Role of the DNP as a Healthcare Executive, Essay Example

When most nursing students enter nursing school with a focus on understanding how to deliver patient care effectively in order to address their needs, be able to effectively organize a care plan, and provide evaluations and assessments of their delivery of patient care. Many never envision themselves as becoming transformative healthcare leaders and executives who spearhead change within a complex healthcare system (Papa, 2013).  Leadership courses in nursing school curricula, however, often fail to prepare DNPs for the realities of a complex healthcare system, technological challenges presented in clinical settings, and the idiosyncrasies latent within policy when situated in clinical contexts. Dynamic healthcare organizations require transformational leaders who both understand various facets within the clinical arena and are prepared to confront leadership challenges in a constantly evolving environment. The role of nurse leaders is extremely significant, which is why DNPs must understand dynamics within the organization in order to enhance the implementation and integration of all members of collaborative and inter-professional healthcare teams in order to yield better health outcomes. DNPs much be both innovative and creative as dynamic and venerated healthcare leaders and executives by using highly visible strategies within clinical contexts. They must effectively communicate therein and oversee that clinical settings are patient-centered with the goal of achieving excellence. In addition, because of their collaboration dexterity, DNPs must partake in conspicuous partnerships with their fellow nurses and physicians beginning at the CNO and CMO level.

It is thus critical that DNPs as nurse leaders maintain acute clinical acumen as well as organization cognizance. They need to be able to forge meaningful, collaborative partnerships amongst various medical professionals in order lead complex and meaningful changes. DNPs will advance healthcare executive through the promotion of interprofessional collaboration and inspiring transformative change through the cultivation of innovation initiatives and ideas (American Sentinel University, 2015). Patient safety and quality of care cannot be approached in a top-down fashion, so DNPs must oversee that healthcare culture must be nurtured by all medical personnel in order to enhance the quality of care delivered to patients.

References

American Sentinel University. (2015). Nurse executive uses DNP to encourage nurse leadership and academic progression for Montana Hospital Association. American Sentinel University. Retrieved December 1, 2015 from http://www.americansentinel.edu/about-american-sentinel-university/newsroom/nurse-executive-montana-hospital-association

Papa, A. (2013). The role of nurse leaders in quality and patient safety. Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare. Retrieved December 1, 2015 from http://psqh.com/the-role-of-nurse-leaders-in-quality-and-patient-safety