The third lecture in the Routhier Lecture series was entitled:\u00a0 \u201cLeadership in today\u2019s complex health care environment: what\u2019s required?\u201d It could also have been entitled just \u201cLeadership\u201d. What is required in being a leader in the nursing field is the same as being a leader in any other segment of society.<\/p>\n
The four speakers for this lecture series were: Leah Binder, President &CEO, Leapfrog Group, Washington, D.C.; Sandy Coletta, Vice President & COO, Care New England Health Care System; Lester P Schindel, CEO, Charter Care Health Partners and Patricia Burbank, Assoc. Dean URI College of Nursing.<\/p>\n
What was abundantly clear from all of the speakers, was the fact that management skills are not the same as leadership skills. Sandy Coletta probably expressed it best when she said, \u201cGreat leaders encourage people to accomplish impossible goals\u201d. According to Lester P. Schindel, \u201cWe need to develop leaders that will inspire others to excel.\u201d<\/p>\n
How do you become at great leader? A universal trait cited by all of the speakers was communication<\/em>. You have to have open lines of communication where everyone talks to everyone and feels free to voice their opinions. The second most important principle was trust<\/em>. If you want to lead people, they have to trust you and you have to trust them to do their job. As moderator Esther Emard pointed out, \u201cIt is interesting to note that according to the Gallup Poll, for the past ten years, nurses continue to be rated the most honest and ethical of the professionals in the United States.\u201d \u201cNurses should take advantage of that trust and assume a bigger leadership role in health care.\u201d<\/p>\n Leah Binder noted the importance of finding a mentor to help you develop into a leader. Someone you respect and wish to emulate. She also stressed that companies are focused on \u201cvalue\u201d in health care. \u201cGetting the right outcome for the right price.\u201d \u201cIf you look at a company\u2019s balance sheet, they spend more on health care than they make in profits.\u201d A key component of health care today is the patients are concerned with cost, because of higher deductibles and co-pays. \u201cThere is a movement for consumerism and leadership needs to find out what patients want.\u201d According to Leah, \u201cIf you want to find out how a hospital is doing, talk to the nurses.\u201d \u201cNever has there been a time when nurses\u2019 perspective and opinions have been more needed. Nurses should be involved in health care decisions on a local, state and national level.\u201d<\/p>\n Lester Schindel pointed out the need for \u201cUsing data to effect change and find solutions to meet the expectations of the patient and family. Find out what works and what doesn\u2019t work. Nurses have the most contact with patients, so they need to provide direction by focusing on safety and quality of care.\u201d \u201cNurses also need to build relationship with doctors and administrators.\u201d Having their trust and respect makes you much more effective as a patient advocate. Open lines of communication are absolutely critical in all aspects of health care, especially patient safety.<\/p>\n Sandy Coletta noted that the challenges facing nurses and hospitals today are same as those of past generations. She cited a great speech given by a hospital administrator at the dedication of a new building. After a lot of applause, the speaker noted that this was the same speech given by his father fifty years ago at the dedication of another building. \u201cThe one constant in the health care environment is change<\/em>\u201d. It is also apparent that change is happening more quickly than anyone expected. To be a leader in the nursing field, \u201cYou need to know all aspects of the health care system. You need to know the business; the personalities, strengths and weakness of your staff; the resources available, finances and clinical aspects.\u201d \u201cYou need to inspire people to maximize their talent.\u201d \u201cA great leader is able to think outside the box, try different things, not be afraid of failure and be prepared to be wrong.\u201d A great leader has, \u201cthe intestinal fortitude to handle difficult situations, make tough decisions and work through problems and challenges.\u201d \u201cAttitude is critical to being a true leader.\u201d Great leaders\u2019 help others succeed and pass on their knowledge to the next generation.<\/p>\n Pat Burbank provided perspective on preparing the next generation of nursing leaders from the Institute of Medicine\u2019s Future of Nursing Report. \u201cThere is a critical need for nurses to continue their education and earn advanced degrees to help future generations of nurses learn.\u201d \u201cIdeally 10% of each graduating class should get their masters within 5 years of graduation.\u201d \u201cNurses need to engage in a lifetime of learning.\u201d \u201cThere should be mandatory continuing education requirements for all faculty and practicing nurses.\u201d There should be an emphasis on helping nurses earn PhD\u2019s to train the next generation. Pat gave a PowerPoint presentation that cited: \u201cFour key messages for leading change and advancing health from the Future of Nursing Report.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In each of these areas, Dr. Burbank cited the many current initiatives being undertaken to implement these objectives. There is a need for not only more nurses, but better educated nurses and that will take leadership at all levels of nursing.<\/p>\n All of the guest lecturers stressed the fact that nurses must have more of a leadership role in today\u2019s health care environment. Hospitals need to have a culture that promotes leadership. In turn, nurses need to expand beyond their role in bedside care and caring for a patient on an individual level. To gain a leadership role, they should know all of the aspects of running a hospital. Find a mentor, make an effort to be seen, volunteer for committees, and provide real value to your organization. Nurses are the \u201cmost trusted\u201d people in the health care community, they should maximize the power inherent in that trust.<\/p>\n\n