Improving Unit Dynamics: Incorporating Lead Nurse Program on a Medical-Surgical Unit

<p>Clinical nursing leadership is now recognized as a key professional competency that will assure quality patient care and efficient work processes. The medical-surgical unit (MSU) at VA Mather has had high turnover rates and low staff satisfaction surveys for the past two years, which has led to a decline in staff morale. Lead nurses are in key positions to develop their unit staff, promote leadership development, and they are encouraged to act as role models in their practice. Change is difficult; therefore, the application of essential leadership skills is a necessary accompaniment to a change strategy in order to produce positive outcomes and sustainability within the microsystem. In order to achieve the objective of this project, the writer identified the learning needs of prospective lead nurses, worked in collaboration with VA staff when devising a leadership training course, initiated a lead nurse program (LNP) on MSU, and then measured the outcomes using a post-assessment tool. Based on supporting evidence that effective leadership at the unit level is improving productivity and performance of staff, as well as patient outcomes, the implementation of the LNP on MSU was an appropriate evidence-based project. The overarching clinical nurse leader theme represented throughout this project centers around <em>clinical outcomes management</em> in the role as <em>educator</em>. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Level thesis:degree_level

Project/Capstone - Global access

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Mace, Kara

Contributors dc:contributor

• Carlee Balzaretti
• Dr. Elena Capella

• Leadership
• Charge Nurse
• Change Theory
• Job Satisfaction
• and Leadership Theory
• Nursing
• Other Nursing

Repository record dc:identifier

https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/358

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.usfca.edu:capstone-1373