Clinical leadership and pre-registration nursing programmes: A model for clinical leadership and a prospective curriculum implementation and evaluation research strategy

Dimensions of clinical leadership among pre-registration nursing students: A cross-sectional study between two countries

AIMS

To explore a) pre-registration students' self-perceptions of clinical leadership behaviours and b) differences in students' self-perceptions of leadership behaviours between two countries (UK and Israel).

BACKGROUND

Effective leadership has been associated with high-quality and compassionate care provision in health and social care contexts. This has led to a common acceptance that teaching leadership in nursing education is essential if students are to develop competencies in this area. Worldwide, there is limited research on nursing students' perception of clinical leadership behaviours as well as on the development of leadership behaviours during the study years.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey design was used among two convenience samples of UK and Israeli pre-registration nursing students. Closed questionnaires were uploaded in the format of a commercial internet survey provider (Qualtrics.com) and distributed through the virtual learning platforms in the two participating universities. In total 656 students were invited to participate and the response rates were 28.1 % (Israel) and 17.9 % (England).

RESULTS

Overall, 140 students completed the questionnaires. Significant differences were found between the two sites in the leadership dimensions "Emotional Intelligence" and "Impact and Influence" (p < .05), with UK students scoring higher than Israeli students. Among the Israeli sample, significant differences were found in leadership dimensions according to years of study, with higher scores reported in the 3rd and 4th year students compared with the 1st and 2nd Year students in the referred dimensions (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in students' clinical leadership perception exist between the two cohorts examined. Nurse educators should expand international research on this subject to identify possible antecedents in developing clinical leadership behaviours. At the same time, there is a need to continue efforts to enhance the development of clinical leadership behaviours during all study years through curriculum updating to prepare future nurses better to provide quality, safe and person-centered care.

A Paradigm Shift for the Nursing Education Model: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The Nursing Education Model (NEM) introduced a framework for education reform. This study examined the applications of NEM in education to determine whether modifications to NEM were warranted.

METHOD

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews process for scoping reviews was used. Online databases and searches identified peer-reviewed articles published from 2010-to June 2023, and 71 articles were identified that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Six themes were derived from the findings: (1) learner-centered curricula; (2) instructional methods; (3) inclusive classrooms; (4) pedagogical creativity; (5) bridge theory-clinical divide; and (6) multiple units of analysis.

CONCLUSION

The findings support the application of the NEM to promote a paradigm shift in instructional content, methods, and evaluation of outcomes. Based on use of the model identified in the literature, future modifications to NEM may be indicated, based on continued evidence. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(3):141-147.].

Valuing the emotions of leadership learning experience in nursing education

AIM

This paper argues that a greater understanding of the role of emotions in experiencing leadership, the impact of role models and cultures of the workplace and profession, may enable further development for effective leadership development at undergraduate level and beyond.

BACKGROUND

Leadership has gained prominence as a necessary skill in nursing literature and policy, linking its importance to patient safety, working cultures, resilience and emotional labour globally. Viewed as essential in many undergraduate nursing programmes and a requirement by professional regulators, there is a globally agreed acceptance of its importance. Despite this, the focus on evaluating and researching the effectiveness of leadership learning and through experiences of students in contexts of learning remain limited. This paper presents a discussion on the importance of experiences of leadership, exploring the emotional impact and how enabling reflexivity and critical analysis can be integrated in education. An approach is proposed for nursing education where the emotional impact of experiencing leadership is given significance. Experiences of leadership in practice and educational learning in higher education should allow students to reflect and conceptualise experience, aligning educational contexts of learning. Acknowledgement of emotional experience and pragmatism provides opportunity to strengthen evidence and knowledge and establish leadership as a concept of value in the profession from an early stage.

DESIGN

A critical theoretical discussion paper METHODS: Based on a narrative inquiry study, drawing on theory and philosophies of emotions in education and leadership from 1907 to 2023 RESULTS: Acknowledgement of emotional experience and pragmatism provides opportunity to strengthen evidence and establish leadership as a concept of value in the profession from an early stage.

CONCLUSIONS

Placing value on the experience of leadership by reflexivity and pragmatic, experiential approaches to learning can align educational contexts of learning and focus on effective leadership learning for the nursing profession.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Pragmatic approaches and reflexivity rationalise emotional experiences of leadership and encourage critical thinking and learning.

Does a Nursing Associate Programme Team Work and Leadership Module Make a Difference to Student Nursing Associate Self-reported Leadership Skills? A Mixed-methods Study

Background:

Leadership is an essential element in the skills of healthcare professionals at all levels. This is true for Registered Nurses as well as Nursing Associates, who are registered professionals with a two-year foundation degree programme as role preparation.

Objective:

This paper reports a study examining potential gains that might accrue from leadership and team-working module in year two of the Nursing Associate Foundation Degree programme at one university in the South West of England.

Methods:

We conducted a mixed-methods study in the summer of 2020, with a pre- and post-module survey using the Student Leadership Inventory – Self, and a virtual focus group on the video conferencing software Zoom ™.

Results:

The survey results showed a statistically significant difference between Student Nurse Associates’ scores before and after the module, with a moderate effect size. The virtual focus group confirmed benefits that included growing personal confidence amongst those that attended and that they could identify leadership styles and team dynamics in practice.

Conclusion:

As effective leadership is associated with patient safety and quality of care, we conclude that not only has this module been effective, but also that such preparation for practice can have important real-world impacts beyond the classroom.

Including administrators in curricular redesign: How the academic-practice relationship can bridge the practice-theory gap

AIM

Health care administrators provided information through semi-structured interviews as to how one faculty of nursing (FoN) was preparing students for practice.

BACKGROUND

There is a long-standing disconnect between the nursing education and the clinical arena known as the theory-practice gap. The FoN wanted to redevelop their curriculum to better prepare students for practice and bridge the gap.

METHOD

Using developmental evaluation, 36 administrators were interviewed and asked about their expectations of newly graduated nurses, the FoN curriculum, and changes to be made.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified: entry to programme; curricular content, delivery and structure; clinical recommendations; and stronger relationships.

CONCLUSION

Strong academic-practice partnerships are still needed. The current lack of communication and partnership has compromised students' quality of education and their transition into the workforce.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Leaders in both the education and practice settings can better prepare newly graduated nurses and bridge the theory-practice gap by co-creating a joint committee and creating more touchpoints with one another. A joint committee can develop appropriate entry-to-programme guidelines, discuss relevant trends in practice and shape the curriculum. Clinical experiences for students may also act as extra touchpoints whereby the two groups can discuss clinical mentorship needs and build stronger academic-practice relationships.