 12, 2005

I think nursing leaders are those individuals (could be nurses at the bedside or nurses in teaching or management roles) that demonstrate commitment to the profession. Meaning they mentor novice nurses, support research, help the public and other healthcare professionals to understand the role of the professional nurse, promote nursing as a career, and behave in a very professional manner towards patients, families, and each other. Often these individuals do move into management positions, but not always. Leaders have a vision for the future of nursing and do what they can to promote that vision. They are spokespersons for the profession, from both conversations with individuals, professional writing and speaking, and sometimes political action.

Excellent post thankyou very much, thankyou also to mydeys for your excellent post. Let me tell you more about this C Span broadcast from John Hopkins. You see, sometimes when I see a program or read an article I tend to focus on the one thing I did not like. Actually this broadcast was about finacial aid and proposed cuts to financial aid. It was a really fine educational show and the non traditional student nurses that talked about their need for financial aid were excellent. Also there were several representatives from Maryland there and they talked about how these cuts in financial aid will destroy legislation passed up this point addressing the nursing shortage. All and all I totally cheer John Hopkins for hosting this program. It was just that one Dean and her constant refernces to "nursing leaders" that made the chip on my shoulder get a little heavier. But then I realized I might be taking her statements the wrong way and wanted to get some other thoughts on the subject. Thankyou all!

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

I suppose we would have to have a chat with each person to find what their perspective of a nursing leader is.

There are infinite definitions, each specific to the problem at hand.

Q. · Dec 12, 2005

I think the issues are much more complicated than a "good guys vs bad guys" ... "bedside vs non-bedside" ... mentality will ever comprehend.
The original poster is trying to explore beyond that over-simplified view of the world -- and I applaud her for that. Unfortunately, many nurses never do that. Their views are too simplistic and too biased to be of much help to the profession in trying to work out the many tough problems that we face as nurses and as a society.
The low level of most discussions is disheartening.
llg

Agree 100%.

nursemaa · Dec 12, 2005

It was just that one Dean and her constant refernces to "nursing leaders" that made the chip on my shoulder get a little heavier. But then I realized I might be taking her statements the wrong way and wanted to get some other thoughts on the subject. Thankyou all!

Most of the time when they say "nursing leaders", they're not necessarily referring to management- you can be a leader without being in management. Unfortunately, there are also managers who are not good leaders! :)

grammyr · Dec 12, 2005

Most of the time when they say "nursing leaders", they're not necessarily referring to management- you can be a leader without being in management. Unfortunately, there are also managers who are not good leaders! :)

AMEN, I have worked with people who were excellent leaders and you couldn't pay them enough to be a manager. I have also worked with people who couldn't lead their way out of a papersack.