The demand for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), registered combined with the constant change in healthcare systems, technology, and laws, means that experienced and skilled nurse leaders are necessary for the healthcare industry.

So what does leadership have to do with nursing? The answer lies in your chosen career path. Just like with any other job, while the organization you work with might change, your need to gain increased experience, responsibility, and income does not. That’s where effective nursing leadership comes in. Honing your leadership skills early in your nursing career will go a long way toward getting a stronger managerial position in nursing in the future.

Let’s take a look at a few key ways you can show leadership as a nurse.

1. Tactful Communication

As a nurse, you’re dealing with a wide range of people at different hierarchical levels — physicians, nurses, technicians, paramedics, orderlies, staff, and patients — and each requires you to communicate effectively, clearly, and with understanding for both parties to be able to do their jobs.

For example, you need to be honest with your patients and kind in how you deliver information or make queries. You also need to communicate effectively about the condition of your patients for the provider to prescribe the proper treatment.

If there is a conflict with a colleague, it needs to be addressed in a way that promotes collaboration and support rather than in a way that could cause friction in the future. Remember, the ultimate goal is safety and quality patient care, and it’s important that conflicts among colleagues do not get in the way of achieving this goal.

2. Skill-Based Delegation

Nurses in leadership positions are often in charge of scheduling and allocating nurses and resources. To be able to delegate responsibilities and tasks effectively, you need to recognize skills in nurses and utilize them accordingly. For example, assigning a nurse who has experience with cardiac patients to a patient recently admitted for chest pain.

However, this doesn’t mean that you push your nurses toward only one specific field. One of your main leadership roles will be to develop the skills of those you oversee. So, you must also learn to recognize potential skills and then delegate to help nurses reach their full potential.

3. Informed Administration

Nurses work in hospitals, clinics, care homes, rehabilitation institutions and other public or private healthcare settings. For each of these, different policies, laws, budgets, and specialties apply. As a nurse, you must know the limitations and freedom of the organization you work with and how to work within them. You also need to understand the financial status of the department/organization you work for or if a recent healthcare change will affect the way you do your job.

For example, if your hospital has just experienced budget cuts, fewer nurses will be left working, requiring you to manage shift schedules and patient care with minimal loss in quality. If budget cuts or other situations arise, demonstrate your leadership skills by proposing new ideas or tactics to cope with specific situations.

4. Consistent Mentorship

Long hours, fatigue, frustration, and mental exhaustion are common elements of the job that no nurse is a stranger to. While it is a good idea to have a mentor of your own, someone who can guide you, especially in the beginning stages of your career, you should also aim to be a leader amongst your colleagues. It is important to ensure that you are a role model for others during the best and worst times.

It’s easy to get desensitized to a patient’s pain or a hospital’s questionable business practices if you’ve seen it happen many times before. However, as a leader, it’s your job to show those who look up to you that your commitment to proper patient care doesn’t waver, no matter the situation. Empathy is a key virtue in nursing, not only toward patients but to other nurses. Make sure you encourage and support your colleagues as you all face similar challenges and want to achieve the same goal of providing optimal patient care.

From tactful communication to consistent mentorship, developing leadership qualities in nursing positions is a surefire way to ensure you become an indispensable healthcare expert. When you understand these leadership strategies in nursing, you can work toward affecting change in healthcare for the betterment of all.

If a change in healthcare is something you would like to see, consider WCU’s RN to MSN – Nurse Leader and MSN – Nurse Leader programs.

WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.