Developing DNP Students as Adaptive Leaders: A Key Strategy in Transforming Health Care

Using adaptive leadership principles to support Public Health 3.0 in multidisciplinary undergraduate education

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered public health vulnerabilities worldwide, particularly in the hard-hit USA. US public health professionals, regardless of role, may need to exercise leadership in both planned and unexpected situations. This model of practice outside of traditional roles, known as Public Health 3.0, requires adaptive leadership – a systems approach to making progress on complex challenges. Educational programs should improve students’ adaptive leadership competency to prepare them for the public health workforce. This paper aims to provide an educational framework for implementing adaptive leadership instruction for undergraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used experiential and traditional instructional strategies and adaptive leadership competencies to develop a semester-length leadership course for undergraduate students in health, nursing, social science, business and education. Adaptive leadership principles were learned and practiced, preparing students for systemic challenges through the lens of Public Health 3.0. Competencies were assessed pre- and post-semester.

Findings

Of 248 students, 72% were health professions majors. Students reported pre-post scores on 29 measures of competency, interest, learning and behavioral change. Quantitative evaluations identified statistically significant improvement in all domains. Additional quantitative feedback indicated improvement on the three Kirkpatrick levels of evaluation assessed (reaction, learning and behavior).

Originality/value

Tiered evaluation methods indicated that this leadership course enhanced participants’ self-reported adaptive leadership learning and competency, as well as intention and ability to translate learning into practice. A broad spectrum of competency development is needed for students entering practice in the Public Health 3.0 era, particularly related to pandemic response.

Doctor of nursing practice students' perceptions of professional change through the DNP program

BACKGROUND

This thematic analysis study examined how post master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students described personal and professional growth in their views of self, healthcare, and clinical practice that evolved as a result of the curriculum and experiences in the DNP program.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this thematic analysis was to describe and discuss perceptions of graduating post master's DNP students regarding personal and professional development that occurred during the DNP program to identify how DNP graduates saw themselves change and grow during the course of the DNP program.

METHOD

A thematic analysis method was used to code, categorize, and summarize data from 42 reflection papers of post master's DNP students into a thematic framework based on the eight DNP Essentials which are the framework upon which DNP programs build their curriculum and design student experiences. The authors systematically analyzed the statements from each student paper and drew interpretation of the students' statements into themes that were congruent with the eight DNP Essentials and one stand-alone category.

RESULTS

Data analysis yielded 15 themes that were aligned within eight categories of the DNP Essentials and one stand-alone category.

CONCLUSIONS

The eight DNP Essentials provided a framework for the themes which reflected professional growth attributed to the journey through the DNP program. A ninth category entitled Personal Advancements described students' perceptions of their personal and professional development. These dimensions are proposed in the new DNP Essentials currently in development. Increasing understanding of the DNP students' journey serves to inform DNP curriculum development and program experiences, and informs faculty of the influence they have on molding students into a more robust professional role.

Message Heard: Insights for Doctoral Program Design From Community Partners

Developing a nursing doctoral program requires, among other considerations, thoughtful reflection on opportunities for graduates, and needs of the health-care community. To educate nurse clinicians, scientists, and leaders prepared to address complex health-care issues, colleges of nursing must engage with community stakeholders during program development. One college embraced this opportunity to dialogue through a series of semistructured focus groups and surveys to inform community partners of the developing doctoral program plan and to hear their related ideas and opinions. Themes arising from qualitative data analysis included driving forces, the value of education, and differing doctoral roles. The findings were far more enlightening than anticipated and ultimately guided the direction of program development. This study affirmed the power of meaningful dialogue with community partners to ensure a well-educated nursing workforce with the skills needed to advance nursing practice in the changing health-care environment.

Developing Executive Nurse Leaders: Exemplar for Using Information Technology to Bolster Professional Role Development of BSN-DNP Students

BACKGROUND

Universities are offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) track to meet the demands of complex health systems by preparing nurses to lead change. Curriculums developed for the adult learner may benefit from adding supplemental resources to prepare nurses with limited leadership experience for their future roles.

OBJECTIVE

Support the development of executive leadership skills of BSN-DNP students.

METHODS

Faculty at a Western Pennsylvania university used the existing learning management system (LMS) to create a nursing leadership site. Practice competencies described by professional organizations were used as the framework for identifying best practice resources.

RESULTS

A supplemental site serving as a repository of information for students was successfully developed. Students were encouraged to access the site to augment their learning on professional competencies.

CONCLUSIONS

Developing an online support site via the university LMS was a creative solution for providing supplemental professional development content to best prepare future nurse executive leaders.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Faculty teaching in streamlined academic programs can provide additional content based on professional standards to students using innovative and interactive methods. Promoting further development of executive leadership skills may bolster program strength and influence future nurse leaders.

Assessing DNP impact using program evaluations to capture healthcare system change

The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree was formalized in 2004. Data evaluating the impact of DNP-prepared nurses on individual patient care, population health, and healthcare system outcomes are limited. This article demonstrates how the DNP Essentials can be used to frame DNP program evaluation data.

Building skills in organizational and systems changes: a DNP-FNP clinical curriculum

DNP-prepared nurse practitioner leaders play a pivotal role in organizational change and quality improvement consistent with the IHI Triple Aim: improving quality of care, health of populations, and reducing cost. A DNP-FNP curriculum is described, designed to build students' leadership competencies for systems change in healthcare settings.

The leadership role of nurse educators in mental health nursing

Leadership behaviors and actions influence others to act, and leadership in clinical practice is an important mediator influencing patient outcomes and staff satisfaction. Indeed, positive clinical leadership has been positioned as a crucial element for transformation of health care services and has led to the development of the Practice Doctorate Movement in the United States. Nurse educators in health care have a vital leadership role as clinical experts, role models, mentors, change agents, and supporters of quality projects. By enacting these leadership attributes, nurse educators ensure a skilled and confident workforce that is focused on optimizing opportunities for students and graduates to integrate theory and practice in the workplace as well as developing more holistic models of care for the consumer. Nurse educators need to be active in supporting staff and students in health care environments and be visible leaders who can drive policy and practice changes and engage in professional forums, research, and scholarship. Although nurse educators have always been a feature of the nursing workplace, there is a paucity of literature on the role of nurse educators as clinical leaders. This discursive article describes the role and attributes of nurse educators with a focus on their role as leaders in mental health nursing. We argue that embracing the leadership role is fundamental to nurse educators and to influencing consumer-focused care in mental health. We also make recommendations for developing the leadership role of nurse educators and provide considerations for further research such as examining the impact of clinical leaders on client, staff, and organizational outcomes.

An assessment of the alignment between graduate nursing leadership education and established standards

The increasing complexity of healthcare systems is driving changes in the academic preparation of nurse leaders. The number of doctorate of nursing practice programs has increased. Leaders in the Council on Graduate Education for Administration in Nursing (CGEAN) were interested in learning how graduate nursing leadership programs have responded. An electronic survey was administered to CGEAN members to understand the emphasis of their graduate curricula. Results demonstrate good alignment between academic programs, American Association of College of Nursing essentials, and American Organization of Nurse Executives competencies.