Question

Analyze three leadership skills required to lead as an NP within complex systems. Describe two strategies you could use to help you develop those skills

Answer 1

Nursing in an ever growing field. It encompasses delivery of quality care to the patient population. It includes every day evolving treatments, procedures and  technology. A nurse practitioner not only need to have good professional skills and knowledge but also needs to built leadership qualities.

Leadership skills helps NP to lead and mentor his team efficiently during time of patient care and in emergency situations where quick decision making and judgement is required.

Some of the qualities that help NP excel as a good leader includes :

1. Good communication skills: This is necessary to built the foundation of leadership quality in NP. Good communication skills include both effective speaking and patient listening. It helps the nurse to easily communicate with the patient and understand patient’s needs. It also help the nurse to maintain efficient flow of information among the team members. excellent communication skills help the nurse advocate the needs pf patient. Intangible communication skills help in more effective problem solving.

2. Interpersonal skills : NP interacts with doctors, other nurses, technicians, paramedics and other medical team. NP serves as a link between the patient and the medical team. Effective interaction with the patient and team members makes a good leader. Understanding and adjusting to the needs of the patient is important in delivering better quality of care.

3. Problem solving : Being a leader, NP faces various situation like emergency, handling staff, dealing with patient and the doctor. These situations demand effective and quick problem solving skills to maintain smooth work flow.

Two strategies that help develop the qualities of being a good leader are :

1. Development of critical thinking : critical thinking is the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner and apply the skilful reasoning to ensure good quality of care and safe practice. Critical thinking helps to make sound clinical judgements and safe decision making. It helps to minimize the errors, better relationship with patients and other team members.

2. Be ready for the unexpected : nursing profession needs to deal with new people and situations everyday. We can say that nursing profession is unpredictable and NP needs to be prepared about any situation that come along. To deal with such situation and provide effective and prompt solutions, the NP needs to be up to date with the new technology, treatments and procedures. NP needs to develop good communication and maintain emotional stability