Implementation of a Formal Charge Nurse Leadership Development Program

Poster PresentationPurpose for the ProgramWhat happens to a unit within a hospital setting that has no formal leaders? The unit becomes stuck in survival mode. This was the history of the women's care unit in a 105‐bed hospital, where fewer than 800 neonates are born annually. With many obstacles and traditional thinking hardwired into everyday practice, developing a formal training program for charge nurses was a new way of thinking for the unit staff and the rest of the hospital. Our program has turned into a pilot project for the rest of the hospital.There were many years during which the women's care unit was without consistent, formal leadership. Out of necessity, several senior, proactive nurses stepped into charge nurse roles. With no formal training or higher level management support, the women's care unit was the only unit in the hospital that had informal nurse leaders as frontline management. The undeveloped charge nurse role carried no authority to staff or to other areas within the hospital.Proposed ChangeThe Women's Care Charge Nurse Leadership Development program was created based on a review of the limited, current literature. One of the goals during the development of the program was to ensure that all training aligned with the mission, vision, and values of the hospital. The training action plan was approved by the chief nursing officer. A timeline was set up to complete the initial training within 6 months, which was a lofty but not impossible goal.Implem...

Source: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing - June 4, 2015 Category: Nursing Authors: Jenny L. Graves, Gail A Reichert Tags: Professional Issues Source Type: research