A Master Class for nursing unit managers: an Australian example

Abstract

The programme was positively evaluated by participants in aspects such as allowing the expression of opinions, networking, stretching their minds and time to reflect on their own experiences. Nursing unit managers occupy a pivotal role in health care institutions. Investing resources into the ongoing development of their leadership skills may provide significant benefits for the individuals themselves, their staff and the organization.

Leadership development: an essential ingredient in supporting nursing unit managers

“…Leadership skills, knowledge, and insights were developed through sharing, together with challenging everyday practices, assumptions, and routine "ways of knowing." Duffield 15 reported congruent findings in which NUMs learned from and through each other to achieve change and improved leadership performance.…”

“…7,15,19 This article details the qualitative results of an evaluation study of the NUM LDP within an Australian tertiary pediatric hospital. The program had a positive impact on the practice, and it provided an understanding of person-centered leadership for the participants.…”

“…Therefore, there is little information to inform the ongoing development of nursing managers to support their role as the lynchpin in our health care units. 7,15 In order to develop a person-centered culture, we suggest that the focus needs to be person-centered leadership. A recent study indicated that nurse managers required leadership support within the health care organization; the nurse managers communicated the challenges they faced regarding the changing health care system, including their desire to provide person-centered care to patients.…”

Setting a course: A critical review of the literature on nurse leadership in Australia

“…Within a well resourced and structured hospital education unit, mentors and leadership competency standards were used to develop leaders who also held managing roles. Duffield (2005) also offers inter-personal and intra-personal capability development as being an important feature of nurse leadership development for nurse unit managers. Daly et al (2003) offer an expansive view toward the purpose of nursing leadership in Australia noting strategic, individual and social levels of impact, as well as leader attributes inclusive of inspirational dynamism and confidence.…”

“…The leadership preparation described by Williams et al (2009) and Duffield (2005) appears to have focused upon managerial understandings of nurse leadership that combine managing capabilities and clinical leadership development. However, Stanley (2008) contends that existing leadership models fail to reflect the realities of clinical leadership due their connection to managing roles and attributes.…”