How can I become a better leader in my nursing practice?

All nurses, regardless of their role or title, are leaders. Nurses lead every single day in all practice settings, whether in formal leadership roles (for example, as employers, managers, team leaders, charge nurses) or leading informally from their nursing position. Leadership is a responsibility and accountability for nurses in Ontario.

CNO’s entry-to-practice competencies outline the role of leadership as a fundamental skill for all nurses entering the profession. The Code of Conduct and other practice standards set out expectations for continued leadership accountabilities throughout a nurse’s career.

Nurses are leaders who influence and inspire others to achieve optimal health outcomes for all. Nurses demonstrate leadership in a variety of ways, including advocating for clients, promoting quality practice settings and by building and sharing knowledge.

Advocating for clients

  • Nurses advocate for and support clients in accessing timely health care that meets clients’ needs.
  • Nurses participate and advocate for culturally safe and inclusive practice environments.
  • Nurses take action to prevent discrimination and when they observe or identify discrimination against a client.
  • Nurses respond and are available to clients in their care.
  • Nurses modify client care plans, together with clients and the health care team.
  • Nurses assess clients to determine their risk for health inequities and take steps to ensure the best client outcomes.
  • Nurses strive to protect clients from any type of harm, neglect or abuse. This includes taking action to stop and refrain from unsafe, incompetent, unethical or unlawful practice.

These accountabilities are outlined in Principles 2, 3 and 5 of the Code of Conduct.

Promoting quality practice settings

  • Nurses participate and advocate for improving the quality of their practice setting to support safe client care.
  • Nurses promote healthy relationships with clients, their caregivers, advocates and members of the health care team by managing and resolving conflict for best client care.
  • Nurses fairly divide and advocate for resources. Nurses objectively arrange care, based on health-related needs.
  • Nurses contribute to a safe organizational culture.

These accountabilities are outlined in Principles 4, 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct.

Building and sharing knowledge

  • Nurses assess the learning needs of health care team members they are teaching, supervising and/or assigning.
  • Nurses determine whether individuals have the proper knowledge, skill and judgment to perform safe nursing care.
  • Nurses support, mentor and teach health care members.
  • Nurses provide and accept feedback from the health care team to support positive client outcomes and effective team performance.

These accountabilities are outlined in Principle 4 of the Code of Conduct.

Reflect on your leadership

To enhance your ability to provide safe, client-centred care, you can reflect on your leadership abilities by asking yourself

  • How does my practice align with the leadership expectations outlined in the entry-to-practice competencies and the Code of Conduct?
  • What does nursing leadership mean to me?
  • How am I developing as a leader?
  • How can I maximize my leadership potential?
  • What are the opportunities for leadership in my practice setting?
  • What sources of feedback can I seek to inform my nursing practice?

Whether in a formal or informal leadership role, nurses demonstrate leadership by fostering continued self-growth to meet the challenges of an evolving health care system.

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