From Novice to Leader – An Unexpected Journey

Julie A. Coon, Ed.D, MSN,RN RN-AIM 8th Annual Conference September 27, 2013 From Novice to Leader – An Unexpected Journey

Objectives • To explore the reasons that leadership tends to be “unexpected” rather than an intentional component of role development in nursing. • To examine a personal leadership journey as an academic nurse leader in terms of insights gained along the way. • To identify evidence-based strategies to increase leadership capacity, competency & intent among novice nurses.

Is Leadership really unexpected? • What do today’s nursing students tell us? Poll of 120 FSU Nursing students asked: • What would your dream job be upon graduation? • What is your long term goal for your nursing career?

My “dream” job after graduation • Critical Care: ICU / ED (32) • Pediatrics / NICU (30) • OB / L&D (21) • Med Surg (17) • Travel Nurse (9) • Public Health/Home Health (5) • Ambulatory Care (2) • Psych (1) • Military (1) • Unsure /Just get a job! (9)

Long term desired nursing role • Nurse Practitioner / Midwife (41) • CRNA (21) • Charge Nurse in desired specialty (9) • Nursing Administration (6) • Nurse Educator / Researcher (8) • Community based (5) • Earn a MS in Nursing (9) • Earn a Doctorate in Nursing (8) • Other: Unsure or Misc. answers with only 1-2 responses (26)

What is missing? • No stated aspirations to become… • A Nurse Executive • A Nursing Faculty Coordinator or Chair • A Nursing Dean or Director • An expert in public policy • A leader in their professional organization • An elected or appointed member of a governmental entity

What is our historical context? • Let’s explore that “unintended” journey to better understand how it has happened historically. • A personal journey of a once reluctant leader…from nursing school to academic leadership and so much more. • Is it Serendipity, Divine Intervention or an Accident?

Career Trajectory: Overview • Nursing as a career choice (1970-72) • Undergraduate nursing education (1972-75) • Graduate Nurse to Nurse Manager (1975-80) • Graduate nursing education – MSN (1980-82) • Trial in ambulatory care as a CNS (1981-82) • Entry to academia & the faculty role (1982-2001) • Administration – where the action is (2001-now) • Director to Interim Dean and back again (2010-12) • The last challenge (2013 - ?)

Critical Experiences or Events • Informal recognition from people I respected • Opportunities to be innovative in practice settings – clinical & academic • Formal recognitions & awards • Opportunities to participate in nursing reform

Informal Recognition • “I thought they would chew you up and spit you out…” • “I noticed that you seem to see things differently than other nurses around here.” • “We need someone to do ______, and I think you would be good at this, would you consider it?” • “You, my dear, are one of the great thinkers and we need more of you in leadership positions.” • “Oh, they told me I should talk to Julie Coon about that…”

Opportunities to Innovate • Family-Centered Care Model • Reducing C-Section incidence (quality) • Problem-Based Learning Model • Critical Thinking in academia (instruction) and practice (consultation • New models of clinical instruction • Development of new degrees and tracks

Formal Recognitions • Innovative Ideas in a Rural Health Care Setting Award (Michigan Association of Rural Health Care) Co-recipient. • Michigan Professor of the Year 1994 (Carnegie & Council for the Advancement of Secondary Education)

Opportunities to Reform • Strategic Plan for Nursing: Actions to Avert a Crisis (2005, Michigan Chief Nurse Executive) • 3M Task Force to Increase BSN prepared nurses in Michigan (2005-08, MCNEA, MACN, MONE) • Task Force on Nursing Education in Michigan (2008-09) • Michigan Nursing Education Council (MNEC) (2010-11) • Inter-professional Education and Practice (IPEP) Initiative

Insights gained…. • Leadership is often thrust upon the “Last Woman Standing” which only reinforces our reluctance and sense of not being worthy. • All new leaders are scared to death and suffer from the “imposter” syndrome. • Your nursing education experiences really do matter. • An administrator has to “manage” as well as lead, i.e., The “Red Ball” phenomenon.

More insights… • Without formal training for leadership, finding the right mentor is critical. • Leadership succession is a challenge. • Leadership is where the real fun is...but like nursing, it is never if finished product. • Leadership is a journey…not a light switch.

How do we cultivate leadership in a more intentional way for the novice? • This is not a new question – the literature is prolific in this topic from a generic context. (Burns, Bennis & Nannis, Starratt, Covey, Sergiovanni, Cleary, Kouzes & Posner, etc.) • If you Google “Leadership Lessons”…. • Colin Powell and FDR to Spiderman and the Janitor!

Lessons from FDR • Keep your ends certain, but your means flexible. • You are usually stronger when you work through others. • Reach out to your opponents. • Curiosity is a good thing. • The most important leadership quality is courage.

How does this apply to nursing and where is the evidence? What is the value of exemplary leadership? • Study by Salanova, Lorente, Chambel & Martinez (2011) linking TFL to nurses’ extra role performance, self-efficacy and work engagement. • NM with a TFL style enhanced ‘extra-role’ performance in nurses, increasing hospital efficacy. • A direct relationship between transformational leadership and work engagement was also found.

More evidence on Transformational Leadership (TFL) • Study by Casida, Crane, Walker & Wargo (2012): Elaboration of Leadership and Culture in High Performing Nursing Units of Hospitals as perceived by Staff Nurses (SN) • SN at BSN or higher level had more favorable / different perceptions of their NM leadership than diploma or ADN SN • The frequent portrayals of TFL behaviors (i.e., visionary) by NM were paramount in shaping culture traits that exemplify high performance, are flexible and adaptive.

Value of “informal” leaders • Downey, Parslow & Smart (2011) described informal leaders as the “hidden treasure” in nursing leadership. • Informal Leaders are the most underutilized asset in health care (approximately 80-90% of a typical HC organization). • If identified early, they can be developed and empowered to impact environmental culture in a positive manner

Who are the Informal Leaders? • Traits to watch for: • Ubiquitous – everywhere at the same time • Expert nurses who share their knowledge • Those names that always come up to lead teams or volunteer • Recognized amongst their peers • Elevate the whole team – pull us together • Credibility with both staff and administration • High performers / strong work ethic • Sense of the heartbeat of their unit and want to make it better – they want to be part of the discussion in shaping the organization • They do not usually view themselves as special or even as leaders • They may accept acknowledgement or rewards for their accomplishments, but may oppose any formal title or visible recognition.

How to support Informal Leaders • Give them opportunities to show they can solve problems – chair a task force, etc. • Be mindful to not overuse them to prevent burnout; select projects carefully • Informal Leaders need to know that their positive attitude and creative contributions are of great value to the NA and the unit/org. • Simple day to day recognitions are often most highly valued.

What does EBP tell us about how to enhance nursing leadership? • Eddy, Doutrich, Higgs, Spuck, Olson & Weinberg (2009) conducted a qualitative study to elicit narratives about essential nursing leadership competencies to inform the revision of a graduate nursing program: • Communication Skills: listening & conflict resolution • The ability to communicate a vision, motivate and inspire • Technological adroitness & Fiscal dexterity • The courage to be proactive during rapid change

An Academic Perspective • Stiles, Pardue, Young & Morales (2011) examined the process of becoming a nurse faculty leader and found that advancing reform was a significant experience: • Being able to envision oneself in the leadership role • Being involved with others in a common cause or goal • Serving as a symbol and preserving authenticity • Creating an environment for change

It takes a village… • Crosby & Shields (2010) convened a task force of leaders from academia and practice to address succession planning. • Noted that as HC has become less hierarchal, leadership is less about position and more about influence. • Also noted the correlation between how staff perceive the NM and job satisfaction / work effectiveness. • Current environmental pressures are influencing the pool of future nurses & highlight the need for strong leadership. • Led to the development of leadership academy workshops in the clinical setting to address these needs.

A global view… • Anazor (2012) reported on a program developed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) to develop the Leadership for Change (LFC) program to complement leadership education programs from different countries to enhance nurse’s skills to prepare them to meet the challenges posed by ongoing health reforms and empower them to contribute to decision-making.

Goals of the LFC program • Participate effectively in health policy development and decision-making. • Be effective leaders and managers in nursing health services. • Prepare future nurse managers and leaders for key positions. • Influence change in nursing curricula so future nurse leaders are prepared appropriately.

National Initiatives • Scott & Miles (2013) provide a framework for viewing the current strategies in both education and practice to address the potential shortage of nurse leaders. • This call to advance leadership capacity and competence in nursing has never been louder or more urgent than it is today.

IOM Future of Nursing Report (2010) Although the public is not used to viewing nurses as leaders and not all nurses begin their career with thoughts of becoming a leader, all nurses must be leaders in the design, implementation and evaluation of, as well as advocacy for, the ongoing reforms to the system that will be needed.Additionally, nurses will need leadership skills and competencies to act as full partners with physicians and other health professionals in redesign and reform efforts across the health care system. (Institute of Medicine. The Future of Nursing; Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC, National academies Press; 2010)

The First Critical Issue to be Addressed • Education: • Note that most nursing literature on leadership is devoted to “leader” development rather than “leadership” development. • Efforts must be made to augment faculty and students’ conceptualization of nursing such that leadership is seen as a dimension of practice for all nurses, not just those in formal leadership roles.

The Second Critical Issue to be Addressed • Education to Practice: • A comprehensive conceptual framework for lifelong leadership development of nurses needs to be designed. • A baseline leadership capacity (novice) to build upon in all nurses regardless of their nursing role. • Example: We have done this for quality & safety education for nurses…but not for leadership.

Every Nurse a Leader… • We lack the evidence base for teaching leadership. • Leadership vs. Management • Leader vs. Leadership • AACN Essentials – no consistent framework • Collective wisdom would suggest that leadership should be shared, participative and relational. • Shared leadership vs. leadership as a role

Every Nurse a Leader… • Moving to adopt leadership in nursing as both a process AND a role promotes the potential for all nurses to develop leadership competency and capacity. • As more nurses perceive themselves as being able to lead; more will be inspired to become leaders in formal roles, i.e., SUCCESSION!

A Leadership Emergence Developmental Model • Hannah (2006) as cited in Scott & Miles (2013) conceptualized a model the highlights the components that influence whether or not a person identifies him- or herself as able to lead – from developmental readiness to Leader self-efficacy. • Leadership self-efficacy: The level of confidence in the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with leading others. Self-confidenceis the most prevalent characteristic used in defining a leader.

Implications for Nursing Education • Include opportunities for students to develop desire for and participate in successful leadership experiences. • One path to an administrative position in nursing began when managers told nurses they think they would be good in leadership. Therefore…we need to TELL them!!! • Students need to be exposed to nurses who are passionately addressing issues in health care in both formal and informal roles of leadership so they are aroused to consider leadership as a course of action for resolving challenges in health care.

The Top Ten List of what we need to do to take Leadership Seriously… 10. Acknowledge that nursing equals leadership. 9. Admit that leadership takes time to develop. 8. Don’t hesitate to “pretend” to be a leader. 7. Leadership doesn’t mean just one thing. 6. Leadership development must be a feature of every work setting and professional association. 5. Nurses need to be transformational leaders.

Taking Leadership Seriously, cont. 4. Nurses need to be capable of strategic vision 3. If you’re going to have a vision, it might as well be for excellence 2. Transformative leadership requires that nurses shape more than the purview of nursing 1. Nurses need to seize the opportunities handed to them. McBride, A. (2011) Taking leadership seriously. American Journal of Nursing, 111 (3), 11.

Thank you! Julie A. Coon, Ed.D, MSN Associate Dean College of Health Professions Ferris State University coonj@ferris.edu

References Anazor C. (2012) Preparing nurse leaders for global health reforms. Nursing Management, 19 (4), 26-28. Casida J., Crane P., Walker T. & Wargo, L. (2012) Elaboration of leadership and Culture in high-performing nursing units of hospitals as perceived by staff nurses. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice: An International Journal, 26 (4), 241-261. Crosby F. & Shields C. (2010) Preparing the next generation of nurse leaders: An educational needs assessment. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 41(8), 363-368. Downey M., Parslow S., & Smart, M. (2011) The hidden treasure in nursing leadership: Informal leaders. Journal of Nursing Management, 19, 517-521. Eddy,L., Doutrich, D., Higgs, Z, Spuck, J, Olson, M. & Weinberg, S. (2009) Relevant nursing leadership: An evidence-based programmatic response. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship,6 (1), 1-17.

References, cont. Institute of Medicine (2010) The Future of Nursing; Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC, National academies Press. McBride, A. (2011) Taking leadership seriously. American Journal of Nursing, 111 (3), 11. Salanova M., Lorente L., Chambel M. & Martinez I. (2011) Linking Transformational leadership to nurses’ extra-role performance: The mediating role of self-efficacy and work engagement. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67 (10), 2256-2266. Scott E. & Miles J. (2013) Advancing leadership capacity in nursing. Nursing Administration Quarterly 37 (1), 77-82. Stiles K., Pardue K., Young P. & Morales M. (2011) Becoming a nurse faculty leader: Practices of leading illuminated through advancing reform in nursing education. Nursing Forum 46 (2), 9-101.

From Novice to Leader – An Unexpected Journey