Leadership and Culture, Coursework Example

Introduction

Nurse leaders are responsible for establishing a work environment that is all-inclusive and diverse in its key principles and its efforts to provide all nurses with opportunities for growth and professional development. In order to accomplish these objectives, nurse leaders must utilize historical frameworks as a basis for expanding knowledge and improving cultural dynamics in the workplace that will satisfy the needs required of patient-centered care. There are considerable advantages for nurse leaders when they possess the knowledge and wherewithal that is necessary to achieve a greater cultural understanding of the nursing workplace and the employees that are present. By using historical models and key leaders as a guide, it is likely that practice improvements will be achieved and nurse leaders will reflect upon the needs associated with patient-centered care and safety in their own practice environments.

Analysis

Patient-centered care and safety must be reflected in the culture that exists in the nursing work environment. It is necessary to establish a greater understanding of the criteria that must be met with respect to patient-centered care and its impact on patient-related outcomes (Sammer and James, 2011). A nursing environment that is centered on the patient above all else must be achieved through an examination of different historical perspectives that emphasize the importance of patient outcomes and new directions that define patient-centered care in the modern nursing work environment (Sammer and James, 2011). The culture of nursing practice must emphasize patient needs above all else and contribute to the overall development and sustainability of the nursing workforce (Sammer and James, 2011). Patient-centered care must be a primary objective for nursing leaders to achieve, and this is best accomplished through an active discussion and framework that supports patient wellbeing and recovery at all times (Sammer and James, 2011).

Nursing leadership must encompass the different perspectives and approaches to education and learning that will provide staff nurses with the most appropriate knowledge and training to accomplish patient-centered care (Curtis et.al, 2011). These efforts are necessary so that staff nurses are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities to their patients, as well as the alternatives that are available to improve practice and obtain guidance regarding patient-centered care (Curtis et.al, 2011). The work and contributions of Jean Watson to nursing practice are of considerable importance in evaluating the nature and scope of caring from a nursing perspective that promotes a patient-centered approach. Watson’s beliefs regarding caring and compassion continue to resonate in today’s nursing practice environments and provide a basis for the exploration of new strategies that support patient-centered care as a positive and meaningful framework for all nurses.

From the perspective of the nurse leader, it is inevitable that there must be continuous support and encouragement from staff nurses in order to provide patients with optimal conditions for recovery. Therefore, it is inevitable that there must be a strong and resilient framework in place that will encourage nurses to be effective leaders with respect to patient-centered care and to adapt to a culture of care without question (Cummings et.al, 2009). It is necessary to evaluate the different approaches that leaders might take in order to achieve this objective, but to also provide a basis for exploring new directions in patient-centered care that will accomplish this perspective (Cummings et.al, 2009). It is essential for nurse leaders to take a stand and to recognize the importance of their contributions to nursing practice as a means of evaluating the importance of history as well as innovation in contributing to the success of patient-centered care as best as possible (Cummings et.al, 2009).

Nursing approaches to patient-centered care reflect the importance of these key principles throughout practice settings. However, it is difficult to maintain these approaches, in spite of their importance (Petryshen). These findings suggest that patient-centered care is not always embraced in full because patients express their concerns and dissatisfaction with the type of care that they are receiving (Petryshen). However, it is possible that reflection on patient-centered care is weak and limited because nurses do not always take patient feedback seriously (Petryshen). Therefore, nurses and leaders must identify the weakest areas in this process and address the opportunities that are available to provide patients with much-needed high quality care at all times (Petryshen). The options that are available to achieve these outcomes are instrumental in supporting patient wellbeing and recovery on a consistent basis to enhance nursing care quality (Petryshen).

Conclusion

Upon reflection of nursing leadership and the culture of patient-centered care, there are considerable challenges that remain in this area, in spite of the importance of this nursing practice focus. Therefore, it is necessary for nurse leaders to play a broader and more defined role in this process so that they are able to recognize the importance of patient outcomes and wellbeing and how they, in turn, support improved nursing practice as a whole. It is the responsibility of all nurses to examine the needs of their patients and to look to the past and to leaders such as Jean Watson when providing direct patient care and making decisions that will impact patients. These contributions are essential to the discovery of new directions and opportunities for nurses to be successful in these endeavors.

References

Cummings, G.G., MacGregor, T., Davey, M., Lee, H., Wong, C.A., Lo, E., Muise, M., and Stafford, E. (2009).Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: a systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, retrieved from http://www.unc.edu/courses/2009fall/nurs/379/960/M7%20leadership%20effectivness%2009/cummings%20leadership%20styles%20and%20outcomes.pdf

Curtis, E.A., de Vries, J., and Sheerin, F.K. (2011). Developing leadership in nursing: exploring core factors. British Journal of Nursing, 20(5), 306-309.

Petryshen, P. Achieving patient-centered care: a reality check. Perspectives on Nursing Practice, 22-23.

Sammer, C.E., and James, B.R .(2011). Patient safety culture: the nursing unit leader’s role. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 16(3), retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-16-2011/No3-Sept-2011/Patient-Safety-Culture-and-Nursing-Unit-Leader.aspx