Highlights
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this chapter, readers should be able to:
? describe the social, economic and political trends influencing nursing practice globally;
? identify the differences between the terms ‘leadership’ and ‘management’;
? recognise strategies for undergraduate nurses to develop to become nurse leaders;
? appreciate the importance of evidence-based practice in facilitating optimal patient outcomes;
? identify professional and organisational factors that facilitate effective leadership and strategic management.
INTRODUCTION
Leadership is an attribute of an individual who inspires and motivates others to work towards a defined goal or mission ( Daly et al 2015) . Contemporary health systems are dynamic and exist in complex social, political and economic ecosystems. Unless nurses choose to be swept along by change, they need to actively engage the process on both a personal and a professional level. We live in a global environment and this has implications not just for health but also for professional practice. Recent epidemics such as Ebola and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emphasise that we are highly interconnected across the planet and need to consider health in a global context ( Zhu et al 2020) .
Expert nursing practice extends beyond knowledge, skills and competencies to translation and implementation. This requires harnessing resources, energy and enthusiasm in enacting the philosophy and vision of nursing. Nursing leadership is critical for implementing evidence-based practice, promoting optimal patient outcomes and optimising the value of healthcare within ethical frameworks ( Davidson et al 2018) . Although individual countries have discrete issues, across the globe healthcare systems and nurses are facing similar challenges in delivering quality, high-value and accessible healthca Increasing geopolitical instability across the world underscores the importance of considering healthcare within a social, political and economic context. The growing burden of chronic illness and ageing o the population increases the importance of coordinated care led by competent, credentialled and capable nurses practising to the full extent of their education and training ( Davidson et al 2013) .
Promoting quality and excellence in nursing care and ensuring safe and effective work environments is important in providing high-quality patient care. Emerging from the increased pressures of demand for clinical care, an emphasis on access and fiscal constraints has given rise to the Triple Aim, dictating a course for enhancing patient experience, improving population health and reducing costs and underscoring the importance of leadership. Stressors in the healthcare system have led advocacy for the Triple Aim to be expanded to include a fourth element, a Quadruple Aim, adding the goal of improving the work life of healthcare providers, including clinicians and staff ( Fitzpatrick et al 2019) . Although emerging from the United States (US), this approach is rapidly gaining global currency as the influence of the welfare of healthcare professionals becomes more apparent ( Osborne et al 2019) . This philosophical perspective is an important strategy f creating positive and enabling environments to promote optimal health outcomes and includes consideration of patient, provider and systems issues. There is an increasing concern regarding the impact of burnout and moral distress experienced by nurses and the need to consider work environments that promote wellbeing ( Rushton 2016 ).
We also need to increase diversity in our workforce and ensure that our profession reflects the cultural diversity and pluralism of contemporary society ( Mackean et al 2019) . This chapter will discuss the desirable attributes of leaders in the clinical workplace and the role of expert clinical practice in forging a professional identity for nursing. The chapter will also provide insights into the way expert practitioners, functioning as leaders in the clinical setting, can face challenges and successfully implement strategies to improve patient care and advance nursing practice. The first section of the chapter sets the scene in describing contemporary trends influencing clinical practice, models of nursing care delivery and aspects of leadership in the clinical setting and the later part focuses more specifically on becoming a nurse leader. BOOK CHAPTER BECOMING A NURSE LEADER Patricia M. Davidson and Binu Koirala Contexts of Nursing, CHAPTER 11, 183-202 As you read through this chapter, it is important as a beginning nurse to consider the attributes that you need to develop to become a nurse leader and how these manifest in modern healthcare environments. It is never too early to focus on developing your leadership style, beginning to critique others’ leadership styles and preparing to transition from being a student to a registered nurse. You wil soon learn that quickly after becoming a registered nurse you will be expected to manage care and provide leadership for critical patient care issues.
Effective leaders cultivate a self-reflective appraisal of their strengths and weaknesses as part of a lifelong learning process. Nurse leaders also engage in activities to develop competencies and skills in their personal and professional life. Leadership is crucial at all levels of nursing practice—from novice to expert. You will observe leadership styles that are positive and enabling as well as dominating and destructive. Unfortunately, you will probably experience each of these leadership styles in your career. Learning to work with a range of leadership and managerial styles as well as clinical practice settings an important part of your personal and professional development. As you observe the behaviours of your peers, you can probably see the emergent characteristics of future nursing leaders; for example, how your colleagues deal with challenges in both the classroom and th clinical setting. Increasingly, we are aware that the level of nursing competence, staffing and communication as well as the quality of working environments influence patient outcomes ( Halm 2019 ). Even in your early days of practice, you can shape the future of patient care and the nursing profession through engaging in critical discussion, student leadership, reflective practice and providing a voice for patien and their families. This will require focusing on both your personal and professional development as well as forging your nurse identity.
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