How nurse leaders influence health system resilience during uncertain times?

As nurse leaders, we want our organization to be successful and financially viable. In this uncertain time of healthcare reform, we are faced with penalties or no reimbursement, a necessity for population health management, political turmoil, and regulatory constraints. Key leader traits become increasingly important to influence health system resilience. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is comprised of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. The higher the EQ of the nurse leader affects the success in performance (Bradberry, 2014).

The next important trait is the ability to ensure accountability of a  highly collaborative team with members who can use their strengths to accomplish the shared goal.  When faced with adversity, the team will ensue organically how to achieve positive outcomes (Chapa et al, 2017).

Thirdly, it is important that the nurse leader can be transparent and communicate widely. Effective communication strategies by using different vehicles for communication, such as a newsletter, email, town halls, leader rounding and an open door policy become priority tactics for nurse leaders.

The final two traits for nurse leaders, advocacy and mentorship, go hand in hand in succession planning for emerging leaders. We must have successful future leaders to follow in our footsteps. At the local, state, and national levels, nurse leaders are role modeling by having a seat at the board level all the way up into the Presidential administration particularly in the office of the Surgeon General (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2017; American Nurses Association, 2017).  Each nurse leader has an obligation to develop self, their staff, and the nursing profession. More now than ever, it continues to be important to develop and partner with interprofessional and community leaders. Nurse leaders must acknowledge their role and responsibilities as crucial necessities in ensuring health system resilience.

Key Points for Nurse Leaders:

1. Know thyself. EQ impacts your effectiveness as a leader. Strive to be agile.
2. Develop an accountable highly collaborative health care team which share common goals.
3. Use multiple modalities of communication..
4. Leverage other nurse leaders and partners through networking and advocacy to share new knowledge and/or innovations.
5. Mentor emerging leaders.

Sobha M. Fuller, DNP, RN-BC, NEA-BC, PCMH CCE
Associate Chief Nursing Officer- CHRISTUS® Trinity Clinic Operations
CHRISTUS® Trinity Mother Frances Health System

References

Bradberry, Travis. (2014). Emotional Intelligence – EQ. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2014/01/09/emotional-intelligence/#3285df871ac0

Chapa, O. R., and Fuller, S. M., and Hernandez, L. J., and McCray, T. (2017). Competition Versus Collaboration in Health Care Teams. Creative Nursing, 23(2), 97-101. https://doi.org/10.1891/1078-4535.23.2.97

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2017) Nurses on Boards Coalition- 10,000 Nurses by 2020. http://www.nursesonboardscoalition.org/

American Nurses Association. (2017). Statement: ANA Applauds Appointment of Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams as Acting U.S. Surgeon General. Press Release (4/26/17). http://nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/PressReleases/2017-NR/StatementANA-Applauds-Appointment-of-Rear-Admiral-Sylvia-Trent-Adams.html